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# TIC-80 - RetroBIOS

Type | libretro
Classification | game_engine
Source | https://github.com/libretro/TIC-80
Upstream | https://github.com/nesbox/TIC-80
Version | 0.80.0
Profiled | 2026-03-25
Cores | tic80
Systems | tic80

Platform details

cartridge_format: - extensions: tic, png - source_ref: tic80_libretro.c:339 - notes: .tic is the native cartridge format. .png loads cartridges

encoded as cover images (code stored in PNG metadata).

    **runtime:**
    - source_ref: nesbox/TIC-80 (submodule at core/)
    - notes: Entire runtime compiled into the binary. No external dependencies.

State serialization uses TIC_PERSISTENT_SIZE * 4 bytes of pmem() data (tic80_libretro.c:1203-1243).

Technical notes

Fantasy computer for making, playing and sharing tiny games. The libretro repo wraps nesbox/TIC-80 as a submodule; the libretro wrapper (tic80_libretro.c) lives in the upstream repo itself.

Content loaded entirely via libretro data buffer (need_fullpath = false, tic80_libretro.c:340). No call to RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_SYSTEM_DIRECTORY. No code path reads any file from the system directory. All VM resources (sprites, palette, font, sound engine) are compiled into the binary.

TIC_MODULE_EXT (dynamic scripting plugins) is disabled in libretro builds via #if !defined(LIBRETRO) in tic80_config.h:36.

No BIOS or firmware files required. Generated on 2026-03-25T14:56:43Z