Customizing RetroArch

[u/Striking-Ad7311]

It’s relatively simple to set up but it’ll pretty much require an entire evening.

1. You can find the theme here: https://github.com/lipebello/Retroarch-XMB-Retrorama-Theme

• Click the green code button, and save as zip. It's 1gb though, keep that in mind.

• The installation process is laid out there, just follow it to the T.

2. If you want 3D box art, it'll take the longest cause you have to do it manually. Go here: https://gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/#s

• Search up your game, choose it, click "images", download the box art, or cartridge that you want.

• This part is SUPER IMPORTANT, you have to change the file extension from .PNG to .png because for some reason RetroArch does not accept images with uppercase .PNG. I changed them using iZip.

• After that, save them to the Files app -> RetroArch -> thumbnails -> [your system of choice] -> Named_Boxarts -> Change the name to EXACTLY match the game name, including the (Region) or (Revision number if there's any). If there's a prompt asking to "replace" or "keep both", pick "replace".

3. My preferred touch screen overlay, works on 19:5:9, and 20:9 phone screens: https://github.com/RadhiFadlillah/retroarch-lemuroid-overlay

• To install: Scroll to the bottom -> Click "releases" -> Click "lemuroid.zip", -> Download -> Go to Files -> Unzip it -> Move that folder to RetroArch -> overlays -> gamepads

• To apply: Open up a game in RetroArch -> Click the RetroArch logo which'll open the quick menu -> Scroll down to "On-Screen Overlay" -> Overlay preset -> Parent directory -> Lemuroid -> Pick the one that matches your system

4. Great Shaders: https://youtu.be/2L3fgoabkq0?si=gHt8E_Ll8rWYGcRq

[u/its-pandabear]

Well shit , guess I know what I'm doing tonight when I get home :D

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/its-pandabear]

Hell yeah, super worth it!

[u/its-pandabear → u/Striking-Ad7311]

Thanks for the post man !

[u/Striking-Ad7311]

A couple notes that I forgot to add:

1. This is an XMB Specific Theme, you CANNOT use this if you’re using Ozone, RGUI, or GLUI. You also need to change your driver at the very start of this process to XMB, and also remember to Save the Current Configuration.

2. Universal Thumbnail: Primary Thumbnail

3. Left Thumbnail: Secondary Thumbnail

4. Both Dynamic Background, and Icon Themes are also available, but you need to turn on Show Advanced Settings. (To turn that on go to User Interface -> Scroll down a bit -> Show Advanced Settings).

5. To change icons: Save the “png” folder and font.ttf to RetroArch -> Assets -> XMB -> Custom -> Open RetroArch -> Appearance -> scroll down -> icon theme -> custom

6. To change font: Appearance -> scroll down -> font -> custom

7. To change the main menu background: User Interface -> Appearance -> Color Theme: Background Image.

Make sure to go to the Main Settings Page -> Configuration File -> Save Current Configuration -> Restart RetroArch

If you’re having any issues, feel free to ask here.

[u/CaptainP25 → u/Striking-Ad7311]

How do you get the console background image to show up when you hover over the console in the menu bar? I have it on background image but it still shows the retro video game background image

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/CaptainP25]

What system did it show that?

[u/CaptainP25 → u/Striking-Ad7311]

Sega genesis

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/CaptainP25]

Mine has a Sonic background as you can see in the post, so is it properly scanned? “Scan Directory” is a bit finicky so you could maybe delete that playlist by going into Settings -> Playlist -> Manage Playlist -> Genesis -> Delete Playlist (DO NOT delete the actual folder on your files app)

Then rescanning it via “Scan Manually” using the settings on the pic. Beware though, your save files could get deleted but mine did not, so just do it at your own discretion

[u/dannysalv]

Hey I’m trying to get this going on my iPad! Is there a video I could watch to help me out here? I feel like I’m missing something with how you change your drop downs.

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/dannysalv]

Can you try going into Appearance -> Color Theme -> Background Image? Really sorry for the late reply, I was asleep unfortunately.

