diff --git a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
index 689d2c9da..85804eef5 100644
--- a/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -51,12 +51,14 @@ add_library(core
     gte.cpp
     gte.h
     gte_types.h
+    host.h
     host_display.cpp
     host_display.h
     host_interface.cpp
     host_interface.h
     host_interface_progress_callback.cpp
     host_interface_progress_callback.h
+    host_settings.h
     imgui_styles.cpp
     imgui_styles.h  
     imgui_fullscreen.cpp
diff --git a/src/core/core.vcxproj b/src/core/core.vcxproj
index 33a6a4106..8d1bcd3a8 100644
--- a/src/core/core.vcxproj
+++ b/src/core/core.vcxproj
@@ -117,9 +117,11 @@
     <ClInclude Include="gpu_hw.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="gpu_hw_opengl.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="gte_types.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="host.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="host_display.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="host_interface.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="host_interface_progress_callback.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="host_settings.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="imgui_fullscreen.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="imgui_styles.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="interrupt_controller.h" />
diff --git a/src/core/core.vcxproj.filters b/src/core/core.vcxproj.filters
index d1a7fb20e..4343db72d 100644
--- a/src/core/core.vcxproj.filters
+++ b/src/core/core.vcxproj.filters
@@ -126,5 +126,7 @@
     <ClInclude Include="imgui_fullscreen.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="imgui_styles.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="cheevos.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="host.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="host_settings.h" />
   </ItemGroup>
 </Project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/core/host.h b/src/core/host.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b810315c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/host.h
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "common/types.h"
+
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <vector>
+
+namespace Host {
+/// Reads a file from the resources directory of the application.
+/// This may be outside of the "normal" filesystem on platforms such as Mac.
+std::optional<std::vector<u8>> ReadResourceFile(const char* filename);
+
+/// Reads a resource file file from the resources directory as a string.
+std::optional<std::string> ReadResourceFileToString(const char* filename);
+
+/// Adds OSD messages, duration is in seconds.
+void AddOSDMessage(std::string message, float duration = 2.0f);
+void AddKeyedOSDMessage(std::string key, std::string message, float duration = 2.0f);
+void AddFormattedOSDMessage(float duration, const char* format, ...);
+void AddKeyedFormattedOSDMessage(std::string key, float duration, const char* format, ...);
+void RemoveKeyedOSDMessage(std::string key);
+void ClearOSDMessages();
+
+/// Displays an asynchronous error on the UI thread, i.e. doesn't block the caller.
+void ReportErrorAsync(const std::string_view& title, const std::string_view& message);
+void ReportFormattedErrorAsync(const std::string_view& title, const char* format, ...);
+} // namespace Host
diff --git a/src/core/host_settings.h b/src/core/host_settings.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d70221ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/host_settings.h
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "common/types.h"
+#include <mutex>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+class SettingsInterface;
+
+namespace Host {
+// Base setting retrieval, bypasses layers.
+std::string GetBaseStringSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const char* default_value = "");
+bool GetBaseBoolSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, bool default_value = false);
+s32 GetBaseIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, s32 default_value = 0);
+u32 GetBaseUIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, u32 default_value = 0);
+float GetBaseFloatSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, float default_value = 0.0f);
+double GetBaseDoubleSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, double default_value = 0.0);
+std::vector<std::string> GetBaseStringListSetting(const char* section, const char* key);
+
+// Allows the emucore to write settings back to the frontend. Use with care.
+// You should call CommitBaseSettingChanges() after finishing writing, or it may not be written to disk.
+void SetBaseBoolSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, bool value);
+void SetBaseIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, s32 value);
+void SetBaseUIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, u32 value);
+void SetBaseFloatSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, float value);
+void SetBaseStringSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const char* value);
+void SetBaseStringListSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const std::vector<std::string>& values);
+void DeleteBaseSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key);
+void CommitBaseSettingChanges();
+
+// Settings access, thread-safe.
+std::string GetStringSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const char* default_value = "");
+bool GetBoolSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, bool default_value = false);
+int GetIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, s32 default_value = 0);
+u32 GetUIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, u32 default_value = 0);
+float GetFloatSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, float default_value = 0.0f);
+double GetDoubleSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, double default_value = 0.0);
+std::vector<std::string> GetStringListSetting(const char* section, const char* key);
+
+/// Direct access to settings interface. Must hold the lock when calling GetSettingsInterface() and while using it.
+std::unique_lock<std::mutex> GetSettingsLock();
+SettingsInterface* GetSettingsInterface();
+
+/// Returns the settings interface that controller bindings should be loaded from.
+/// If an input profile is being used, this will be the input layer, otherwise the layered interface.
+SettingsInterface* GetSettingsInterfaceForBindings();
+
+namespace Internal {
+/// Retrieves the base settings layer. Must call with lock held.
+SettingsInterface* GetBaseSettingsLayer();
+
+/// Retrieves the game settings layer, if present. Must call with lock held.
+SettingsInterface* GetGameSettingsLayer();
+
+/// Retrieves the input settings layer, if present. Must call with lock held.
+SettingsInterface* GetInputSettingsLayer();
+
+/// Sets the base settings layer. Should be called by the host at initialization time.
+void SetBaseSettingsLayer(SettingsInterface* sif);
+
+/// Sets the game settings layer. Called by VMManager when the game changes.
