fix: judge a core file by the cores that read it

install/batocera.json

@@ -4837,10 +4837,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ]
@@ -47899,10 +47899,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/bizhawk.json

@@ -1840,10 +1840,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ],

install/emudeck.json

@@ -1036,10 +1036,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ],
@@ -1270,10 +1270,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/lakka.json

@@ -6110,10 +6110,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ]
@@ -61637,10 +61637,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/recalbox.json

@@ -9824,10 +9824,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/retroarch.json

@@ -6349,10 +6349,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ]
@@ -61876,10 +61876,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/retrobat.json

@@ -4813,10 +4813,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ]
@@ -47905,10 +47905,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/retrodeck.json

@@ -22689,10 +22689,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "bios/sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ],
@@ -25535,10 +25535,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "bios/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/retropie.json

@@ -6423,10 +6423,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ]
@@ -101392,10 +101392,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/rocknix.json

@@ -801,10 +801,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "sysdata/otp.bin",
-      "sha1": "f0332b7252e9c01b30bf5d5a63ceb22dc47968aa",
+      "sha1": "49489245b400f62c62faf1736b7f0a70714d3c49",
-      "sha256": "93c2e20cc377f2cb0fa9a2ee58c39be22e00baa94b890545e585e53b3eb4039f",
+      "sha256": "e2f1810ceff3d1fd4f1c08ffc1f4d47aa8efca551edd24cd5686205c71a3b13b",
       "size": 256,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/Citra/sysdata/otp.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/3DS/otp.bin",
       "cores": [
         "azahar"
       ]
@@ -2779,10 +2779,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

install/romm.json

@@ -6472,10 +6472,10 @@
     },
     {
       "dest": "ngc/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
-      "sha1": "f4f683a49d7eb4155566f793f2c1c27e90159992",
+      "sha1": "3c6cc6e04fdd0b2a392d7a6ed769455444846be7",
-      "sha256": "7f33e6600722791ccee5fd15d4330af8d8f74165f7d1ded6738684c0294aaffe",
+      "sha256": "49d987ee1eab29a157425b82d54516957a81e1bac247c8834e494642605c3e8c",
       "size": 8192,
-      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/Sys/GC/dsp_rom.bin",
+      "repo_path": "bios/Nintendo/GameCube/.variants/dsp_rom.bin.3c6cc6e0",
       "cores": [
         "dolphin"
       ],

scripts/generate_pack.py

@@ -1068,6 +1068,16 @@ def generate_pack(
           )
           if status in ("not_found", "external", "user_provided") or not local_path:
               continue
+          # The emulator's own check picks the copy, as for a declared file
+          # and in the emulator pack: the name led RetroArch's GC/dsp_rom.bin
+          # to Dolphin's obsolete v0.3.1 free ROM, beside Nintendo's coef
+          # ROM, a pair Dolphin warns about at every start.
+          local_path, disagreement = validated_choice(
+              fe, local_path, db, validation_index, bios_dir, None, dest,
+              validation_owners,
+          )
+          if disagreement:
+              core_discrepancies.append(f"{full_dest} -{disagreement}")
           if status == "hash_mismatch":
               # The core's declared hash comes from its source, the local dump
               # is what the collection holds. Shipping it keeps the emulator
@@ -3100,6 +3110,8 @@ def _manifest_core_entries(
     pack_only_sizes: list[int],
     selection: SelectionIndex,
     required_only: bool = False,
+    validation_index: dict | None = None,
+    owners: dict | None = None,
 ) -> int:
     """Add the files a platform's cores need but its list does not name.
 
@@ -3153,6 +3165,10 @@ def _manifest_core_entries(
                 [source_emu] if source_emu else [],
             )
             continue
+        # The copy the emulator accepts, as the pack ships it.
+        local_path, _disagreement = validated_choice(
+            fe, local_path, db, validation_index or {}, bios_dir, None, dest, owners,
+        )
 
         source_emu = fe.get("source_profile") or fe.get("source_emulator", "")
 
@@ -3479,7 +3495,7 @@ def generate_manifest(
         zip_contents, offline, region_drops, case_insensitive,
         seen_destinations, seen_lower, seen_parents, manifest_files,
         omitted_by_destination, record_omission, pack_only_sizes, selection,
-        required_only,
+        required_only, manifest_validation, manifest_owners,
     )
 
     # Phase 3: data directories. The installer does not fetch them, so they

scripts/validation.py

@@ -56,6 +56,84 @@ def _parse_validation(validation: list | dict | None) -> list[str]:
     return []
 
