RetroArch Steam Launch Update
Hi there guys,
we want to inform you on what we have been doing these past few months and where the launch of RetroArch is at.
While we still don't want to commit to a confirmed release date, we do hope it won't be long from this point on.
[h2]Cores as separate free DLC[/h2]
Most of our time has been spent doing this release right on the legal end given our unique situation where RetroArch is a GPL-licensed application that loads in modular programs through a dynamic library API. We have decided upon a model where each core is a separate free DLC. There will be no Core Updater of any kind in the Steam release.
NOTE: These cores DO NOT COME WITH ANY KIND OF DRM, neither is Steamworks integration being used.
We went through the painstaking task of reaching out to the original program authors and asking them for their permission, even in cases where the GPL already gives us the rights to do so. We decided it was important that program authors were OK with us publishing their work on Steam as free DLC, hence the outreach.
The response has been extremely positive. The authors were very happy to learn of our plans and gave their blessing to have their software added to Steam as free DLC for RetroArch. We can state that at least the following cores will be ready at launch:
This list will be be updated as time goes on.
NOTE: RetroArch will come without any cores pre-installed. You will need to install cores separately as free DLC through the 'Manage my DLC' page after you install RetroArch. This should be convenient enough, and the benefit is that updates will be automatically synchronized this way whenever a core updates.
[h2]What To Expect[/h2]
This is what one can expect for the impending launch:
We want to also keep expectations in check - RetroArch will be free and will come with zero warranty. We also want to stress that it will be incrementally updated and improved. Do not expect everything at launch to be perfect. Please bear with us here as we are in a quite unique situation here with this release where we have went to painstaking lengths to do everything right. While our software is ever-improving and we are always striving to make the UX/UI more convenient, we are fully cognizant of the fact that there is still a bit of an usability hurdle to overcome. We ask you to bear with us as we try to get this application out of the door on Steam and to keep in mind that we intend to aggressively and quickly improve the program in the usability department based on user feedback.
Also in regards to the last update, Saftle is thankfully in working order and is helping with the Steam release as planned. However, the buildbot is still a WIP. We'll instead be releasing stable builds only and cores that are ready to be released. Nightly builds and core updates between stable builds will still need to be looked into once the buildbot is ready.
we want to inform you on what we have been doing these past few months and where the launch of RetroArch is at.
While we still don't want to commit to a confirmed release date, we do hope it won't be long from this point on.
[h2]Cores as separate free DLC[/h2]
Most of our time has been spent doing this release right on the legal end given our unique situation where RetroArch is a GPL-licensed application that loads in modular programs through a dynamic library API. We have decided upon a model where each core is a separate free DLC. There will be no Core Updater of any kind in the Steam release.
NOTE: These cores DO NOT COME WITH ANY KIND OF DRM, neither is Steamworks integration being used.
We went through the painstaking task of reaching out to the original program authors and asking them for their permission, even in cases where the GPL already gives us the rights to do so. We decided it was important that program authors were OK with us publishing their work on Steam as free DLC, hence the outreach.
The response has been extremely positive. The authors were very happy to learn of our plans and gave their blessing to have their software added to Steam as free DLC for RetroArch. We can state that at least the following cores will be ready at launch:
- bsnes
- bsnes HD beta
- Final Burn Neo
- Flycast
- Mesen
- Mesen S
- Nestopia
- Play!
- SameBoy
- TIC-80
- EasyRPG
- Mupen64 Plus Next
- Kronos
- Theodore
- Blastem
- Stella
- Snes9x
- mGBA
- 4DO
- Genesis Plus GX
- 2048
- RACE
- VBA-M
- NeoCD
- FreeIntv
- FreeChaf
- QuickNES
- Picodrive
- Game Music Emu
- GW (Game & Watch)
- PX68K
- REminiscence
- XRick
- Desmume
- gpSP
- PocketCDG
- Tyrquake
- Vitaquake 2
- boom3
- EightyOne/81
- Gearsystem
- CrocoDS
- Gearboy
- Caprice32
- Parallel N64
- PPSSPP
- NP2Kai
This list will be be updated as time goes on.
NOTE: RetroArch will come without any cores pre-installed. You will need to install cores separately as free DLC through the 'Manage my DLC' page after you install RetroArch. This should be convenient enough, and the benefit is that updates will be automatically synchronized this way whenever a core updates.
[h2]What To Expect[/h2]
This is what one can expect for the impending launch:
- RetroArch as an application itself, when installed through Steam, will be able to be launched even without Steam being active. Therefore, no kind of DRM is being imposed.
- RetroArch as well as the cores will be provided completely for free.
- The cores do not have any kind of DRM applied to them.
- No Steamworks integration. If it will ever happen, it will be done through a separate process as has been done by plenty of other Steam GPL-licensed programs/games.
- We will never provide any copyrighted content that we do not have permission to under any circumstance. Out of the gates, you will be able to run disk-based content from a CD-ROM drive with many CD-based emulators. There is also a preservation-focused project in the work that will make it easier to preserve your legally bought cartridges, but more on that as we get closer to release.
We want to also keep expectations in check - RetroArch will be free and will come with zero warranty. We also want to stress that it will be incrementally updated and improved. Do not expect everything at launch to be perfect. Please bear with us here as we are in a quite unique situation here with this release where we have went to painstaking lengths to do everything right. While our software is ever-improving and we are always striving to make the UX/UI more convenient, we are fully cognizant of the fact that there is still a bit of an usability hurdle to overcome. We ask you to bear with us as we try to get this application out of the door on Steam and to keep in mind that we intend to aggressively and quickly improve the program in the usability department based on user feedback.
Also in regards to the last update, Saftle is thankfully in working order and is helping with the Steam release as planned. However, the buildbot is still a WIP. We'll instead be releasing stable builds only and cores that are ready to be released. Nightly builds and core updates between stable builds will still need to be looked into once the buildbot is ready.