RetroArch vs ShadPS4
RetroArch
retroarch.comShadPS4
shadps4.netSide by side
| Figure | RetroArch | ShadPS4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Console Emulators | 8.4 (#7) | 7.4 (#30) |
| Privacy | The privacy policy says third-party vendors including Google use advertising cookies on some of the project’s websites. | The privacy policy says hardware, operating system, configuration, game, and version information may appear in local logs and is not automatically transmitted to the project. |
| Purpose | RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines and media players that runs classic games through a graphical interface with unified settings. | shadPS4 is an early PlayStation 4 emulator written in C++. |
| Support | The FAQ directs users to the forums, Discord and documentation for help. | The site directs users to Discord for help, questions, and general discussion. |
Plans
In their own words
RetroArch
RetroArch is a frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, bringing them under a unified settings system. The RetroArch/Libretro project includes more than 200 cores across those categories. Its menu can group scanned games by system and display thumbnails and animated backgrounds. Common game controllers configure automatically when plugged in, and button actions can also be assigned manually.
Stackable shaders can change rendered graphics or imitate the look of CRT monitors. Built-in netplay supports hosting or joining network gaming sessions, including spectator mode. RetroArch can record gameplay to video files and stream games to Twitch or YouTube. Versions are listed for Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, and web browsers. RetroArch is free and open source under GPL version 3; the libretro API uses an MIT license. Features differ by platform and store version: the browser edition has lower performance and fewer capabilities than the full version, while Steam lacks Core Updater and thumbnail scraping and offers a selected core set.