Category: News

RetroPie 4.5.1 update

,

As detailed in the last post – https://retropie.org.uk/2019/07/composite-out-broken-on-retropie-4-5/ – there were some issues in the last image due to the updated Kernel.

A newer Kernel has been released for Raspbian Stretch that resolves the composite output issue, but we also had problems reported with overscan settings and decided to implement a workaround. As the previous 4.14 Kernel was well tested, we decided to switch back to it for now, and also created a new image (this was actually uploaded on the 17th July, but due to some testing and time constraints is only being announced now).

If you have a 4.5 version of RetroPie for the Raspberry Pi you can choose the update option in RetroPie-Setup and then choose to “Update System Packages” when prompted. This will downgrade the Kernel to the one in this 4.5.1 image. The Kernel will only be downgraded if choosing to update System Packages from the RetroPie-Setup interface.

You can download a 4.5.1 image from https://retropie.org.uk/download/. For first installs please follow the Installation Instructions.

We are still working on Raspberry Pi 4 support. You may have seen some unofficial images from other people with some emulators working – but please bear with us. We also have some emulators working, but don’t want to release anything until we are able to realistically support it.

Changes since 4.5

  • Downgraded to 4.14 kernel to resolve some 4.19 kernel/firmware issues
  • (other rpi4/fkms changes which will be announced in a future post)

Composite out broken on RetroPie 4.5

It has come to our attention that composite video out is broken on the 4.5 image due to a firmware bug.

We updated the firmware/kernel to one from Raspbian Buster as the latest Raspbian Stretch kernel had an issue breaking Sony Bluetooth devices. However it seems that the more recent firmware has stopped composite output from working.

This is the upstream issue. It has been fixed, but it isn’t yet available as a Raspbian update. https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/issues/1166.

If you have already installed 4.5 – you can fix this by downgrading the Kernel. You can do this via SSH if you have no display output. You can enable SSH by making a file called ssh in the /boot folder using another system. See https://retropie.org.uk/docs/SSH/#enable-ssh.

Once you have access to the command line you can manually downgrade the Kernel with the following command (after running this reboot, and you should be on the older firmware and kernel).

sudo ~/RetroPie-Setup/retropie_packages.sh raspbiantools install_firmware 1.20190401-1

This older version also works with Sony Bluetooth devices. RetroPie-Setup will only try and update the kernel again if you choose to update system packages.

Sorry for the inconvenience. We will update to a newer kernel as soon as one is available.

RetroPie 4.5 is released

,

After some delays due to recent issues we are pleased to announce RetroPie 4.5.

This version does NOT work on the recently released Raspberry Pi 4. We are currently working on support for this.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: It has come to our attention that composite out is broken on this release. See https://retropie.org.uk/2019/07/composite-out-broken-on-retropie-4-5/ for further details.

RetroPie 4.5 for the Raspberry Pi is based on Raspbian Stretch. This may be our last image based on Stretch as it looks as though the Raspberry Pi foundation are now concentrating their efforts on the recently released Raspbian Buster. Some parts of RetroPie already work on Buster on the Raspberry Pi 1/2 and 3 but it’s not officially supported yet.

We held off on making this release due to a Raspbian kernel update which broke pairing of Sony Bluetooth devices. We have worked around this on the Raspberry Pi images by installing more recent firmware/kernel packages from the Buster distribution.

Please see the changelog below for more information on the changes since RetroPie 4.4.

You can download a 4.5 image from https://retropie.org.uk/download/. For first installs please follow the Installation Instructions.

You can also install RetroPie on top of an existing Raspbian Stretch set up, or on top of Ubuntu on a PC/Odroid-C1/C2/XU3/XU4. Links to the relevant instructions can be found on the Download area.

If you want to support the project, donations are always appreciated and can be made on our Donation Page. The main developer Jools Wills also has a Patreon page up at https://www.patreon.com/retropie.

Changes since 4.4

  • Dropped Raspbian/Debian Jessie support
  • Raspberry Pi 3 A+ support (via Stretch firmware update)
  • Many new es themes added
  • Added Skyscraper (Scraper for Emulation Station game lists) 
  • RetroArch updated to v1.7.6
  • Amiberry (Amiga emulator) updated to v2.25, including support for launching whdload and CD32 titles from ES.
  • Jzintv (Intellivision emulator) updated to 20181225 release
  • atari800 – updated to v4.0.0
  • Mupen64plus – updated to latest version (GlideN64 stability and compatibility improved), as well as other changes.
  • Fuse (ZX Spectrum emulator) updated to v1.5.7
  • ZEsarUX (ZX Spectrum emulator) updated to v7
  • advmame (Advance MAME arcade emulator) – updated to v3.9
  • Fixed building of quake3 for RPI.
  • Added love-0.10.2 (2d Game Engine) for compatibility with older games.
  • Dosbox updated to SVN r4194 including joystick fix for 360 controllers.
  • CGenius – updated to v2.3.1 
  • lr-flycast (libretro Dreamcast emulator) – renamed from lr-reicast and enabled for arm platforms including the RPI. 
  • reicast – Switched to updated upstream repository – the latest code includes bugfixes and improvements including better game compatibility as well as our RPI fixes.
  • lr-ppsspp – switched to upstream repository for latest version
  • lr-fbneo  (Arcade and console emulator) – renamed from lr-fblpha – lots of improvements including neo geo cd support, and optional cyclone 68k core for better performance on slower devices for some games.The emulator can now be selected as an alternate emulator for Sega Genesis/Mastersystem/SG-1000, PC-Engine, MSX, ColecoVision and ZXSpectrum.
  • Fixes and updates to many libretro cores
  • Kodi updated to the 18 “Leia” release (only available in Raspbian Stretch)
  • Improvements/fixes to joystick control in runcommand launch menu
  • Fixes / Improvements to bluetooth pairing
  • Added sixaxis driver – better DualShock 3 controller support with full bluetooth coexistence
    • Third-party (Shanwan/Gasia) controller support via customhidsony & custombluez drivers
  • lr-mame2014 renamed to lr-mame2015
  • Emulationstation – updated to v2.8.4 which includes:
    • 2 new scrapers added for the TheGamesDB and ScreenScraper. Also many bugfixes and improvements including:
      • Gridview support now in main version
      • Hide MAME bios files by default
      • Graphical / rendering fixes
      • Loading progress
      • Allow using analog sticks for navigation
      • More flexible audio configuration
      • Lots of code refactoring, bugfixes and performance improvements, including removing boost libraries making compilation faster (and code smaller).
      • Search and load artwork based on ROM name (image and video)
      • Experimental scripting support, triggered by events.
  • Added new experimental modules
    • moonlight – NVIDIA GameStream client
    • steamlink – Steam Link streaming client for Raspberry Pi 3
    • jumpnbump – multiplayer platform game
    • mysticmine – open source indie game
    • bombermaaan – Classic bomberman game
    • lr-superflappybirds – Multiplayer Flappy Bird Clone
    • lr-scummvm – libretro version of scummvm (Allows playing of many classic point and click adventures)
    • lr-x1 – Sharp X1 libretro core
    • lr-redream – Dreamcast emulator
    • lr-pokemini – Pokemon Mini emulator
    • lr-81 – Sinclair ZX81 emulator
    • lr-quasi88 – NEC PC-8801 emulator
    • splitwolf – 2-4 player split-screen Wolfenstein 3D / Spear of Destiny port
    • lr-mupen64plus-next – a new WIP Libretro core which aims to improve upon the existing lr-mupen64plus core.