I have tried it with the simple configuration you suggest in /opt/retropie/configs/msx/retroarch.cfg and have not been successful. I have run different combinations and, after no luck, I have reintalled from scracth:

Latest RetroPie 4.6
Only SNES Compatible USB Controller
Installed only xboxdrv and lr-bluemsx

to reach the same situation in previous message. Briefly:

pi@retropie:~ $ ls -alh /dev/input/by-id/ total 0 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 80 Apr 29 21:26 . drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 200 Apr 29 21:26 .. lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Apr 29 21:26 usb-0810_usb_gamepad-event-joystick -> ../event0 lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 6 Apr 29 21:26 usb-0810_usb_gamepad-joystick -> ../js0 pi@retropie:~ $ sudo cat /etc/rc.local if [ "$_IP" ]; then printf "My IP address is %s\n" "$_IP" fi sudo /opt/retropie/supplementary/xboxdrv/bin/xboxdrv \ --evdev /dev/input/by-id/usb-0810_usb_gamepad-event-joystick \ --silent \ --detach-kernel-driver \ --force-feedback \ --deadzone-trigger 15% \ --deadzone 4000 \ --device-name "VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER" \ --evdev-absmap ABS_X=dpad_x,ABS_Y=dpad_y \ --evdev-keymap BTN_THUMB=a,BTN_THUMB2=b,BTN_TRIGGER=x,BTN_WEST=y \ --evdev-keymap BTN_BASE3=back,BTN_BASE4=start \ --evdev-keymap BTN_TOP2=lb,BTN_PINKIE=rb \ --dpad-only \ --ui-axismap lt=void,rt=void \ --ui-buttonmap y=KEY_SPACE \ --ui-buttonmap lb=void,rb=KEY_0 \ & exit 0 pi@retropie:~ $ sudo cat /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads/VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER.cfg input_device = "VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER" input_driver = "udev" input_enable_hotkey_btn = "4" input_up_axis = "-1" input_left_axis = "-0" input_state_slot_decrease_axis = "-0" input_select_btn = "4" input_right_axis = "+0" input_state_slot_increase_axis = "+0" input_y_btn = "3" input_x_btn = "2" input_menu_toggle_btn = "2" input_down_axis = "+1" input_start_btn = "5" input_exit_emulator_btn = "5" input_b_btn = "1" input_reset_btn = "1" input_a_btn = "0" pi@retropie:~ $ cat /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onstart.sh pi@retropie:~ $ cat /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onend.sh cat: /opt/retropie/configs/all/runcommand-onend.sh: No such file or directory

runcommand-onstart.sh is an empty file and runcommand-onend.sh does not exist

pi@retropie:~ $ evtest No device specified, trying to scan all of /dev/input/event* Not running as root, no devices may be available. Available devices: /dev/input/event0: usb gamepad /dev/input/event1: VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER - Keyboard Emulation /dev/input/event2: VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER Select the device event number [0-2]: ^C

Mind it is event2 that responds to SNES Compatible USB Controller (not event1) and mind controller configuration is set to global (all).

pi@retropie:~ $ sudo cat /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg [...] input_player1_joypad_index = "1" input_player2_joypad_index = "0" input_player3_joypad_index = "2" input_player4_joypad_index = "3" [...]

With the configuration above SNES Compatible USB Controller is usable in EmulationStation. When entering RetroPie > Retroarch (usable as well)...
usb gampead configured in port #0
VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER configured in port #1

Retroarch > Settings > Input >
Port 1 Binds VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER
Port 2 Binds usb gamepad

So the correlation between /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg and Port Binds is obvious.

Entering MSX videogame...

usb gampead configured in port #0
VIRTUAL-SNES2XBOX-CONTROLLER configured in port #1

Controller is irresponsive. However, Select+Start (exit emulator) works at least and I can return to EmulationStation. At this stage, I don't know what else to test...

Many thanks in advance for your support all the way.

@kill if you have matching controllers or encoders you never have to configure player 2. Both players share the same config file. After you setup player one if you want player two working immediately in emulationstation just restart emulationstation. Retroarch emulators dont need a restart to have player 2 already working in it. You can create problems trying to find an issue with encoders wiring between both players if you setup player 2 as it overwrites any configuration you setup with player one.