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# blueMSX - RetroBIOS

Type | standalone + libretro
Classification | community_fork
Source | https://github.com/libretro/blueMSX-libretro
Upstream | http://bluemsx.msxblue.com/
Version | SVN
Profiled | 2026-03-23
Cores | bluemsx
Systems | msx, msx2, msx2plus, msxturboR, colecovision, sega-sg1000, sega-sc3000, sega-sf7000, spectravideo

Technical notes

The directory structure must be preserved exactly as shipped in the repo's system/bluemsx/ folder. The core expects Machines/ and Databases/ subdirectories inside the system directory. Each machine model has its own subdirectory with a config.ini and associated ROM files.

Default machines (used when selecting base type names like "MSX", "MSX2", etc.) reference ROMs from "Machines/Shared Roms/". Machine-specific variants (e.g. "MSX2 - Panasonic FS-A1F") have their own ROMs in their own subdirectory.

C-BIOS machines work for cartridge-based games without any copyrighted BIOS. For disk/tape support, real BIOS ROMs are required.

80 files | 15 required, 65 optional | 80 in repo, 0 missing | 1 with HLE fallback

`MSX.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- MSX1 generic BIOS. Used by default 'MSX' machine config.

`MSXJ.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXJ.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX - Japanese/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 Japanese BIOS. Used by 'MSX - Japanese' machine.

`MSXBR.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXBR.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 Brazilian BIOS.

`MSXFR.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXFR.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 French BIOS.

`MSXG.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXG.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 German BIOS.

`MSXKR.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXKR.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 Korean BIOS.

`MSXR.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXR.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 Russian BIOS.

`MSXSE.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXSE.ROM`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 Swedish BIOS.

`MSXSP.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXSP.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- MSX1 Spanish BIOS.

`MSXAR.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXAR.ROM`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 Arabic BIOS.

`MSXR2.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXR2.ROM`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- MSX1 Russian BIOS (variant 2).

`MSXHAN.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXHAN.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 8.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX1 Korean Hangul extension ROM.

`MSX2.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- MSX2 generic main BIOS. Used by default 'MSX2' machine config.

`MSX2EXT.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2EXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- MSX2 extension BIOS (SubROM). Required alongside MSX2.rom.

`MSX2J.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2J.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Japanese main BIOS.

`MSX2JEXT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2JEXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Japanese extension BIOS.

`MSX2BR.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2BR.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Brazilian main BIOS.

`MSX2BREXT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2BREXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Brazilian extension BIOS.

`MSX2FR.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2FR.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 French main BIOS.

`MSX2FREXT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2FREXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 French extension BIOS.

`MSX2G.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2G.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 German main BIOS.

`MSX2GEXT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2GEXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 German extension BIOS.

`MSX2KR.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2KR.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Korean main BIOS.

`MSX2KREXT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2KREXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Korean extension BIOS.

`MSX2R.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2R.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Russian main BIOS.

`MSX2REXT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2REXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Russian extension BIOS.

`MSX2R2.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2R2.ROM`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Russian main BIOS (variant 2).

`MSX2SE.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2SE.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Swedish main BIOS.

`MSX2SP.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2SP.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Spanish main BIOS.

`MSX2SPEXT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2SPEXT.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Spanish extension BIOS.

`MSX2AR.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2AR.ROM`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Arabic main BIOS.

`MSX2AREXT.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2AREXT.ROM`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Arabic extension BIOS.

`MSX2HAN.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2HAN.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2 Korean Hangul BIOS.

`MSX2P.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2P.rom`
- System: msx2plus
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2+/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- MSX2+ main BIOS. Used by default 'MSX2+' machine config (auto-selected for .dsk/.cas/.rom).

`MSX2PEXT.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2PEXT.rom`
- System: msx2plus
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2+/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- MSX2+ extension BIOS (SubROM).

