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# Panda3DS - RetroBIOS

Type | standalone + libretro
Classification | official_port
Source | https://github.com/panda3ds-emu/panda3ds
Version | Git
Profiled | 2026-03-24
Cores | panda3ds
Systems | nintendo-3ds
Core name | panda3ds_libretro

Technical notes

HLE 3DS emulator. Most games run without system files. Encrypted ROMs need AES keys in sysdata/aes_keys.txt, and seed-encrypted titles (9.6+) also need sysdata/seeddb.bin. DSP firmware is loaded from the game itself (HLE/LLE/Null modes via core option panda3ds_dsp_emulation). System archives (shared font, bad word list, country list, mii data) are compiled into the binary via cmrc. The libretro core uses the save directory, not RetroArch's system directory. Files go under <save_dir>/Emulator Files/sysdata/. The .info declares firmware_count=0. is_experimental = true.

2 files | 0 required, 2 optional | 2 in repo, 0 missing

`aes_keys.txt` -optional : AES encryption keys for decrypting encrypted ROMs

- Path: `Emulator Files/sysdata/aes_keys.txt`
- Source: `src/emulator.cpp:229,237-238, src/core/crypto/aes_engine.cpp:13-92`
- Platforms: emudeck, retrodeck
- Loaded at ROM load time from appDataRoot/sysdata/aes_keys.txt. In libretro mode, appDataRoot = <save_dir>/Emulator Files/. Contains key slot entries (generator, keyX, keyY, normalKey). Only needed for encrypted .3ds/.cci/.cxi/.app files. Decrypted dumps work without this file.

`seeddb.bin` -optional : Seed database for seed-encrypted games

- Path: `Emulator Files/sysdata/seeddb.bin`
- Source: `src/emulator.cpp:230,241-242, src/core/loader/ncch.cpp:78-93`
- Used for titles with seed encryption (firmware 9.6+). Placed alongside aes_keys.txt in the sysdata directory. Without it, seed-encrypted titles fail to load with a warning.

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