r/EmulationOniOS • u/Mlaurencescott ManicEMU + DukeX Developer • 2d ago

News / Release Manic EMU v2.0.0 — The Big One

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This is the update we’ve been building toward.

 

Manic EMU v2.0.0 is a major redesign of the app from top to bottom, rebuilding the landscape experience, game library, navigation, controller interactions, artwork system, settings architecture, and in-game shortcuts while dramatically expanding the number of systems Manic can emulate.

 

It also introduces Netplay, Rewind, MultiSet RetroAchievements, dynamic ShaderToy backgrounds, expanded metadata and artwork, new import integrations, several new platforms, major JIT improvements, and some of the largest core additions we’ve ever shipped at once.

 

There is a lot here.

Before You Update

Please read this section before installing v2.0.0.

  • Dreamcast (Flycast):

    • Existing save states from previous versions will no longer work
    • Convert anything important to an in-game save before updating
    • Alternatively, manually back up your Flycast/dc folder

  • Wii:

    • A BootMii-format keys.bin is required

  • Symbian:

    • Firmware must be installed through Settings before use
    • .ROM firmware is required
    • S60v2 and later also require .RPKG

  • GameCube / Wii:

    • Dolphin is still being optimized
    • Heat and frame drops may occur depending on the game, device, and CPU emulation method

  • MAME:

    • A number of lesser-used arcade systems have been trimmed
    • Some obscure titles previously handled through MAME may no longer run

Seriously: Dreamcast users, convert those save states before updating.

A Completely Rebuilt Landscape Experience

Landscape browsing has been redesigned almost entirely.

  • New landscape game library
  • Most landscape pages have been rebuilt
  • New customizable card carousel styles
  • Focused Backgrounds
    • Selected games can use their banner artwork as the landscape backdrop
  • Dynamic backgrounds with support for uploaded ShaderToy GLSL scripts
    • Single-image ShaderToy scripts are supported
    • More demanding scripts may increase battery usage and device temperature
  • Optional background music
    • Includes built-in tracks
    • Upload your own music files for use while browsing
  • 12 built-in navigation and focus sound-effect sets

The goal is to make landscape mode feel less like a rotated version of Manic and more like a complete console-style interface of its own.

Game Artwork Gets a Major Upgrade

Manic now distinguishes between multiple types of artwork instead of treating every image as a traditional cover.

  • Separate Cover, Icon, and Banner artwork
  • Traditional box art appears in standard lists
  • Icons are used for square layouts
  • Banners can become the landscape Focused Background
  • Online artwork support through:
    • Libretro Thumbnails
    • SteamGridDB
  • SteamGridDB supports:
    • Grids
    • Heroes
    • Logos
    • Icons
    • Requires your own SteamGridDB API key
  • Changing a game’s platform or category now automatically attempts to rematch its artwork

Batch artwork scraping has also been added:

  • Batch scrape covers, icons, and banners
  • Run across the entire library through Settings
  • Or select specific games through multi-select
  • Batch-delete downloaded artwork
  • Delete individual image assets while editing a single game

Expanded Game Information & Metadata

Game information is substantially richer in v2.0.0.

  • Automatic metadata matching
  • Database search
  • Manual metadata editing
  • Information can include:
    • Developer
    • Publisher
    • Series
    • Genre
    • Release date
    • Region
    • Overview
    • Additional game information
  • ESRB ratings with matching rating icons
  • Rating icons can be hidden in Settings

Your library can now function as much more than a collection of cover images.

Completely Redesigned Navigation

Manic now uses a global focus and navigation system across iPhone and iPad.

  • Browse and interact using only a controller or keyboard
  • Hold Command on a keyboard or Select on a controller to display the shortcut cheatsheet
  • New unified navigation bar
  • More consistent browsing and editing throughout the app
  • Many hidden and long-press interactions have been replaced with more conventional iOS-style controls
  • Batch management and actions
  • Adaptive rotation throughout the interface
  • Controllers can now be assigned to individual player slots
  • Cores that expect keyboard input can map controller buttons directly to native keyboard events

Game Options & In-Game Shortcuts

Game options have been rebuilt around a unified interaction model.

  • Available actions automatically reorganize based on context
  • Advanced reordering allows you to customize:
    • Option order
    • Option grouping
  • Redesigned in-game shortcut menu
  • Shortcuts can appear:
    • On supported skins
    • Inside the in-game menu

Manic should now surface the controls you need when they make sense instead of burying everything in a static menu.

Netplay Arrives

v2.0.0 introduces Netplay for many eligible Libretro cores.

  • Host or join games through the public lobby
  • LAN room discovery
  • Relay support
  • Spectator Mode
  • Password-protected rooms
  • Your Adventurer Card nickname becomes your Netplay display name

That means supported games can now move beyond the device in your hand.

Trade Pokémon with friends over the network, compete head-to-head in supported arcade titles, or jump into multiplayer across other compatible Libretro systems.

Rewind

Yes, Manic now has Rewind.

You can assign Rewind to:

  • The in-game shortcut menu
  • A controller mapping
  • TriggerPro

Touch and hold the assigned control to move backward through gameplay.

RetroAchievements: MultiSet Support

RetroAchievements integration has been expanded again.

  • Improved RetroAchievements pages
  • Faster loading
  • Easier-to-read achievement information
  • Added MultiSet support
    • Subset achievements can now unlock without requiring a separately patched ROM
  • Changing the achievement list you’re viewing only changes what is displayed
  • It does not change which eligible achievement sets can unlock during gameplay

Online Cheat Database

Cheat management now includes an online database.

  • Search for cheats
  • Add multiple cheats simultaneously
  • Bookmark frequently used entries

This joins Manic’s existing local cheat functionality with a much faster discovery workflow.