`MSX2PMUS.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSX2PMUS.rom`
- System: msx2plus
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2+/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX2+ MSX-MUSIC BIOS (FM-PAC built-in). Used by MSX2+ and MSX2 default configs.

`MSXTR.ROM` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXTR.ROM`
- System: msxturboR
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSXturboR/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX turboR main BIOS.

`MSXTREXT.ROM` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXTREXT.ROM`
- System: msxturboR
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSXturboR/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX turboR extension BIOS.

`MSXTRMUS.ROM` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXTRMUS.ROM`
- System: msxturboR
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSXturboR/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX turboR MSX-MUSIC BIOS.

`MSXTROPT.ROM` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXTROPT.ROM`
- System: msxturboR
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSXturboR/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX turboR option ROM (firmware utilities).

`MSXDOS23.ROM` -required

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXDOS23.ROM`
- System: msxturboR
- Size: 64.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSXturboR/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX-DOS 2.3 ROM. Used by turboR default config for disk operations.

`KANJI.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/KANJI.rom`
- Size: 256.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2+/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- Kanji font ROM (256 KB). Used by MSX2+, turboR, and Japanese MSX2 machines.

`MSXKANJI.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MSXKANJI.rom`
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2+/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX-Kanji driver ROM. Used by MSX2+, turboR, and Japanese MSX2 for kanji display.

`FMPAC.rom` -optional, HLE available

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/FMPAC.rom`
- Size: 64.0 KB
- Source: `Src/Memory/MegaromCartridge.c:289-305`
- Platforms: recalbox
- FM-PAC cartridge ROM (YM2413 FM synthesis). If missing, core uses built-in minimal ROM stub.

`XBASIC2.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/XBASIC2.rom`
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MSX-BASIC 2 extension ROM. Used by MSX2, MSX2+, and turboR default configs.

`PAINT.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/PAINT.rom`
- Size: 64.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Paint utility ROM. Used by some MSX2 Japanese machine configs.

`SWP.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/SWP.rom`
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Software World Processor ROM. Used by Al Alamiah MSX2 machines.

`ARABIC.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/ARABIC.rom`
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Arabic character set extension ROM.

`HANGUL.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/HANGUL.rom`
- Size: 128.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Korean Hangul font ROM (128 KB).

`RS232.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/RS232.ROM`
- Size: 8.0 KB
- Platforms: lakka, recalbox, retroarch, retrodeck, retropie
- RS-232C serial interface ROM.

`MOONSOUND.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MOONSOUND.rom`
- Size: 2.0 MB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- MoonSound (OPL4) wavetable ROM (2 MB). Used by MSX2, MSX2+, and turboR configs.

`PANASONICDISK.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/PANASONICDISK.rom`
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX2+/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Panasonic disk controller ROM. Used by MSX2+ and turboR default configs.

`PHILIPSDISK.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/PHILIPSDISK.rom`
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/MSX/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Philips disk controller ROM. Used by MSX1 and MSX2 default configs.

`NATIONALDISK.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/NATIONALDISK.rom`
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- National disk controller ROM.

`MICROSOLDISK.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/MICROSOLDISK.ROM`
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Microsol disk controller ROM.

`SUNRISEIDE.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/SUNRISEIDE.rom`
- Size: 64.0 KB
- Source: `Src/Memory/MegaromCartridge.c:310`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Sunrise IDE interface ROM. Loaded as expansion cartridge.

`BEERIDE.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/BEERIDE.ROM`
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `Src/Memory/MegaromCartridge.c:318`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Beer IDE interface ROM.

`NOVAXIS.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/NOVAXIS.rom`
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Source: `Src/Memory/MegaromCartridge.c:326`
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Novaxis SCSI interface ROM.

`nowindDos1.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/nowindDos1.rom`
- Size: 512.0 KB
- Source: `Src/Memory/MegaromCartridge.c:334`
- Platforms: recalbox
- Nowind USB disk interface with MSX-DOS 1.

