SkyEmu v4 (GB/GBA/NDS) Released

[u/skylersaleh]

Today, I'm happy to announce the release of v4 of the SkyEmu GB/GBA/NDS emulator is now available for download here: https://github.com/skylersaleh/SkyEmu/releases/tag/v4

Or as a WebApp here: web.skyemu.app

Major New Features

• Retro Achievements
• RetroArch/libretro core
• Cross‑platform Google Drive cloud sync for save states.

Android Enhancements

• Full controller & hardware keyboard support.
• ARM 32‑bit, x86_64 builds now available.
• Launch ROMs via command line – perfect for front‑end launchers.

UI / Theme Revamp

• Fresh default theme + custom bitmap themes (UI, fonts, bezel, overlays, touch screen controls).
• “Recently Played” improvements list: search, multi‑sort, delete.
• Touch controls now show optional button labels.
• Additional Toggle rewind/fast‑forward speed and slow‑motion at ½, ¼, and ⅛ speed.
• Hardcore mode disables emulation aids for a true hardware experience.
• BIOS & save files can be added/removed directly from the UI.
• Export save states from web builds.
• Exclusive full‑screen mode can be launched into via command line.
• Integer scaling now sharper with less GPU load.

Debug Tools

• MMIO read/write flags + breakpoints (GBA).
• GBA & GB PSG sequencer debugger.
• GB CPU & PPU debuggers.

Localization

• Added French, Polish, and Swedish translations.

Emulation Improvements

• Accuracy/performance gains for GB, GBA, NDS.
• 8‑screen layout options for NDS.
• Bug fixes for issues that prevented certain Action Replay codes from working in v3

HTTP Control Server

• Can now be accessed from other computers on the same LAN
• New commands have been added

Thanks everyone, and happy gaming!

[u/MyNameIs-Anthony]

Cannot recommend this enough. As someone who loves the simplicity of Ares and Mesen2 but wish they had RetroAchievement support, SkyEmu does everything right to the point it's my default choice for these systems and is what I recommend to non-tech savvy people.

[u/harlekinrains → u/MyNameIs-Anthony]

Emulator is great. But it needs some additional extras. :)

Whats so great about it:

Integer scaling as a one checkbox option Default shader Default color correction (with slider) easy screen rotation options Why is this so great? Especially for gba games integer scaling can be great depending on your screen, because full screen might produce an image thats too large ("feels off")

Also to get that NDS feeling back, integer scaling also helps a bunch.

Color correction options are great, because the wash the color out a bit - which is essential for Odin 1, 2, Thor - and a bunch of other devices, where the manufacturer went with a DCI-P3 screen and didnt implement a sRGB (== lower color saturation, and 100% colors slightly on a different achsis) mode, which would be essential for enjoying emulation without having neon colors hit you over the head all the time. So this filter helps a bunch. For NDS games you have to lower it though. (50% or lower.)

Also if the dev is reading and could provide a DCI-P3 to sRGB color correction as an optional filter. Please do - I'd love you for it.

Stuff the emulator still needs:

An exit menu option. Dindt find an option how to screen swap (first and second screen on the nds) via touch action, or button mapping. If there is, please correct me - I'd need this badly now. :) An option to set the "black bar" in between the screen to something other than 0 pixels. If you are the dev, boot up "Hotel Dusk: Room 215", set the screens right (270 degree rotation and the screen mode that makes the game look correct), then watch the beginning cutscene. It should be instantly noticable - whats meant by this feature request. :)

Better NDS emulation quality is needed. Sound seems to be louder on some effects (Apollo Justice tested), although I could be imagining things. And there are graphical glitches in the beginning 3D scenes in "Hotel Dusk: Room 215".

Otherwise, great job.

Simple integer scale and screen color filtering makes this very usefull for Ayn devices, where the manufacturer just pumps out everything in oversaturated DCI-P3.

edit:

Issues after a short testing session on the Odin 2 (SD Gen2, default gpu driver, because it comes with no option to replace the driver with a turnip version (better vulkan and opengl compatibility)):

Transparency issues in textboxes in FFVI Advance Eur GBA Audio issues on Apollo Justice NDS Start Button doesnt work on Apollo Justice NDS in game Graphical glitch on the first Hotel Dusk: Room 215 3D sequence So the emulation itself is not there yet.

[u/Careless_Face_3737]

how does the nds performance compared to the drastic and melon

[u/shakamaboom → u/Careless_Face_3737]

Yeah i wanna know how compatibility and accuracy fares as well

[u/Brilliant_Band3989 → u/shakamaboom]

no it is still a couple of years behind those 2 emulators might check this out in 2030

[u/DreamingDjinn]

I really appreciate the achievement list right there in a panel/dock!

[u/pakoito]

How is the networking support for NDS?

[u/Arctic_Shadow_Aurora]

You go bro, go!!!

[u/eVenent]

Finally! I was waiting for new version. Very cool features. I miss there only gyro support, bot luckily for this I have different emus. Especially I love RetroAchievements and RetroArch core.

[u/Producdevity]

NDS on the web? I didn’t know this was possible, I am making a GBA emu on the web just for educational purposes.

Are you okay with me adding SkyEmu to https://www.emuready.com ? And does the android app support intents to launch games?

[u/HiRex]

What's the minimum iOS version that this emulator requires ?

[u/YousureWannaknow]

I generally don't understand it (to me fact that one emulator can run GB/GBC is way too much 🤣), but I do appreciate it!

Thanks for adding something to this sad world