EmulationStation

Spec sheet

Purpose

EmulationStation is a graphical, themeable front end that brings games from different emulators together in one place.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Platforms

The download page lists Windows, Debian, Arch, and Raspberry Pi options.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Support

The maker directs users to the GitHub issue tracker to report bugs or seek help.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Configuration

Users configure systems in an XML file that specifies game locations, file extensions, launch commands, and optional scraping and theme names.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Controller navigation

Its interface can be used with a four-button controller without a keyboard, and controller setup is done within the program.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Controller setup

The interface supports four-button controllers, which users can configure within the program.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Downloads

The download page offers Windows installers and ZIP files, Raspberry Pi images and manual builds, and Debian packages; it also links to Arch's AUR.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Emulator compatibility

It can work with virtually any program, but emulators must be configured separately.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Game metadata

The built-in scraper can download game names, descriptions, box art, ratings, release dates, developers, publishers, genres, and player counts.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Maintenance

The official site says it is for the original EmulationStation and was last updated in 2015.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Notable limit

Users must configure the emulators themselves; EmulationStation is the front end.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Open source

The maker describes EmulationStation as open source, and its GitHub repository displays an MIT license.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com

Raspberry Pi

The site says EmulationStation performs well on low-powered devices such as Raspberry Pi and serves as RetroPie's front end.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

RetroPie

RetroPie uses EmulationStation as a front end, but the maker says RetroPie is a separate project and its version is a fork with project-specific customizations and features.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

RetroPie distinction

RetroPie is a separate project, and its EmulationStation version is a fork with RetroPie-specific customizations and features.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Security and compliance

The opened official pages do not state security certifications or compliance claims.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Themes

The theming system lets users customize screens separately for each system.Read 8 Oct 2026 · emulationstation.org

Where Specifiction places it

• Game Library Managers#29 of 407.1
• Emulation Frontends#20 of 257.2
• Game launchers#59 of 686.7