`nowindDos2.rom` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/nowindDos2.rom`
- Size: 512.0 KB
- Source: `Src/Memory/MegaromCartridge.c:338`
- Platforms: recalbox
- Nowind USB disk interface with MSX-DOS 2.

`GCVMX80.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/GCVMX80.ROM`
- Size: 8.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- GCV MX-80 printer interface ROM.

`ARAB1.ROM` -optional

- Path: `Machines/Shared Roms/ARAB1.ROM`
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox, retrodeck
- Arabic support ROM (variant 1).

`cbios_main_msx1.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX - C-BIOS/cbios_main_msx1.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX1 main ROM (open source). Bundled with core. Cartridge games only.

`cbios_logo_msx1.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX - C-BIOS/cbios_logo_msx1.rom`
- System: msx
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX1 logo ROM (open source). Bundled with core.

`cbios_main_msx2.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX2 - C-BIOS/cbios_main_msx2.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX2 main ROM (open source). Bundled with core. Cartridge games only.

`cbios_logo_msx2.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX2 - C-BIOS/cbios_logo_msx2.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX2 logo ROM (open source). Bundled with core.

`cbios_sub.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX2 - C-BIOS/cbios_sub.rom`
- System: msx2
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX2/MSX2+ sub ROM (open source). Bundled with core.

`cbios_main_msx2+.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX2+ - C-BIOS/cbios_main_msx2+.rom`
- System: msx2plus
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX2+ main ROM (open source). Bundled with core. Cartridge games only.

`cbios_logo_msx2+.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX2+ - C-BIOS/cbios_logo_msx2+.rom`
- System: msx2plus
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX2+ logo ROM (open source). Bundled with core.

`cbios_music.rom` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Machines/MSX2+ - C-BIOS/cbios_music.rom`
- System: msx2plus
- Size: 16.0 KB
- Platforms: recalbox
- C-BIOS MSX2+ music ROM (open source). Bundled with core.

`coleco.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/COL - ColecoVision/coleco.rom`
- System: colecovision
- Size: 8.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/COL - ColecoVision/config.ini`
- Platforms: lakka, recalbox, retroarch, retrobat, retrodeck, retropie
- ColecoVision BIOS ROM. Required for ColecoVision mode.

`sf7000.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/SEGA - SF-7000/sf7000.rom`
- System: sega-sf7000
- Size: 8.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/SEGA - SF-7000/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- Sega SF-7000 BIOS ROM. SG-1000 and SC-3000 have no BIOS requirement.

`svi318.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/SVI - Spectravideo SVI-318/svi318.rom`
- System: spectravideo
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/SVI - Spectravideo SVI-318/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- SVI-318 BIOS ROM.

`svi328.rom` -required

- Path: `Machines/SVI - Spectravideo SVI-328/svi328.rom`
- System: spectravideo
- Size: 32.0 KB
- Source: `system/bluemsx/Machines/SVI - Spectravideo SVI-328/config.ini`
- Platforms: recalbox
- SVI-328 BIOS ROM.

`msxromdb.xml` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Databases/msxromdb.xml`
- MSX ROM database for mapper auto-detection. Bundled with core.

`msxsysromdb.xml` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Databases/msxsysromdb.xml`
- MSX system ROM database. Bundled with core.

`colecodb.xml` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Databases/colecodb.xml`
- ColecoVision ROM database. Bundled with core.

`msxcaswavdb.xml` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Databases/msxcaswavdb.xml`
- MSX cassette/WAV media database. Bundled with core.

`segadb.xml` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Databases/segadb.xml`
- Sega SG-1000/SC-3000/SF-7000 ROM database. Bundled with core.

`svidb.xml` -optional, bundled in binary

- Path: `Databases/svidb.xml`
- Spectravideo SVI ROM database. Bundled with core.

## Data directories

- `bluemsx` >``

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