 
+def _entry_rule(emu_name: str, f: dict, checks: set[str]) -> dict:
+    """One profile entry's own checks, kept apart from the merged view.
+
+    Merged by name, Azahar's crypto check on the 3DS otp.bin judged Cemu's
+    1 KiB Wii U otp.bin, and the variant search handed Cemu the 3DS file.
+    """
+    def values(field: str) -> set[str]:
+        raw = f.get(field)
+        if not raw or field not in checks:
+            return set()
+        items = raw if isinstance(raw, list) else str(raw).split(",")
+        out = set()
+        for item in items:
+            norm = str(item).strip().lower()
+            if field == "crc32" and norm.startswith("0x"):
+                norm = norm[2:]
+            if norm:
+                out.add(norm)
+        return out
+
+    raw_size = f.get("size") if "size" in checks else None
+    adler = f.get("known_hash_adler32") or f.get("adler32")
+    adler_values = adler if isinstance(adler, list) else [adler] if adler else []
+    return {
+        "emulator": emu_name,
+        "checks": set(checks),
+        "sizes": set(raw_size if isinstance(raw_size, list) else [raw_size])
+        - {None},
+        "min_size": f.get("min_size") if "size" in checks else None,
+        "max_size": f.get("max_size") if "size" in checks else None,
+        "crc32": values("crc32"),
+        "md5": values("md5"),
+        "sha1": values("sha1"),
+        "sha256": values("sha256"),
+        "adler32": {
+            str(v).lower().removeprefix("0x") for v in adler_values if v
+        },
+        "adler32_byteswap": bool(f.get("adler32_byteswap")),
+        "crypto": {c for c in checks if c in _CRYPTO_CHECKS},
+    }
+
+
+def _rule_failure(
+    rule: dict, local_path: str, filename: str, bios_dir: str, hashes: dict,
+) -> str | None:
+    """Why one entry's checks reject a file, or None when they accept it."""
+    actual_size = os.path.getsize(local_path)
+    if rule["sizes"] and actual_size not in rule["sizes"]:
+        accepted = ",".join(str(s) for s in sorted(rule["sizes"]))
+        return f"size mismatch: got {actual_size}, accepted [{accepted}]"
+    if rule["min_size"] is not None and actual_size < rule["min_size"]:
+        return f"size too small: min {rule['min_size']}, got {actual_size}"
+    if rule["max_size"] is not None and actual_size > rule["max_size"]:
+        return f"size too large: max {rule['max_size']}, got {actual_size}"
+    for hash_type in ("crc32", "md5", "sha1", "sha256"):
+        if rule[hash_type]:
+            if not hashes:
+                hashes.update(compute_hashes(local_path))
+            if hashes[hash_type].lower() not in rule[hash_type]:
+                accepted = ",".join(sorted(rule[hash_type]))
+                return f"{hash_type} mismatch: got {hashes[hash_type]}, accepted [{accepted}]"
+    if rule["adler32"]:
+        if rule["adler32_byteswap"]:
+            actual = _adler32_byteswapped(local_path)
+        else:
+            if not hashes:
+                hashes.update(compute_hashes(local_path))
+            actual = hashes["adler32"].lower()
+        if actual not in rule["adler32"]:
+            accepted = ",".join(sorted(rule["adler32"]))
+            return f"adler32 mismatch: got 0x{actual}, accepted [{accepted}]"
+    if rule["crypto"]:
+        from crypto_verify import check_crypto_validation
+
+        return check_crypto_validation(local_path, filename, bios_dir)
+    return None
+
+
 def _build_validation_index(profiles: dict) -> dict[str, dict]:
     """Build per-filename validation rules from emulator profiles.
 
@@ -98,7 +176,9 @@ def _build_validation_index(profiles: dict) -> dict[str, dict]:
                     "crypto_only": set(),
                     "emulators": set(),
                     "per_emulator": {},
+                    "rules": [],
                 }
+            index[fname]["rules"].append(_entry_rule(emu_name, f, checks))
             index[fname]["emulators"].add(emu_name)
             index[fname]["checks"].update(checks)
             # Track non-reproducible crypto checks
@@ -143,8 +223,8 @@ def _build_validation_index(profiles: dict) -> dict[str, dict]:
             # Adler32 -stored as known_hash_adler32 field (not in validation: list
             # for Dolphin, but support it in both forms for future profiles)
             adler_val = f.get("known_hash_adler32") or f.get("adler32")
-            if adler_val:
+            for value in adler_val if isinstance(adler_val, list) else [adler_val] if adler_val else []:
-                norm = adler_val.lower()
+                norm = str(value).lower()
                 if norm.startswith("0x"):
                     norm = norm[2:]
                 index[fname]["adler32"].add(norm)
@@ -233,12 +313,18 @@ def check_file_validation(
     filename: str,
     validation_index: dict[str, dict],
     bios_dir: str = "bios",
+    emulators: set[str] | None = None,
 ) -> tuple[str, list[str]] | None:
     """Check emulator-level validation on a resolved file.
 
