So why do some updates delete old save states and Arcade settings for FBA

[RedBatman]

I'm asking since I noticed that when I updated my pi 3 a few weeks ago and it gets rid of my save states and I have to redo some arcade settings such as adjust difficulty and enable free play, etc. Any idea why this happens, it doesn't happen all the time but its not uncommon.

[Drakaen391]

Some setting files gets updated and will erase customizations...

As for saves, I dunno

It’s always a good idea

[RedBatman]

@drakaen391 Well Save states, but those are easily replaced. :)

[ByteThis]

@drakaen391 It's always a good idea .... to make a backup before you update or tweak..sorry man..just had to finish the sentence. Cheers !

[Drakaen391]

@bytethis didn’t even realize it was missing half the sentence

[ByteThis]

@drakaen391 All good man !

[lostless]

@redbatman I can say when an emulator gets updated, there is no guarantee that save states will continue to work on newer versions as bugs and the like get fixed. So the state of the emulation on a save state may not be compatible with how a game is now being emulated. So the files are not being removed, just no longer work.

[cyperghost]

@lostless Right!
The chance of a broken .state## file is high if the emulator gots some bug fixes. It's even nearly impossible to port savestates from RPi0/1 versions to RPi2/3/3+

A savestate feature you can always rely is the SRM state. As it's just a part of the ROM itself and is treated as memory dump. But not every game provides this and afaik only home consoles.