The story so far

A decade of pressing start.

67 upstream announcements, independently summarized. Follow the releases, hardware milestones, and community work that brought RetroPie here.

History belongs to its makers.

These are dated summaries of the UK project's published news, not releases or announcements from retropie.us. Every entry links to its original article. No upstream sponsorship or endorsement transfers to this site.

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Year

67 stories

2022-03-14

Happy Pi Day – RetroPie 4.8 is released

The 4.8 release moved the downloadable images forward on Buster, adding Zero 2 W and newer Pi 4 firmware support. It also refreshed the setup interface and package-management workflow.

2021-09-03

Vilros sponsorship

Upstream announced a funding arrangement with Vilros tied to its Raspberry Pi gaming kits. This historical sponsorship belongs to the RetroPie project, not this independent site.

2021-01-15

More Power and USB-C for the ControlBlock

A ControlBlock hardware revision added USB-C power and revised switching circuitry. The article describes its controller connections and power-button features.

2020-11-04

RetroPie 4.7.1 update

Version 4.7.1 addressed frontend performance regressions on earlier Raspberry Pi boards and repaired scraping behavior. The release reverted a rendering path for affected legacy drivers.

2020-11-02

Raspberry Pi 400 is released

The keyboard-shaped Raspberry Pi 400 arrived with support in RetroPie 4.7. Upstream directed owners to the shared Pi 4/400 download.

2020-11-02

RetroPie 4.7 is now available

RetroPie 4.7 removed the beta designation from Pi 4 support and added the Pi 400 to the supported release-image family.

2020-04-28

RetroPie 4.6 released with Raspberry Pi 4 support.

Version 4.6 introduced a downloadable Pi 4 image with beta support. The announcement also explained that development continued between prebuilt image releases.

2019-09-06

ControlBlock and PowerBlock Support Raspberry Pi 4 and Momentary Buttons

Revised ControlBlock and PowerBlock firmware accommodated Pi 4 boot behavior and momentary power buttons. Existing hardware revisions needed separate consideration.

2019-07-30

RetroPie 4.5.1 update

The 4.5.1 refresh addressed video-output problems following the previous kernel update. Upstream returned to a previously tested kernel while handling overscan issues.

2019-07-04

Composite out broken on RetroPie 4.5

Upstream documented a composite-video regression in 4.5 and its connection to firmware changes. The historical recovery directions should not be applied to modern Pi 5 systems.

2019-07-03

RetroPie 4.5 is released

Release 4.5 retained a Stretch base and did not support the then-new Pi 4. Its announcement was subsequently amended to flag composite-video problems.

2019-03-26

Interview with RetroPie on the digitalSoup podcast

Developer Jools Wills discussed RetroPie on the digitalSoup podcast. The original post links to the interview and credits the hosts.

2018-07-05

RetroPie USA trademark resolved

The RetroPie team reported resolving a US trademark dispute with legal assistance from Eckland & Blando. This history reinforces the importance of distinguishing independent projects from upstream.

2018-04-14

RetroPie 4.4 is released

Version 4.4 adopted Stretch-based images and added Pi 3 Model B+ support. Upstream recommended a clean installation and highlighted the Wi-Fi country setting.

2017-10-13

GamepadBlock: Arcade and Original Game Controller USB Interface

The GamepadBlock announcement explored connecting arcade and original console controls through USB, extending beyond Raspberry Pi-specific add-on boards.

2017-09-21

RetroPie 4.3 is released

Release 4.3 expanded EmulationStation with collections, favourites, screensavers, and power-saving options. It also introduced a source-install path for ODroid XU3/XU4 hardware.

2017-03-20

RetroPie 4.2 is released

Version 4.2 brought frontend video support, a newer RetroArch, and a Pi Zero W-compatible image. Additional emulator modules broadened the experimental options.

2017-02-27

Thanks for the support

The team thanked people who offered advice and support following its request for help with the US trademark dispute. The post described an ongoing review of options.

2017-02-24

Legal help needed

Upstream sought legal help after a third party registered the RetroPie name in the United States. Later archive coverage records the reported resolution.

