How to Install RetroArch on Fedora 40 or 39

RetroArch is a powerful, open-source frontend for emulators, game engines, and media players, allowing users to run classic games on a wide range of platforms. It offers a unified interface and extensive customization options, making it a popular choice for retro gaming enthusiasts. With support for a vast library of cores, RetroArch enables the emulation of numerous gaming consoles and platforms, all within a single application. Whether you’re looking to relive the classics or explore homebrew games, RetroArch provides a comprehensive and user-friendly environment for your gaming needs.

On Fedora 40 or 39, you can install RetroArch using the command-line terminal through two main methods. The first method utilizes Fedora’s AppStream via the dnf package manager, which provides a straightforward and stable installation directly from Fedora’s official repositories. Alternatively, RetroArch can be installed via Flatpak from Flathub, which offers a sandboxed environment and potentially quicker access to newer versions. This guide will walk you through both installation methods, ensuring that you can set up RetroArch effectively on your Fedora system.

Method 1: Install RetroArch via Fedora’s Appstream

The guide will first examine the method of installing RetroArch using Fedora’s native repository and DNF package manager, which is most likely the suitable first option for most.

Update Fedora Packages Before RetroArch Installation

Ensure that your Fedora Linux system is up-to-date before installing any new software. Updating core components and all installed applications enhances system performance and security.

Update your system using the command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

When this command is executed, it establishes communication with Fedora’s repositories, checks for updates, and upgrades the system by fetching and installing the latest versions of all packages.

Install RetroArch via DNF Command

Once your Fedora Linux system is updated, you can install RetroArch. This is accomplished by using the dnf install command followed by the package name retroarch. Execute the following command:

sudo dnf install retroarch

This command instructs the DNF Package Manager to find and install RetroArch from the Fedora repository.

After this procedure, you should have successfully installed RetroArch on your Fedora system using the native DNF Package Manager. For an alternate installation method, you can consider installing RetroArch via Flatpak and Flathub, which we will explore in the subsequent section.

Method 2: Install RetroArch via Flatpak and Flathub

This section explains using the Flatpak package management system and the Flathub repository to install RetroArch on Fedora Linux. Flatpak and Flathub offer various applications with all necessary dependencies, ensuring smooth compatibility across different Linux distributions.

Enable the Flathub Repository For RetroArch Installation

Before installing RetroArch using Flatpak, you must ensure that your system has the Flathub repository enabled. You can accomplish this prerequisite step with the flatpak remote-add command. Add Flathub as a remote repository by executing the following command:

sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command makes Flatpak recognize Flathub as a source for software packages. Sometimes, the Flathub repository might get disabled automatically.

To prevent this from disrupting the installation process, check and ensure the Flathub repository is enabled using the flatpak remote-modify command:

flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

Running these commands allows Flatpak to access the Flathub repository, enabling it to retrieve and install the required software, such as RetroArch.

Install RetroArch via Flatpak Command

Once you have enabled the Flathub repository, proceed to install RetroArch. You can use the flatpak install command for this purpose. To fetch and install RetroArch from the Flathub repository, use the following command:

flatpak install flathub org.libretro.RetroArch

The identifier org.libretro.RetroArch uniquely represents RetroArch in the Flatpak application system. This command communicates with the Flathub repository, locates RetroArch, and installs it on your Fedora system.

Initiating RetroArch

CLI Commands to Launch RetroArch

The CLI offers a streamlined approach to launch applications in Fedora Linux. The command to start RetroArch varies depending on whether you installed it using DNF or Flatpak.

For RetroArch installations via DNF, use this simple command to initiate the application:

retroarch

For installations via Flatpak from Flathub, use the following command to start RetroArch:

flatpak run org.libretro.RetroArch

The term org.libretro.RetroArch in the Flatpak command uniquely identifies RetroArch within the Flatpak ecosystem.

GUI Method to Launch RetroArch

For those who prefer a visually interactive approach, starting RetroArch through the GUI is straightforward:

1. Locate and select the “Activities” option in the upper-left corner of your Fedora Desktop.
2. Choose “Show Applications” which is typically symbolized by a grid of dots.
3. Browse the list of applications or use the search bar at the top to find RetroArch.
4. Click on the RetroArch icon to start the application.

Maintaining RetroArch

Update RetroArch

If you installed RetroArch using DNF, the following command will refresh your repositories and update all the packages on your system, including RetroArch:

sudo dnf update --refresh

If you installed RetroArch using Flatpak, you can update it using this command:

flatpak update

Remove RetroArch

If you installed RetroArch via DNF, you can remove it along with its associated packages using this command:

sudo dnf remove retroarch

To remove RetroArch if you installed it via Flatpak, use this command:

flatpak remove org.retroarch

Running these commands will also eradicate your data related to RetroArch. It’s essential to back up any vital data before uninstallation to prevent unintentional loss of important information.

Conclusion

After installing RetroArch on Fedora using either the AppStream via dnf or Flatpak with Flathub, you’ll be ready to dive into a vast world of retro gaming. The AppStream method offers stability and seamless integration with your system, while Flatpak may provide faster updates and an isolated environment. Whichever method you choose, take some time to explore RetroArch’s various cores and customization options to enhance your gaming experience.