However, RetroArch also provides the freedom to configure specific emulators individually and even individual games differently if the user wants. RetroArch and libretro provide ability to configure controllers once for many emulators instead of having to configure each emulator individually. For example, lr-snes9x2010 is the libretro core of the SNES emulator called snes9x2010. In RetroPie, the libretro emulator cores are identified with a lr- in front of their name. With a few simple changes to the emulator source code, almost any existing emulator could become a libretro core.

RetroArch then handles the input (controls) and output (graphics and audio) while the emulator core handles the emulation of the original system.

RetroArch and libretro provide a way to take an existing emulator and load that emulator as a library or 'core'. RetroArch is the official front end for the libretro API. Universal Controller Calibration & Mapping Using xboxdrvĮxample Per-System Control Override retroarch.cfgĬonvert RetroPie SD Card Image to NOOBS Image Validating, Rebuilding, and Filtering Arcade ROMs