+void SetGameSettingsLayer(SettingsInterface* sif);
+
+/// Sets the input profile settings layer. Called by VMManager when the game changes.
+void SetInputSettingsLayer(SettingsInterface* sif);
+
+/// Updates the variables in the EmuFolders namespace, reloading subsystems if needed. Must call with the lock held.
+void UpdateEmuFolders();
+} // namespace Internal
+} // namespace Host
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/CMakeLists.txt b/src/frontend-common/CMakeLists.txt
index 4238bc3ff..53d8cbd29 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/frontend-common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ add_library(frontend-common
   game_list.h
   game_settings.cpp
   game_settings.h
+  host_settings.cpp
   icon.cpp
   icon.h
   inhibit_screensaver.cpp
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj b/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj
index bd043dfea..f0b15cfe4 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj
+++ b/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     <ClCompile Include="d3d12_host_display.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="game_list.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="game_settings.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="host_settings.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="icon.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="imgui_impl_dx11.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="imgui_impl_dx12.cpp" />
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj.filters b/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj.filters
index 984952650..211e68cea 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj.filters
+++ b/src/frontend-common/frontend-common.vcxproj.filters
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
     <ClCompile Include="xaudio2_audio_stream.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="d3d12_host_display.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="imgui_impl_dx12.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="host_settings.cpp" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ClInclude Include="icon.h" />
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/host_settings.cpp b/src/frontend-common/host_settings.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1e9ef11aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend-common/host_settings.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+#include "core/host.h"
+#include "core/host_settings.h"
+#include "common/assert.h"
+#include "common/layered_settings_interface.h"
+
+static std::mutex s_settings_mutex;
+static LayeredSettingsInterface s_layered_settings_interface;
+
+std::unique_lock<std::mutex> Host::GetSettingsLock()
+{
+	return std::unique_lock<std::mutex>(s_settings_mutex);
+}
+
+SettingsInterface* Host::GetSettingsInterface()
+{
+	return &s_layered_settings_interface;
+}
+
+SettingsInterface* Host::GetSettingsInterfaceForBindings()
+{
+	SettingsInterface* input_layer = s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_INPUT);
+	return input_layer ? input_layer : &s_layered_settings_interface;
+}
+
+std::string Host::GetBaseStringSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const char* default_value /*= ""*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->GetStringValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+bool Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, bool default_value /*= false*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->GetBoolValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+s32 Host::GetBaseIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, s32 default_value /*= 0*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->GetIntValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+u32 Host::GetBaseUIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, u32 default_value /*= 0*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->GetUIntValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+float Host::GetBaseFloatSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, float default_value /*= 0.0f*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->GetFloatValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+double Host::GetBaseDoubleSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, double default_value /* = 0.0f */)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->GetDoubleValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> Host::GetBaseStringListSetting(const char* section, const char* key)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->GetStringList(section, key);
+}
+
+void Host::SetBaseBoolSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, bool value)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->SetBoolValue(section, key, value);
+}
+
+void Host::SetBaseIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, s32 value)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->SetIntValue(section, key, value);
+}
+
+void Host::SetBaseUIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, u32 value)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->SetUIntValue(section, key, value);
+}
+
+void Host::SetBaseFloatSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, float value)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->SetFloatValue(section, key, value);
+}
+
+void Host::SetBaseStringSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const char* value)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->SetStringValue(section, key, value);
+}
+
+void Host::SetBaseStringListSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const std::vector<std::string>& values)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->SetStringList(section, key, values);
+}
+
+void Host::DeleteBaseSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->DeleteValue(section, key);
+}
+
+void Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges()
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE)->Save();
+}
+
+std::string Host::GetStringSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const char* default_value /*= ""*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetStringValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+bool Host::GetBoolSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, bool default_value /*= false*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetBoolValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+s32 Host::GetIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, s32 default_value /*= 0*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetIntValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+u32 Host::GetUIntSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, u32 default_value /*= 0*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetUIntValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+float Host::GetFloatSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, float default_value /*= 0.0f*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetFloatValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+double Host::GetDoubleSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, double default_value /*= 0.0f*/)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetDoubleValue(section, key, default_value);
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> Host::GetStringListSetting(const char* section, const char* key)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetStringList(section, key);
+}
+
+SettingsInterface* Host::Internal::GetBaseSettingsLayer()
+{
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE);
+}
+
+SettingsInterface* Host::Internal::GetGameSettingsLayer()
+{
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_GAME);
+}
+
+SettingsInterface* Host::Internal::GetInputSettingsLayer()
+{
+	return s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_INPUT);
+}
+
+void Host::Internal::SetBaseSettingsLayer(SettingsInterface* sif)
+{
+	AssertMsg(s_layered_settings_interface.GetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE) == nullptr, "Base layer has not been set");
+	s_layered_settings_interface.SetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_BASE, sif);
+}
+
+void Host::Internal::SetGameSettingsLayer(SettingsInterface* sif)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.SetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_GAME, sif);
+}
+
+void Host::Internal::SetInputSettingsLayer(SettingsInterface* sif)
+{
+	std::unique_lock lock(s_settings_mutex);
+	s_layered_settings_interface.SetLayer(LayeredSettingsInterface::LAYER_INPUT, sif);
+}
+
+void Host::Internal::UpdateEmuFolders()
+{
+}