Wiki/wiki-rtd/docs/wiki_rd_versions/version_0.9.0b/0.9.0b.md

# RetroDECK v0.9.0b - Captain Comeback

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/rd-logo-box.png" width="600">

**Release Date: 2025-XX-XX**


WIP


## Short summary:

```
Thanks for your patience 
Patch Music for 0.9.0b? 
New Lighter Manifest
Launch with RetroDECK (RetroENGINE)
Launch with games via CLI
Steam Rom Manager & Steam Sync
PortMaster
Ruffle
New RetroDECK ES-DE Theme
New Website 
Updated all components
```

---

## Thanks for your patience 

If you read the January blog post we are pushing the Godot Configurator to a later version to implement more feedback we have gotten both internally and from our testers.

We want to thank the community for being patient with waiting for the next update.

---

## Do we get any banger Patch Music for 0.9.0b? 

How about a Sea Shanty

[Captain Comeback's Shanty](https://soundcloud.com/lazorne/captain-comebacks-shanty/s-n7hBgem7imz)


---


## New Lighter Manifest & Framework changes

We have spent several months rewriting how RetroDECK is built from the ground up with over a 1100+ commits since the last release. 

In doing so we have: 

- Reduced the application size with `600mb`. 
- Building RetroDECK went from `3.30` hours to about `1` hour. 
- Went from a monolithic build approach to a modular approach (each component is built separately and stitched together into RetroDECK).
- RetroDECK now is migrated to an organization on GitHub that is hosting the new modular structure.
- Rebuilt the `pre_build_automation` script was reworked with additional features.
- Improved logging.
- implemented tons of changes for the future Godot version of the Configurator. 

<img src="../scott.jpg" width="500"> 

---


## Launch with RetroDECK (RetroENGINE)

RetroDECK can be used as an headless engine to run your games.

On the Linux Desktop (or desktop mode), we added the option to open and run various files directly with RetroDECK. 

<img src="../owr_appselect.png" width="500"> 



<img src="../owr_infolder.png" width="300"> 

### Will RetroENGINE detect what system I want to launch?

If you have the game file inside the corresponding roms/<system> folder RetroDECK will understand what system to launch. 

**Example:**

A `.nes` file is inside the `retrodeck/roms/nes` folder. 

When you click on it, RetroDECK opens it with the Nintendo Entertainment System emulator, and the game starts. 

### What if it is not in the correct folder?

<img src="../owr_nonedir.png" width="500"> 

When clicked, RetroDECK will prompt a dialog window asking which system the file belongs to and then run it.

---


##  Launch with games via CLI

You can also launch games directly via CLI with RetroENGINE.

Example syntax: 

`flatpak run net.retrodeck.retrodeck retrodeck/roms/<system>/<gamefile>` (`--help` for more information).

This feature have been requested by other developers in the community (or for those Linux Wizard Grognards that only want to use CLI for everything).

---

## Steam Rom Manager & Steam Sync

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/srm-logo.png" width="100">

RetroDECK is now shipping with [Steam Rom Manager](https://steamgriddb.github.io/steam-rom-manager/) and the ability to Sync your games to Steam (Steam Sync) built-in. 

**Notice: Flatpak Steam not yet supported**

We have not added support yet for the Flatpak version of Steam.


### What is Steam Rom Manager?

Steam ROM Manager a bulk game importer and artwork manager for Steam.

It adds separate games to Steam, adds artwork and configures the steam input profiles. 

### How does it work in RetroDECK?

You enable the Steam Sync feature inside the configurator.

All the games you have marked as favorites in ES-DE ( marked with a ⭐) will be Synced to Steam upon application exist with art.

Depending on your device Steam might need to be restarted before the games show up.

### Can I tweak images or other settings in SRM?

Yes, you can open the entire SRM interface from the Configurator as all other components and tweak to your hearts content. 

---

## New Feature - PortMaster

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/portmaster-logo.png" width="100">

RetroDECK is now shipping with [PortMaster](https://portmaster.games/). 

![type:video](PortMaster.mp4)

### What is PortMaster?


PortMaster is a simple GUI tool designed to facilitate the downloading and installation of game ports for Linux devices and is self contained.