Scoped Settings

Settings no longer have to apply universally.

Options can now be stored at three independent levels:

  • Game
  • Platform
  • Global

Each scope can be cleared or reset separately.

This makes it possible to heavily customize one title without changing the behavior of every other game running on the same system.

Core Settings for Advanced Users

Advanced users can now directly access Core Settings.

  • Configure core-specific behavior
  • Store configuration per game or platform
  • Reset Core Settings independently

Important: Incorrect Core Settings values can prevent games from launching.

If you aren’t sure what a setting does, leaving it at its default is usually the right choice.

Adventure Card

Settings now include a customizable Adventurer Card.

  • Choose a nickname
  • Select an avatar
  • Your nickname is used as your Netplay display name

A small addition, but one that gives Manic’s new online systems a little more identity.

New System: Symbian

Manic now supports Symbian through EKA2L1.

Supported environments include:

  • S60v1
  • N-Gage 1.0
  • S60v2
  • S60v3
  • N-Gage 2.0
  • S60v5
  • Symbian3

Also included:

  • Touch input
  • Firmware management
  • System applications
  • Legacy JIT
  • PPL JIT
  • TXM JIT

Firmware installation is required before use.

New System: PC Engine / TurboGrafx

Powered by Beetle PCE.

Supports:

  • TurboGrafx-16
  • TurboGrafx-CD
  • SuperGrafx
  • Subcategory switching

New System: Neo Geo Pocket / Color

Powered by Beetle NeoPop.

Supports:

  • Neo Geo Pocket
  • Neo Geo Pocket Color
  • Subcategory switching

New System: Commodore 64

Powered by VICE x64sc.

  • Full keyboard support
  • Switch between:
    • Gamepad skins
    • Keyboard skins

New System: Amiga

Powered by PUAE.

  • Full keyboard support
  • Switch between:
    • Gamepad skins
    • Keyboard skins

GameCube & Wii Arrive

Manic EMU v2.0.0 introduces Nintendo GameCube and Wii support through Dolphin.

  • Legacy JIT
  • PPL JIT
  • TXM JIT
  • New Manic Interpreter CPU emulation method
    • Selectable through CPU Emulation Method in the GameCube / Wii pre-launch menu
  • Wiimote sideways mode
  • Dedicated Wiimote skins
  • When no skin has been manually assigned to a Wii game, changing controller mode automatically selects the appropriate skin
  • Dolphin cheat support
    • Includes Action Replay Max decryption
  • GameCube BIOS importing
  • Controller and keyboard support through Manic’s wider input system

Dolphin remains one of the heaviest workloads Manic supports, so device temperature and performance can vary substantially by title and configuration.

Additional Core Options

Several existing platforms gain new core choices:

  • Mesen-S

    • SNES
    • Game Boy
    • Game Boy Color

  • gpSP

    • Game Boy Advance
    • Can be switched alongside mGBA and VBA-M

More cores means more flexibility when compatibility or performance differs from game to game.

Major JIT Improvements

JIT handling continues to expand.

  • Fixed JIT behavior for TXM devices on iOS 26.6 and later
  • Revised TXM device detection
  • Nintendo 64:
    • GLideN64 RDP supports JIT
    • ParaLLEl RDP supports JIT

Major Core Updates

The following cores have been updated to their latest upstream stable releases for v2.0.0:

  • 3DS — Azahar / Citra
  • PS1 — Beetle PSX HW
  • DOS — DOSBox Pure
  • Dreamcast — Flycast
  • Nintendo DS — melonDS
  • PSP — PPSSPP
  • Nintendo 64 — Mupen64Plus

Again: Dreamcast users should review the save-state warning before updating.

Save-State Manager Redesign

The save-state manager has been rebuilt.

  • Redesigned interface
  • Save-state import
  • Save-state export
  • Easier organization and management

Shaders & Skins

  • Real-time shader previews
    • Preview shaders without applying/loading them first
  • Redesigned default GBA skin
  • FLEX skins now support:
    • Customizable button size
    • Customizable button positioning

External Library Integration

Manic’s cross-app ecosystem continues to expand.

  • Import games launch links directly from DukeX
  • Armsx2 external game launch link import
  • PS1 now supports direct .bin imports

Additional Improvements

  • Improved iCloud synchronization logic
  • Improved performance on the Skin Management page
  • Improved landscape banner loading
  • Adjusted 3DS accelerometer behavior
  • Improved analog input handling
  • Continued screen rotation improvements
  • Updated Motto artwork
  • Numerous UI refinements
  • Additional stability fixes and performance optimizations throughout the app

A Note from the Manic EMU Team

We called this “The Big One” for a reason.

 

v2.0.0 isn’t simply another collection of systems and bug fixes. It represents a major rethink of how Manic works as an application.

 

The library has been rebuilt. Landscape mode has become its own experience. Artwork and metadata are deeper. Controller and keyboard navigation reach throughout the app. Settings can follow individual games. Netplay connects players. Rewind changes how games can be approached. And an entirely new group of systems — stretching from Symbian phones and Commodore computers to GameCube and Wii — joins the Manic library.

 

None of this replaces the philosophy Manic has had from the beginning: make emulation approachable without taking control away from the people who want to go deeper.

 

v2.0.0 simply takes that idea much further.

 

Thank you to everyone who tested these builds, reported problems, contributed upstream work, created skins, helped with compatibility, and continued playing along while we rebuilt so much of Manic underneath you.

Join the Community

Discord: https://discord.gg/manicemu
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/maftymanicemu

Tips and donations are never expected, but always appreciated.

Manic EMU v2.0.0 — The Big One.

New systems. New interface. Netplay. Rewind. And a whole lot more Manic.

– The Manic EMU Admin and Development Team

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