Home

Emutastic for Linux — Core Notes

Detailed notes on per-system emulation: configuration, known issues, workarounds, and implementation details for libretro core integration — as they apply to the Linux build. This wiki is the Linux counterpart of the Windows Emutastic wiki; the apps are 1:1 in look and behavior, so most knowledge is shared, and pages here are adapted where the platform plumbing differs (OpenGL instead of Direct3D/Vulkan, SDL3 instead of WASAPI/XInput, XDG paths instead of %AppData%, a separate game-host process for emulation).

Install

Two artifacts per release on the releases page:

Artifact	For
emutastic_<ver>_amd64.deb	Debian/Ubuntu system install (emutastic on PATH + desktop entry)
Emutastic-<ver>-linux-x64.tar.gz	Self-contained — extract anywhere and run ./Emutastic

In-app updates: the app checks at startup and shows an "Emutastic vX available — click to install" banner — one click downloads, installs, and restarts. Manual check: Preferences → About → Update Now.

Console Pages

• Nintendo 64 — HW GL rendering, never-blocking PBO readback, timing pitfalls
• Nintendo 3DS — Azahar core, HW render, touch limitations
• GameCube — status on Linux + Dolphin libretro background
• Sega Saturn — Mednafen Saturn default, Kronos SINGLE_SESSION save-state caveat, BIOS filenames
• Dreamcast — status on Linux + VMU saves, 30fps timing
• PlayStation — Beetle PSX HW default, PGXP / upscaling options, multi-disc handling
• PlayStation Portable — PPSSPP: GLX context requirement, hardcore carve-out
• TurboGrafx-CD — Beetle PCE Fast core, CHD + cue/bin support, RetroAchievements gotchas
• Neo Geo — Geolith core, .neo ROM format, BIOS requirements
• Vectrex — HW OpenGL: FBO sizing, readback dimensions, AR correction, game overlays
• Philips CD-i — SAME CDi: BIOS, analog limitations, button 3 mapping
• Atari Jaguar — Virtual Jaguar: known upstream DSP audio bug on a handful of titles

Features

• Artwork & Metadata — OpenVGDB by default (no account); ScreenScraper becomes primary when you log in
• Cheats — per-game cheats, library database import, code formats per system
• Cloud Sync — GitHub-based battery save and database sync across PCs (interoperates with the Windows app), optional AES-256-GCM encryption
• Controllers & Input — mapping per console/player, hot-plugging, the disc-swap chord, rumble
• Disc-Based Systems — .cue/.chd support, region detection, BIOS lookup
• Disk Swapping — multi-disc auto-bundling, in-game swap chord, per-console behavior
• Portable Mode — USB-friendly self-contained install, portable.txt and --portable triggers
• RetroAchievements — rcheevos integration: memory regions, auth flow, in-game indicators
• ROM Hacks — apply IPS/BPS/UPS patches in memory, hacked games as separate library entries
• Hardcore Compliance — line-by-line implementation of RA's hardcore requirements
• Emulation Timing — the audio-master-clocked loop, 30fps game handling, HW core timing

Technical

• Libretro Cores — every core surfaced in-app, with upstream links and licenses
• Log Files — what each diagnostic log records and where it lives

Platforms

• Emutastic for Windows — the original app this port mirrors (its wiki)
• Differences from Windows — paths, logs, rendering, and the handful of genuine deltas
• Other Distributions — running the tarball on Arch, Fedora, openSUSE and beyond

Legal

• Privacy Policy