emulator: Citra
type: standalone + libretro
core_classification: community_fork
source: "https://github.com/libretro/citra"
upstream: "https://github.com/citra-emu/citra"
profiled_date: "2026-03-23"
source_commit: "a0483e9abe8134ae6b290cdca7d49cb77689f05b"
core_version: "Git"
display_name: "Nintendo - 3DS (Citra)"
library_name: "Citra"
cores: [citra]
systems: [nintendo-3ds]
data_root:
  android:
    path: "<folder picked at first launch>"
    source_ref: "src/android/app/src/main/java/org/citra/citra_emu/utils/PermissionsHandler.kt:42-46, src/android/app/src/main/java/org/citra/citra_emu/utils/DirectoryInitialization.kt:93-101, src/common/file_util.cpp:819-822"
  windows:
    path: "%APPDATA%/Citra"
    source_ref: "src/common/file_util.cpp:719-725, 809-815, src/common/common_paths.h:16-17, 21-22"
    note: "user beside the executable when that folder exists"
  macos:
    path: "~/Library/Application Support/Citra"
    source_ref: "src/common/file_util.cpp:824-846, src/common/common_paths.h:16-17, 23-31"
    note: "$XDG_DATA_HOME/citra-emu or ~/.local/share/citra-emu when an XDG folder from an earlier setup exists. user in the working directory when that folder exists"
  linux:
    path: "$XDG_DATA_HOME/citra-emu, else ~/.local/share/citra-emu"
    source_ref: "src/common/file_util.cpp:753-776, 824-846, src/common/common_paths.h:16-17, 32-33"
    note: "user in the working directory when that folder exists"

notes: |
  Citra 3DS emulator. Upstream taken down March 2024 (Nintendo lawsuit).
  Mirror: https://github.com/citra-mirror/citra
  Data dir: {save_dir}/Citra/ under the default "LibRetro Default" option
  citra_use_libretro_save_path, {system_dir}/Citra/ only when the frontend
  gives no save directory. sysdata/ sits under it.
  ref: src/citra_libretro/citra_libretro.cpp:157, src/citra_libretro/citra_libretro.cpp:445-466,
  src/citra_libretro/environment.cpp:139, src/common/file_util.cpp:855

  The core reports library_name "Citra".
  ref: src/citra_libretro/environment.cpp:180

  HLE for most services. Embedded open-source replacements for shared font,
  Mii data, country list, and bad word list compiled into the binary.
  ref: src/core/file_sys/archive_ncch.cpp:9-27, 133-167

  firmware_count absent in .info (= 0). All files optional.

files:
  - name: aes_keys.txt
    path: "Citra/sysdata/aes_keys.txt"
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    description: "AES encryption keys"
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/core/hw/aes/key.cpp:207-208 LoadPresetKeys()"
    note: "needed for encrypted games"

  - name: boot9.bin
    path: "Citra/sysdata/boot9.bin"
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    description: "ARM9 bootrom"
    required: false
    size: 65536
    validation: [size]
    source_ref: "src/core/hw/aes/key.cpp:162-172 LoadBootromKeys(), src/core/hw/rsa/rsa.cpp:55-65 InitSlots()"
    note: "provides AES and RSA keys"

  - name: shared_font.bin
    path: "Citra/sysdata/shared_font.bin"
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    description: "system shared font (legacy format)"
    required: false
    hle_fallback: true
    source_ref: "src/core/hle/service/apt/apt.cpp:259-267 LoadLegacySharedFont()"
    note: "fallback to embedded open-source replacement font"

  - name: seeddb.bin
    path: "Citra/sysdata/seeddb.bin"
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    description: "game seed database"
    required: false
    source_ref: "src/core/file_sys/seed_db.cpp:13-27 SeedDB::Load()"
    note: "needed for seed-encrypted games (9.6+ titles), creates empty if missing"