@mitu
I do have 4 usb joysticks modules attached. Maybe I have a hot key setup by mistake.

Thank you, gives me a whole bunch of new stuff to try tomorrow morning, see if I can get it working.

@AcidVesper We don't support 3rd party images, clearly stated in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first. Ask the image authors for support, or install the RetroPie image from retropie.org.uk/download.

@Kristopherson05 You have duplicated your question. You have asked this in this thread:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/5145/escape and you still don't provide ALL the information as detailed in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first.

misc_safequit = no

Where have you added this? What guide did you follow (if any) and have you posted the config to pastebin so that it can be inspected?

P.S. I have just read through some of your previous posts since July and numerous people have continually pointed you to read the https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first yet it looks like you still haven't done so. Don't be surprised if your posts go ignored if you continue to ask random questions without providing the required information or taking the time to search this forum first.

@Kristopherson05 That's not what you asked. You asked this:

is there anyway to make my joystick and buttons the arrow keys and escape button?

One solution is to use an Ipac2 keyboard decoder. You have not provided enough information (again) https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first