emulator: trident
display_name: "Nintendo - 3DS (Trident)"
type: libretro
core_classification: community_fork
source: https://github.com/DanAlexMorton/3dsTrident
upstream: https://github.com/DanAlexMorton/Panda3DS
profiled_date: "2026-03-25"
source_commit: "b97b0befa326105e181838bc6fa11c546de8294d"
upstream_commit: "69095ee6d68d21eacac8d1517f0b7b4ed27884d3"
core_version: git
library_name: "Trident"

cores:
  - trident

systems:
  - 3ds

notes: >-
  Libretro core wrapping Panda3DS, an HLE Nintendo 3DS emulator.
  Shared font, Mii data, country list and bad word list are embedded in
  the binary via CMRC and compiled-in headers. DSP firmware is loaded from
  the game ROM at runtime, not from an external file.
  DSP modes: HLE (default), LLE (Teakra), Null.
  Files are resolved from the RetroArch save directory
  (<save_dir>/Emulator Files/sysdata/), not the system directory, or from
  the working directory when the frontend gives none. The core reports
  library_name "Trident" (src/libretro_core.cpp:29, 243, 280-285).
  3dsTrident builds the vendor/Panda3DS submodule, DanAlexMorton/Panda3DS
  at 69095ee6, a fork of wheremyfoodat/Panda3DS from their merge base
  944b9892. The libretro wrapper and the files cited below are in that tree.

files:
  - name: aes_keys.txt
    path: "Emulator Files/sysdata/aes_keys.txt"
    load_from: save_dir
    description: AES encryption keys for decrypting encrypted 3DS ROMs
    required: false
    source_ref: >-
      src/emulator.cpp:234,242-244 (path construction and existence check);
      src/core/crypto/aes_engine.cpp:13-92 (loadKeys, parses key=value text);
      src/core/loader/ncch.cpp:151-164 (panic if encrypted ROM loaded without keys)

  - name: seeddb.bin
    path: "Emulator Files/sysdata/seeddb.bin"
    load_from: save_dir
    description: seed database for seed-encrypted 3DS games
    required: false
    source_ref: >-
      src/emulator.cpp:235,246-248 (path construction and existence check);
      src/core/crypto/aes_engine.cpp:94-153 (setSeedPath, loadSeeds, getSeedFromDB)