2017-02-19

New Functions for the ControlBlock

A ControlBlock driver update added four-player arrangements, Genesis controller support, configurable shutdown behavior, and another SNES-mode input option.

2016-11-05

RetroPie 4.1 is released

Release 4.1 refreshed arcade cores and standalone emulators. It also added a hardware-accelerated Quake port and further experimental packages for PC users.

2016-10-06

The MagPi 50th issue released

The MagPi included RetroPie among its notable software projects in issue 50. Upstream used the announcement to acknowledge contributors and emulator developers.

2016-08-30

RetroPie 4.0.2 is released

Version 4.0.2 concentrated on fixes and added Dolphin for x86-family machines. That historical Dolphin availability was not a claim of Raspberry Pi support.

2016-08-19

RetroPie 4.0 is released

RetroPie 4.0 reorganized package management around a more modular installation. Controller setup, N64 behavior, and configuration tools also received attention.

2016-06-04

RetroPie 3.8.1 is released

Release 3.8.1 fixed direct DOS-game launch commands and GPIO driver build problems. The announcement separately noted an Xbox-controller driver issue tied to a kernel update.

2016-05-29

Power Switch for your Arcade Machine? The PowerBlock got an Upgrade

The PowerBlock hardware update added mounting support for the Pi Zero while retaining power-switch and status-light functions for custom builds.

2016-05-27

RetroPie 3.8 is released

Version 3.8 included a firmware and driver update targeting Pi 3 Bluetooth lockups, alongside rendering, emulator, and splash-screen changes.

2016-04-14

RetroPie 3.7 is released

Release 3.7 accompanied the launch of the new website and forum. It added experimental modules, an LXDE installation option, and work on controller use in Kodi.

2016-04-06

New website

RetroPie established its own website and a new NodeBB forum after outgrowing its earlier home. Existing forum discussions were not migrated into the new layout.

2016-03-01

RetroPie 3.6 is released

Version 3.6 arrived early to support the Raspberry Pi 3. It also added experimental emulators and addressed an arcade coin-input problem.

2016-02-06

RetroPie 3.5 is released

Release 3.5 automated first-boot filesystem expansion and refined the launch menu. It also repaired Jessie-related behavior and introduced additional experimental engines.

2016-01-19

RetroPie 3.4 is released

Version 3.4 corrected configuration defaults and Jessie issues while beginning work on x86 desktop and ODroid-C1 installation paths.

2015-12-21

RetroPie 3.3 is released

Release 3.3 introduced Jessie beta images and improved automatic controller configuration. PSP and Dreamcast emulators moved beyond the experimental package category.

2015-10-28

RetroPie 3.2.1 is released

Version 3.2.1 repaired a configuration regression affecting digital directional pads on fresh installations. Existing installations upgraded through setup were not affected in the same way.

2015-10-26

RetroPie 3.2 is released

Release 3.2 refreshed emulator binaries and configuration modules, added Jessie binary-install support, and expanded experimental emulator choices.

2015-10-06

RetroPie 3.1 is released

Version 3.1 introduced the lighter Carbon theme, additional arcade emulators, graphical configuration tools, and BerryBoot image options.

2015-08-11

RetroPie 3.0 is released

RetroPie 3.0 brought together a substantial integration update, including graphical Wi-Fi/configuration tools and additional emulators and ports.

2015-07-18

RetroPie 3.0.0 RC1 is released

The 3.0 release candidate refined input configuration and added basic controller navigation in setup and launch menus. It also expanded Spectrum options.

2015-06-18

RetroPie 3.0.0 BETA 4 is released

The fourth 3.0 beta addressed RetroArch menu input and controller configuration, including a revised location for joypad configuration files.

2015-06-10

RetroPie 3.0.0 BETA 3 is released

The third 3.0 beta linked EmulationStation input setup to RetroArch configuration. It also introduced several experimental emulators and game engines.

2015-04-04

RetroPie 3.0.0 BETA 2 is released

The second 3.0 beta expanded launch and display configuration and added experimental engines and cores, including Atari 7800 support.

