emulator: SMS Plus GX
type: standalone + libretro
core_classification: enhanced_fork
source: "https://github.com/libretro/smsplus-gx"
upstream: "https://github.com/ekeeke/smsplus-gx"
profiled_date: "2026-03-25"
core_version: "1.8"
display_name: "Sega - MS/GG (SMS Plus GX)"
cores:
  - smsplus
systems:
  - sega-master-system
  - sega-game-gear
  - colecovision
  - sega-sg1000
  - sord-m5

notes: |
  Enhanced fork of Charles MacDonald's SMS Plus 1.3 by Eke-Eke (GX) and
  gameblabla. Master System, Game Gear, ColecoVision and SG-1000 emulator.
  Standalone ports also support Sord M5 (behind SORDM5_EMU compile flag,
  not compiled in libretro build).

  BIOS loading in bios_init() (smsplus_libretro.c:203-252). bios.sms is
  always attempted but only activated when core option smsplus_sms_bios is
  "auto" (default: disabled). BIOS.col is loaded only for ColecoVision
  ROMs and required for them. Standalone ports use BIOS.sms (uppercase)
  instead of bios.sms.

  .info marks BIOS.col as optional (firmware1_opt=true) but the libretro
  code returns false from retro_load_game() when BIOS.col is missing for
  .col ROMs.

files:
  - name: "bios.sms"
    system: sega-master-system
    description: "Sega Master System boot ROM"
    required: false
    aliases: ["BIOS.sms"]
    source_ref: "smsplus_libretro.c:211-229"
    notes: |
      Loaded into bios.rom (up to 1 MB allocated). Only active when core
      option smsplus_sms_bios is "auto". Displays SMS startup screen
      before game execution. Standalone ports use BIOS.sms (uppercase).

  - name: "BIOS.col"
    system: colecovision
    description: "ColecoVision BIOS ROM"
    required: true
    size: 8192
    source_ref: "smsplus_libretro.c:232-248"
    notes: |
      Required for ColecoVision games. Read as 0x2000 (8192) bytes into
      coleco.rom. Without this file, retro_load_game() returns false for
      .col files.

  - name: "BIOS_sordm5.bin"
    system: sord-m5
    description: "Sord M5 BIOS ROM"
    required: false
    size: 8192
    mode: standalone
    source_ref: "ports/sdl/smsplus.c:321-329"
    notes: |
      Read as 0x2000 (8192) bytes into coleco.rom (shared buffer). Only
      in standalone builds (SORDM5_EMU define). Not compiled in libretro.
      Code does not enforce presence but system needs BIOS to function.