MiSTer FPGA Sees New Launcher, Arcade Cores, and Hardware
The MiSTer FPGA platform continues its impressive expansion, with a flurry of new developments spanning user interfaces, arcade core accuracy, and even dedicated hardware. This week, RetroRGB reports on several key updates, including Zaparoo's new graphical launcher, which finally brings game artwork to the front end, a feature many of us have been waiting for to make the MiSTer feel more like a dedicated console than a barebones Linux box.
Zaparoo's launcher provides a much-needed visual upgrade for navigating games on the MiSTer. While still in beta, it already supports displaying game artwork, a critical element for a more polished user experience. Media scraping for this artwork must be handled externally using a third-party programme on a computer, but future plans include search, filtering, and even cathode ray tube, or CRT, support. Instructions for setup are available on the Zaparoo blog and within the archive's readme file.
New Cores and Hardware Innovations
Core development for the MiSTer FPGA remains incredibly active. The creator behind the excellent Darius 1 and Darius 2 cores is now working on Jaleco’s 1985 arcade title, City Connection. This platformer involves driving a car over elevated platforms to change their colour from white to green. The developer spent days disassembling the original 6809 read-only memory, or ROM, to resolve a pixel position bug, with assistance from a YouTube video showcasing the real arcade printed circuit board, or PCB, according to RetroRGB reports. Downloads are not yet available for this promising core.
On the hardware front, the MultiSystem2 Arcade is now open for pre-orders. This JAMMA-compatible board is designed for arcade cabinets, supporting original controls and CRT monitors. Crucially, it includes an integrated field-programmable gate array, or FPGA, removing the need for a separate DE10-Nano development board or its clones. This makes it a self-contained solution for arcade enthusiasts, according to Zaparoo blog. Shipping for the MultiSystem2 Arcade is scheduled for August 2026, priced at £258.
Software Tools and Enhanced Authenticity
JasonA has released SMS BASIC 1.0, a version of the BASIC programming language specifically developed for the Sega Master System. Based on NASCOM BASIC, it incorporates graphics and audio commands that fully use the Master System's capabilities. A PC keyboard connected to the MiSTer FPGA should function with this, as the documentation mentions keyboard hotkeys. However, using it with original Master System hardware would require a dedicated keyboard adapter. You can download the core from the MiSTerFPGA forums.
MiSTer Organize has also introduced a new repository called MiSTer Frontier. This repository will house various hybrid cores they are developing, including those for PICO-8 and OpenBOR, according to MiSTerFPGA forums. Users can enable this repository within the 'Other Cores' section of the Update All script, simplifying access to these community-driven projects.
The Pursuit of Accuracy and User Experience
Jotego, a prolific core developer, is actively working on several new arcade cores, including Operation Wolf, Rainbow Islands, Gradius, and Argus. Jotego has openly discussed using artificial intelligence tools like Codex and Claude in their development process, exploring the extent to which these tools can assist in core creation. These cores are not yet released.
For those who use RetroAchievements on their MiSTer FPGA, a new RetroAchievements Viewer is now available via the Update All script. This tool, posted about by Anime0t4ku, allows users to view their completed achievements directly on their device, enhancing the integrated experience. MiSTer Companion support is also expected soon.
The development of Mike Simone's alternate NES core is particularly interesting. While the official core provides a pristine RGB signal, Simone's approach to generating composite video directly from the Picture Processing Unit, or PPU, offers a more authentic representation of how the original Nintendo Entertainment System hardware rendered its output. This commitment to signal accuracy, even down to the analogue artefacts, shows a deep understanding of the original console's quirks and is a proof of the MiSTer community's dedication to preservation beyond just cycle-accurate emulation. You can download this core by enabling Mike Simone’s cores in Update All.
Finally, developer danifunker is in the early stages of creating a core for the Apple Macintosh II. This personal computer, produced by Apple between March 1987 and January 1990, was notable for being the first Macintosh capable of displaying colour graphics, powered by a Motorola 68020 32-bit central processing unit, or CPU. Currently, the core supports partial CPU and sound functions, with a Discord video showing garbled graphics but the distinctive startup sound playing. This early work hints at the potential for MiSTer to bring even more diverse computing platforms into the FPGA preservation fold, expanding beyond its traditional gaming focus.
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Originally published by RetroRGB. Read original article.