retroarch-cores-aarch64

Compile RetroArch cores for aarch64 devices using WSL2 + Ubuntu 22.04

I have tested this procedure on Windows 10 WSL2 + Ubuntu 22.04.01LTS and on an Anbernic RG28XX device using Knulli Batocera Linux distro.

1. Install WSL and enable WSL version 2 in Windows
2. Install Ubuntu 22.04.01 LTS from the Microsoft Store

From now on, run everything in your Ubuntu terminal:

3. Update and upgrade Ubuntu

sudo apt -y update && sudo apt -y upgrade

4. Install the necessary packages (*)

sudo apt -y install build-essential git libarchive-zip-perl rsync zip python3 python3-pip python3-setuptools python3-wheel ninja-build libopenal-dev premake4 autoconf gcc-aarch64-linux-gnu g++-aarch64-linux-gnu

(*) Packages recommended by https://github.com/christianhaitian/retroarch-cores , adding g++-aarch64-linux-gnu and removing gcc-arm-linux-gnueabihf

5. Clone your libretro core (e.g., fuse-libretro)

mkdir libretro && cd libretro

git clone --recursive https://github.com/libretro/fuse-libretro.git

cd fuse-libretro
make clean

6. Compile the core

CC=aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc CXX=aarch64-linux-gnu-g++ make -j$(nproc) 

7. Strip the core

aarch64-linux-gnu-strip fuse_libretro.so

8. Copy the new core (.so file) to the appropriate folder. In the case of Knulli Batocera, copy it to the SD card in this folder:

/usr/lib/libretro/

Now, continue on your device:

9. Test the core

10. Save it permanently using the command line (SSH or similar) on your device:

batocera-save-overlay

New cores

If you want to add a new core, you will need to do these steps:

1. Copy the new core (.so file) to the appropriate folder. In the case of Knulli Batocera, copy it to the SD card in this folder:

/usr/lib/libretro/

Example: /usr/lib/libretro/genesisplusgx-paprius_libretro.so

2.- Copy the .info file associated to the core to the appropriate folder. In the case of Knulli Batocera, copy it to the SD card in this folder:

/usr/share/libretro/info/

Example: /usr/share/libretro/info/genesisplusgx-paprium_libretro.info

3.- Edit the EmulationStation configuration to add the new core: File:

/usr/share/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg

Example:

  <system>
        <fullname>Mega Drive</fullname>
        <name>megadrive</name>
        <manufacturer>Sega</manufacturer>
        <release>1988</release>
        <hardware>console</hardware>
        <path>/userdata/roms/megadrive</path>
        <extension>.bin .gen .md .sg .smd .zip .7z</extension>
        <command>emulatorlauncher %CONTROLLERSCONFIG% -system %SYSTEM% -rom %ROM% -gameinfoxml %GAMEINFOXML% -systemname %SYSTEMNAME%</command>
        <platform>genesis, megadrive</platform>
        <theme>megadrive</theme>
        <group>megadrive</group>
        <emulators>
            <emulator name="libretro">
                <cores>
                    <core default="true">genesisplusgx</core>
                    <core>genesisplusgx-wide</core>
                    <core>genesisplusgx-paprium</core>
                    <core>picodrive</core>
                </cores>
            </emulator>
        </emulators>
  </system>

4.- Save changes

batocera-save-overlay

You may need to restart EmulationStation or reboot the system.

Packages precompiled

You can find the following precompiled cores in https://github.com/jfroco/retroarch-cores-aarch64/tree/main/cores :

• https://github.com/libretro/fuse-libretro
• https://github.com/libretro/blueMSX-libretro
• https://github.com/libretro/a5200
• https://github.com/libretro/libretro-atari800