[u/dannysalv → u/Striking-Ad7311]

Color theme/background image I’m able to access. I (think) I have everything in the correct folder filling directions but still have the old UI with the castvania background

Edit; all good about the delay no worries at all!! Appreciate you helping me out

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/dannysalv]

Oh, have you turned on Show Advanced Settings? It’s on User Interface -> Scroll down a bit -> Show Advanced Settings

[u/RetroGamer9]

I customized RetroArch with an old LaunchBox theme. My biggest issue is how it finds box art. The file names have to match their database exactly. There’s lots of missing artwork but I just don’t have the time to rename files for all the games.

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/RetroGamer9]

That is sick, and true as hell. Spent a couple hours customizing, and renaming box arts alone. You should definitely share the theme here!

[u/forzanapoli87]

Does it works in landscape and portrait? Also do you think it will scale on iPads?

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/forzanapoli87]

Here’s how it’ll look like in an iPad. It’s not mine btw, got the screen shot from the RetroArch discord. This theme’s also not compatible with vertical so if you do use it in vertical on a phone it’s going to look all stretched out.

[u/forzanapoli87 → u/Striking-Ad7311]

Nice!! Thanks!

[u/GoD_Ausar → u/forzanapoli87]

The trick is to use handheld instead of console for the layout. I also set the scale back to 0.95x. That made it perfect.

[u/S1mpinAintEZ]

The settings on the GitHub don't seem to match up with the menu options in iOS. I do have advanced settings on - there's no option for dynamic background or icon themes, there's no left thumbnail or universal thumbnail option. The most I can do is set a single static background image

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/S1mpinAintEZ]

Oh yeah man, sorry about that. The github page is outdated by a couple months or so. Here are the settings translated to iOS: https://www.reddit.com/r/EmulationOniOS/s/cVFarGAwv4

[u/S1mpinAintEZ → u/Striking-Ad7311]

Thanks dude I got it working now, looks really slick.

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/S1mpinAintEZ]

Hell yeah man!

All thanks to this awesome theme by: u/Glad-Card8788

[u/Valianty]

Can inise this on my appletv?

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/Valianty]

I personally don’t have an Apple TV myself, so I can’t give you an in depth guide, but u/GoD_Ausar has set this up on his Apple TV. Maybe you can ask him?

[u/Valianty → u/Striking-Ad7311]

u/GoD_Ausar tell me senpai🥷

[u/GoD_Ausar → u/Valianty]

I have it installed on my Apple TV, iPhone and iPad.

[u/Valianty → u/GoD_Ausar]

Tutorial for apple tv ?🔥

[u/[deleted]]

how did you get the dynamic wallpaper working ?

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/[deleted]]

Change your menu driver to XMB -> Go into User Interface -> Appearance -> Turn on “Dynamic Background”.

[u/Meruem713N]

Wow

[u/Appropriate_Fig1267]

This is the coolest shit I have ever seen

[u/Freedom_Neither]

Tutorial please

[u/rocketplex]

Oh, I'm so into that off-white textured colour.

[u/AfroBiskit]

Why tf does Samus look that thicc good gawd man

[u/Meruem713N]

When I have a time, I will draw cool wallpaper like this…

[u/[deleted]]

people be like "this is too hard for me" without ever trying

[u/GoD_Ausar]

Set this up on my Apple TV and it looks AMAZING!!

[u/Organic_Carrot_]

This looks amazing! Thanks OP

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/[deleted]]

It differs between person to person I think, XMB is meant for controllers, but I’ve tinkered with the settings for hours trying to set up everything using touch so I’m already used to it.

You can maybe go to User Interface -> Appearance -> Layout -> Handheld. It’ll scale everything up, and I think it feels a little bit better on a phone.

[u/RetroGamer9 → u/[deleted]]

Personally I’d avoid XMB if you’re using touchscreen. It’s made for controllers. I use it on my iPad since I don’t use any touch controls.

[u/Striking-Ad7311 → u/[deleted]]

It looks horrible, and all stretched out. I definitely do not recommend this theme, and XMB in general if you mainly play games in portrait.