2015-03-26

RetroPie 3.0.0 BETA is released

The first 3.0 beta redesigned emulator selection around shared per-system game directories, with per-game and per-system launch choices.

2015-02-17

RetroPie 2.6.0 is released

Version 2.6 updated Amiga, Atari, and N64 components, refined SDL behavior, and introduced Pi 2-specific optimizations and experimental cores.

2015-02-07

RetroPie 2.5.0 is released

Release 2.5 added firmware for Raspberry Pi 2, refreshed binaries, repaired USB transfer behavior, and simplified several default settings.

2015-01-17

RetroPie 2.4.2 is released

Version 2.4.2 revised C64 defaults and configuration paths, added a Vectrex core, and addressed framebuffer behavior after exiting emulators.

2015-01-11

RetroPie 2.4.1 is released

Release 2.4.1 delivered a small set of corrections and refreshed the setup script.

2015-01-06

RetroPie 2.4 is released

Version 2.4 added per-emulator display controls, more emulators and experimental ports, and a leaner base package selection.

2014-07-20

RetroPie 2.3 is released

Release 2.3 was a maintenance update focused on bug fixes.

2014-07-05

RetroPie 2.2 is released

Version 2.2 added a PC Engine core and corrected Sega, arcade, Samba, and helper-script configuration.

2014-06-29

RetroPie 2.1 is released

Release 2.1 addressed the black screen on return to the console and cleaned up game-launch and directory metadata issues.

2014-05-29

RetroPie 2.0 is released

Version 2.0 reorganized installation under /opt/retropie, adopted EmulationStation 2, rebuilt binaries, and expanded command-line setup capabilities.

2013-12-02

RetroPie 1.10.1 is released

Release 1.10.1 refreshed the base packages and splash screen and introduced the FastDosbox emulator.

2013-11-12

RetroPie 1.9.1 is released

Version 1.9.1 targeted a freezing problem reported in the preceding release.

2013-11-06

RetroPie 1.9 is released

Release 1.9 expanded arcade and N64 emulation and added setup controls for splash screens, network play, and debugging.

2013-09-13

RetroPie 1.8.1 is released

Version 1.8.1 addressed a frontend freeze and restored a source-install path for a PC Engine core.

2013-09-04

RetroPie 1.8 is released

Release 1.8 introduced PicoDrive and PiFBA while refreshing frontend and emulation components.

2013-07-14

RetroPie 1.7 is released

Version 1.7 added ES-Config and Stella for Atari 2600 emulation, alongside frontend and x86-emulator updates.

2013-06-12

RetroPie 1.6.1 is released

Release 1.6.1 repaired the packaged gpSP binary.

2013-06-05

RetroPie 1.6 is released

Version 1.6 added Basilisk II and Dispmanx integration and refined resolution switching while updating installable components.

2013-05-05

RetroPie 1.5 is released

Release 1.5 broadened Game Boy Advance and SNES options, added GPIO controller drivers, and refreshed the frontend and rpix86.

2013-04-17

RetroPie 1.4.1 is released

Version 1.4.1 updated EmulationStation and rpix86.

2013-04-07

RetroPie 1.4 is released

Release 1.4 introduced automatic USB game-file transfer and system-specific HDMI resolution changes, plus rpix86 and Linapple.

2013-03-18

RetroPie 1.3.1 is released

Version 1.3.1 made small adjustments to file organization.

2013-03-07

RetroPie 1.3 is released

Release 1.3 added NXEngine, refreshed DGEN, and improved the supplied RetroArch controller configuration.

2013-02-25

RetroPie 1.2.1 is released

Version 1.2.1 reduced the image partition layout to fit 4 GB cards.

2013-02-20

RetroPie 1.2 is released

Release 1.2 added Intellivision emulation and Samba setup, used binary installation for image generation, and refreshed themes.

2013-02-10

RetroPie 1.1 is released

Version 1.1 expanded arcade emulation with AdvMAME and Final Burn Alpha and restored a Genesis core.