v2026.04.02/emulators/tic80.yml

emulator: TIC-80
type: libretro
core_classification: game_engine
source: "https://github.com/libretro/TIC-80"
upstream: "https://github.com/nesbox/TIC-80"
profiled_date: "2026-03-25"
core_version: "0.80.0"
display_name: "TIC-80"
cores:
  - tic80
systems:
  - tic80

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.

files: []

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).