VITA GBA Emulation on PS Vita: gpsp Core in RetroArch Outperforms mGBA!

[trogdorzz]

Just acquired a Vita, really enjoying it for its PSP capabilities.

I read online that gba emulation could be tricky with the Vita; the mGBA port is functional but the gpsp core in retroarch is really shining! Very fast, and low latency (even without latency options in RA besides disabling vsync) and a good size of screen even with integer scaling.

Just a PSA for people looking to get GBA functional on these things!

 

[Deleted member 25310]

I had a single issue with mGBA and is that some games have no AP patching, I was playing Mario & Luigi Super Star Saga and after a certain point after the prologue the game just froze, after looking at it I found out that pirated copies of the game tend to do that, so I recomend using something else.

 

[Cu-Neo]

If it helps somehow, I always recommend installing Adrenaline and using the PSP TempGBA mod emulator. I think is the most stable way to play GBA.

I always love seeing that picture ?

 

[Deleted member 25310]

If it helps somehow, I always recommend installing Adrenaline and using the PSP TempGBA mod emulator. I think is the most stable way to play GBA.

Using an emulator, on a emulator...

 

[Xeno]

Using an emulator, on a emulator...
View attachment 20571

Adrenaline isn't an emulator. The Vita has the PSP hardware, it plays PSP games natively.
Fun fact: The 3DS includes the DS and GBA hardware, so it plays 3DS/DS/GBA natively.

 

[SpcDaicon]

I was using mGBA on my Vita but run into some framerate drops (was playing Drill Drozer). Nothing really gamebreaking but is noticible

 

[Skeetos]

The Vita has been my portable godsend ever since I bought one 2 years ago. I kick myself for not getting one sooner, I always wanted one but could never get one. All I need now is a 3DS and I'll be set on portable consoles.

 

[fishboneKiller]

one thing i will suggest, the retroarch core for one of the gba emulators (i think it was mgba) can properly emulate warioware twisted with the motion controls of the vita, and it's a really great way to play that game. if you get the chance, give it a shot!!

 

[Bakuma1997]

Cool, if you can figure how you could play natively Warioware Twisted as intended (Tried it on anything short of a phone, not the same)

 

[trogdorzz]

I was using mGBA on my Vita but run into some framerate drops (was playing Drill Drozer). Nothing really gamebreaking but is noticible

Try the gpsp core! I had the same issue with mGBA.

Post automatically merged: Feb 3, 2025

If it helps somehow, I always recommend installing Adrenaline and using the PSP TempGBA mod emulator. I think is the most stable way to play GBA.
View attachment 20568
I always love seeing that picture ?

Is it still under active development? That would be pretty hilarious if this really was the most stable way!

 

[Yoru Momo]

I read online that gba emulation could be tricky with the Vita; the mGBA port is functional but the gpsp core in retroarch is really shining!

It is however full of shyt
Unless ROM is closed manually you ll lose all of the savedata.

[vita] Config and game saves not saved · Issue #6803 · libretro/RetroArch

Description On the PS Vita version of RetroArch, configuration changes and game saves are all lost when closing RetroArch through what I understand to be the usual method of closing an app on the V...

github.com

 

[LatinWizard99]

Adrenaline isn't an emulator. The Vita has the PSP hardware, it plays PSP games natively.
Fun fact: The 3DS includes the DS and GBA hardware, so it plays 3DS/DS/GBA natively.

adrenaline its a eCFW, boots up the psp emulator that sony made for the vita, so its technically an emulator that uses the native hardware thats present on the vita, hybrid lets say

 

[Picorin81]

emu4vita is a good way to play gba games, specially the standalones for gba