     Supports: size (exact/min/max), crc32, md5, sha1, adler32,
     signature (RSA-2048 PKCS1v15 SHA256), crypto (AES-128-CBC + SHA256).
 
+    With ``emulators``, the cores that read the file's destination, each of
+    them must accept it through one of its own entries for the name, the
+    way each runs its own check. Without, the checks of every core naming
+    the file are merged.
+
     Returns None if all checks pass or no validation applies.
     Returns (reason, emulators) tuple on failure, where *emulators*
     lists only those cores whose check actually failed.
@@ -246,6 +332,23 @@ def check_file_validation(
     entry = validation_index.get(filename)
     if not entry:
         return None
+    if emulators is not None:
+        hashes: dict = {}
+        failures: dict[str, str] = {}
+        for emu in sorted(emulators):
+            rules = [r for r in entry.get("rules", []) if r["emulator"] == emu]
+            if not rules:
+                continue
+            reasons = [
+                _rule_failure(rule, local_path, filename, bios_dir, hashes)
+                for rule in rules
+            ]
+            if all(reasons):
+                failures[emu] = reasons[0]
+        if not failures:
+            return None
+        first = sorted(failures)[0]
+        return failures[first], sorted(failures)
     checks = entry["checks"]
     pe = entry.get("per_emulator", {})
 
@@ -366,6 +469,7 @@ def find_validated_variant(
     validation_index: dict,
     bios_dir: str = "bios",
     platform_digest: str | None = None,
+    emulators: set[str] | None = None,
 ) -> str | None:
     """A held file the emulator's own checks accept, in place of current_path.
 
@@ -424,7 +528,9 @@ def find_validated_variant(
         seen.add(real)
         if accepted and str(entry.get(platform_digest, "")).lower() not in accepted:
             continue
-        if check_file_validation(path, fname, validation_index, bios_dir) is None:
+        if check_file_validation(
+            path, fname, validation_index, bios_dir, emulators
+        ) is None:
             return path
     return None
 
@@ -575,18 +681,24 @@ def validated_choice(
         return local_path, None
     name = file_entry.get("name", "")
     rules = validation_index.get(name)
+    judges: set[str] | None = None
     if rules and owners and destination:
         owning = _owners_of(destination, name, owners)
-        if owning and not owning & set(rules["emulators"]):
+        if not owning & set(rules["emulators"]):
+            # No core that checks this name reads this destination: PC-98's
+            # bios.rom rules have no say over roms/ibmpcjr/bios.rom.
             return local_path, None
+        # The cores that read this destination judge it, each by its own
+        # entries.
+        judges = owning & set(rules["emulators"])
     check = check_file_validation(
-        local_path, file_entry.get("name", ""), validation_index, bios_dir
+        local_path, file_entry.get("name", ""), validation_index, bios_dir, judges
     )
     if not check:
         return local_path, None
     better = find_validated_variant(
         file_entry, db, local_path, validation_index, bios_dir,
-        platform_digest=platform_digest,
+        platform_digest=platform_digest, emulators=judges,
     )
     if better:
         return better, None

tests/test_validated_choice.py

@@ -97,8 +97,123 @@ class ValidatedChoice(unittest.TestCase):
                 for call in ast.walk(node)
             )
         }
-        self.assertLessEqual({"generate_pack", "generate_manifest"}, callers)
+        self.assertLessEqual(
+            {"generate_pack", "generate_manifest", "_manifest_core_entries"}, callers
+        )
 