One of the goals of PortMaster is to not install or upgrade any existing OS libraries for any ports. Any of the ports that need a particular non-standard library are maintained within the ports' folder and made available specifically to that port during execution. 

**Note:** 

That not all 800+ ports are available for the X86_64 system, but the list keeps growing all the time.

### How does it work?

You go into the PortMaster menu in ES-DE and Open `PortMaster`. 

The application will auto update to the latest version and from there a library of ports will be shown. You go to a port and press the download button and it will downloaded and added to the ES-DE interface under the PortMaster menu.

**Note:** 

Some ports might require game files from purchased games from GOG, Steam or Physical Media to work. 

Check the [PortMaster Games List](https://portmaster.games/games.html) for details.

### Where are the files located?

There are two main directories:

`retrodeck/PortMaster/ports/` 

This contains the game files, savefiles and directories. This is also where you add any required game files.

`retrodeck/roms/portmaster/` 

This contains the auto generated launch scripts for ES-DE as `.sh` files. 

---

## New Feature - Ruffle

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/ruffle-logo.svg" width="200">

Ruffle is a Flash Player emulator written in Rust.


---

## New RetroDECK ES-DE Theme

We got our the first version of our own RetroDECK ES-DE theme!

The theme is a remixed and inspired by the themes: Mini Banner made for Launchbox and ES-DE-Mini made for ES-DE.

The original themes Mini Banner and ES-DE-Mini are made by: `Weestuarty`, `DerSchlachter`, `Dan Patrick`.

The RetroDECK Theme features:

- Other types of sub-menus and layout.
- Icons for RetroDECK features like PortMaster.
- RetroDECK colors / graphics. 

<img src="../RetroDECKESDE1.webp" width="600">

<img src="../RetroDECKESDE2.webp" width="600"> 

The new theme is made by: `Weestuarty`

---

## New Website

We soft launched it before, but we are considering it a part of this update! Have you found the hidden games yet?

<img src="../website.png" width="600">

--- 

## Component updates: Emulators / Engines / Systems

All components have been updated to their latest verion (as of the release):

- Emulators
- Engines 
- Retroarch & cores 
- Systems

What follows is a highlight of changes that are more then just a general update:


### ES-DE

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/es-de-logo.png" width="100">

[ES-DE: Changelog](https://gitlab.com/es-de/emulationstation-de/-/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md)

```
Update: To 3.1.1 it comes with a ton of features like language support and much more. Check the changelog for more details (above).
Change: Favorites collection is now enabled by default on ES-DE as it is an requirement for Steam Sync.
Change: The ES-DE settings are under a submenu in the ES-DE interface as our tools where making the menu to crowed.
Added: Support for the Panda3DS - RetroArch core in ES-DE.
Added: Support for the LRPS2 - RetroArch core in ES-DE.
Known Issue: RetroDECK's ES-DE submenu don't work with all translations. We hope to implement all translations in the future.

```

### CEMU

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/cemu-logo.png" width="100">

- 

### Dolphin

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/dolphin-logo.png" width="100">

- 

### Primehack

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/primehack-logo.png" width="100">

- 

### MelonDS

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/melonds-logo.svg" width="100">


- 

### Duckstation:

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/duckstation-logo.png" width="100">

```
Change: Marked as (Legacy) because of licensing changes. 
Update: Updated to the last version before the licensing change.
```


### Ryujinx:

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/ryujinx-logo.svg" width="100">

```
Change: Marked as (Legacy) as the emulator has stopped it's development. 
```

### PCSX2

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/pcsx2-logo.png" width="200">

-

### RPCS3

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/rpcs3-logo.png" width="100">

-

### PPSSPP

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/ppsspp-logo.png" width="100">

-

### RetroArch

<img src="../../../wiki_images/logos/retroarch-logo.png" width="100">

[RetroArch Changelog](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/blob/master/CHANGES.md)

```
Update: Updated to 1.20.0, check the changelog for more details (above).
Added: Experimental N3DS core: Panda3DS.
Added: Experimental Playstation 2 core: LRPS2.
```