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# melonDS DS - RetroBIOS

Type | libretro
Classification | community_fork
Source | https://github.com/JesseTG/melonds-ds
Upstream | https://github.com/melonDS-emu/melonDS
Version | 1.2.0
Profiled | 2026-03-24
Cores | melonds_ds
Systems | nintendo-ds, nintendo-dsi

Technical notes

Libretro-specific remake using melonDS as a statically-linked library. DS mode has FreeBIOS/generated firmware fallback; DSi mode requires all native files. Core searches "melonDS DS/" subfolder first, then system root. In DSi mode, NDS BIOS (bios7/bios9) are also required alongside DSi BIOS. Firmware and NAND filenames are user-selectable via core options.

7 files | 4 required, 3 optional | 7 in repo, 0 missing | 3 with HLE fallback

`bios7.bin` -optional, HLE available : ARM7 BIOS

- System: nintendo-ds
- Size: 16.0 KB
- CRC32: `0x1280f0d5`
- Validation: size
- Source: `src/libretro/config/console.cpp:219, melonDS:src/MemConstants.h:31,36`
- Platforms: batocera, emudeck, lakka, recalbox, retroarch, retrobat, retrodeck, retropie

`bios9.bin` -optional, HLE available : ARM9 BIOS

- System: nintendo-ds
- Size: 4.0 KB
- CRC32: `0x2ab23573`
- Validation: size
- Source: `src/libretro/config/console.cpp:220, melonDS:src/MemConstants.h:30,37`
- Platforms: batocera, emudeck, lakka, recalbox, retroarch, retrobat, retrodeck, retropie

`firmware.bin` -optional, HLE available : NDS firmware image

- System: nintendo-ds
- Source: `src/libretro/config/console.cpp:184`
- Platforms: batocera, emudeck, lakka, recalbox, retroarch, retrobat, retrodeck, retropie
- Filename configurable via core options; generated firmware used as fallback

`dsi_bios7.bin` -required : DSi ARM7 BIOS

- System: nintendo-dsi
- Size: 64.0 KB
- CRC32: `0x4316CC42`
- Validation: size
- Source: `src/libretro/config/console.cpp:333, melonDS:src/MemConstants.h:32,44`
- Platforms: batocera, lakka, retroarch, retrobat, retropie
- Contains eMMC key-Y at offset 0x8308 for NAND init

`dsi_bios9.bin` -required : DSi ARM9 BIOS

- System: nintendo-dsi
- Size: 64.0 KB
- CRC32: `0xBAE84F6C`
- Validation: size
- Source: `src/libretro/config/console.cpp:338, melonDS:src/MemConstants.h:32,45`
- Platforms: batocera, lakka, retroarch, retrobat, retropie

`dsi_firmware.bin` -required : DSi firmware image

- System: nintendo-dsi
- Source: `src/libretro/config/console.cpp:352-358`
- Platforms: batocera, lakka, retroarch, retrobat, retropie
- Filename configurable via core options; must have DSi firmware header

`dsi_nand.bin` -required : DSi NAND dump

- System: nintendo-dsi
- Source: `src/libretro/config/console.cpp:378`
- Platforms: batocera, lakka, retroarch, retropie
- Filename configurable via core options; 240MB or 245.5MB with optional no$cash footer

Generated on 2026-03-25T14:56:43Z