+    def test_core_extras_are_judged_too(self):
+        """The baseline loop judged a platform's own files; the core-extras loop
+        shipped whatever the name found. Both loops live in generate_pack."""
+        tree = ast.parse((REPO_ROOT / "scripts" / "generate_pack.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        builder = next(
+            node for node in ast.walk(tree)
+            if isinstance(node, ast.FunctionDef) and node.name == "generate_pack"
+        )
+        calls = [
+            call for call in ast.walk(builder)
+            if isinstance(call, ast.Call) and getattr(call.func, "id", None) == "validated_choice"
+        ]
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(len(calls), 2)
+
+
+class ManifestsServeWhatTheCoreAccepts(unittest.TestCase):
+    """RetroArch's GC/dsp_rom.bin was Dolphin's obsolete v0.3.1 free ROM while
+    Nintendo's dump, which Dolphin's check accepts, sat in .variants/."""
+
+    def test_no_served_core_file_fails_its_check_beside_a_passing_variant(self):
+        import json  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        from common import load_emulator_profiles, load_platform_config  # noqa: PLC0415
+        from generate_pack import _platform_cores  # noqa: PLC0415
+        from validation import check_file_validation  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        manifest_path = REPO_ROOT / "install" / "retroarch.json"
+        if not (REPO_ROOT / "database.json").is_file() or not manifest_path.is_file():
+            self.skipTest("database.json or the manifest is not built")
+        db = json.loads((REPO_ROOT / "database.json").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        profiles = load_emulator_profiles(str(REPO_ROOT / "emulators"))
+        config = load_platform_config("retroarch", str(REPO_ROOT / "platforms"))
+        cores = {n: profiles[n] for n in _platform_cores(config, profiles)}
+        index = _build_validation_index(cores)
+        owners = destination_owners(cores)
+        manifest = json.loads(manifest_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        wrong = []
+        for entry in manifest["files"]:
+            name = entry["dest"].rsplit("/", 1)[-1]
+            path = entry.get("repo_path")
+            if not entry.get("cores") or not path or name not in index:
+                continue
+            local = str(REPO_ROOT / path)
+            if not Path(local).is_file() or not check_file_validation(local, name, index):
+                continue
+            chosen, _ = validated_choice(
+                {"name": name}, local, db, index, str(REPO_ROOT / "bios"), None,
+                entry["dest"], owners,
+            )
+            if chosen != local:
+                wrong.append(entry["dest"])
+        self.assertEqual(wrong, [])
+
+
+
+class EachReaderJudgesWithItsOwnRules(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Merged by name, Azahar's 256-byte 3DS otp.bin rule judged Cemu's 1 KiB
+    Wii U otp.bin, and the variant search gave Cemu the 3DS file."""
+
+    def test_rules_of_another_emulator_do_not_judge(self):
+        from validation import check_file_validation  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        index = _build_validation_index({
+            "azahar": {"files": [{"name": "otp.bin", "path": "sysdata/otp.bin",
+                                  "size": 256, "validation": ["size"]}]},
+            "cemu": {"files": [{"name": "otp.bin", "path": "Cemu/otp.bin",
+                                "size": 1024, "validation": ["size"]}]},
+        })
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir=REPO_ROOT / "tmp") as tmp:
+            wiiu = Path(tmp) / "otp.bin"
+            wiiu.write_bytes(b"w" * 1024)
+            self.assertIsNone(check_file_validation(str(wiiu), "otp.bin", index, tmp, {"cemu"}))
+            self.assertIsNotNone(check_file_validation(str(wiiu), "otp.bin", index, tmp, {"azahar"}))
+
+    def test_one_of_an_emulators_entries_is_enough(self):
+        from validation import check_file_validation  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        index = _build_validation_index({"raze": {"files": [
+            {"name": "SW.GRP", "size": 100, "validation": ["size"]},
+            {"name": "SW.GRP", "size": 200, "validation": ["size"]},
+        ]}})
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(dir=REPO_ROOT / "tmp") as tmp:
+            grp = Path(tmp) / "SW.GRP"
+            grp.write_bytes(b"s" * 200)
+            self.assertIsNone(check_file_validation(str(grp), "SW.GRP", index, tmp, {"raze"}))
+
+
+class DolphinForksJudgeTheirOwnDspTable(unittest.TestCase):
+    """VerifyRoms (Source/Core/Core/DSP/DSPCore.cpp) accepts, without a prompt,
+    Nintendo's pair and the newest free pair its table knows: v0.4 in
+    Dolphin, PrimeHack, MMJR2 and Triforce, v0.3.1 in MMJR and Ishiiruka,
+    whose table stops there. Adler-32 over the byte-swapped words."""
+
+    FREE_V04 = REPO_ROOT / "data" / "dolphin-sys" / "GC" / "dsp_rom.bin"
+    FREE_V031 = REPO_ROOT / "bios" / "Nintendo" / "GameCube" / "Sys" / "GC" / "dsp_rom.bin"
+
+    def test_each_fork_accepts_its_own_free_rom(self):
+        from common import load_emulator_profiles  # noqa: PLC0415
+        from validation import check_file_validation  # noqa: PLC0415
+
+        if not self.FREE_V04.is_file() or not self.FREE_V031.is_file():
+            self.skipTest("free DSP ROMs not present")
+        profiles = load_emulator_profiles(str(REPO_ROOT / "emulators"))
+        expect = {"dolphin": "v04", "primehack": "v04", "dolphin-mmjr2": "v04",
+                  "triforce": "v04", "dolphin-mmjr": "v031", "ishiiruka": "v031"}
+        for name, accepted in expect.items():
+            index = _build_validation_index({name: profiles[name]})
+            with self.subTest(emulator=name):
+                for label, path in (("v04", self.FREE_V04), ("v031", self.FREE_V031)):
+                    verdict = check_file_validation(
+                        str(path), "dsp_rom.bin", index, "bios", {name}
+                    )
+                    self.assertEqual(verdict is None, label == accepted, label)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()