DuckStation - dragoonDorise/EmuDeck GitHub Wiki

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DuckStation is a Sony Playstation 1 emulator.

Website: https://www.duckstation.org/

Github: https://github.com/stenzek/duckstation

Compatibility List: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1H66MxViRjjE5f8hOl5RQmF5woS1murio2dsLn14kEqo/edit#gid=0

DuckStation Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started with DuckStation

  2. DuckStation Tips and Tricks

Getting Started with DuckStation

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DuckStation is a fairly straight-forward emulator to set up. Place your ROMs in Emulation/roms/psx. Place your BIOS directly in Emulation/bios. Read the Configuration section to learn more about DuckStation and its folder locations.

To launch your ROMs in game mode, use Steam ROM Manager and use one of the following parsers to play your PSX ROMs:

  • EmulationStation-DE
  • Sony PlayStation - DuckStation
  • Emulators

DuckStation Configuration

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  • Type of Emulator: Flatpak
  • Config Location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.duckstation.DuckStation
  • ROM location: Emulation/roms/psx
  • BIOS location: Emulation/bios
    • IMPORTANT: Files go directly in this folder. Do not make or use a PSX, PS1, or any sort of folder here. DuckStation will not be able to find your bios files if they are in a folder.
    • Required BIOS (Example set, one per region - US, Europe, Japan): scph5500.bin, scph5501.bin, scph5502.bin
  • Saves: Emulation/saves/duckstation/saves
  • Savestates: Emulation/saves/duckstation/states

Note:

Note: ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.

Works With

  • Steam ROM Manager
  • EmulationStation-DE

How to Update DuckStation

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How to Update DuckStation

  • Through the Update your Emulators & Tools section on the Manage Emulators page in the EmuDeck application
  • Run Update Emulators & Tools in EmuDeck
  • Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam ROM Manager

How to Launch DuckStation in Desktop Mode

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How to Launch DuckStation in Desktop Mode

  • Launch DuckStation from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
  • Launch the script from Emulation/tools/launchers, duckstation.sh
  • Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it to Steam via the Emulators parser in Steam ROM Manager

DuckStation File Formats

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  • .cue
  • .chd
  • .ecm
  • .iso
  • .m3u
  • .mds
  • .pbp

Configuring DuckStation to work alongside Retroarch's Beetle HW PSX core

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  • ROM files for Retroarch's Beetle HW PSX core are shared with DuckStation in Emulation/roms/psx.
  • BIOS files for Retroarch's Beetle HW PSX core are shared with DuckStation in Emulation/bios (no subfolders).
  • As long as you name your BIOS files in this format: scph####.bin(####'s are a placeholder), Retroarch's Beetle HW PSX core will work alongside DuckStation.
  • Be sure to rename your BIOS files and note the lowercase scph, lowercase bin in the example above.

Note: By default, EmulationStation-DE uses Retroarch's Beetle HW PSX core. Both Retroarch's Beetle HW PSX core and DuckStation should work if you have set everything up properly.

To switch between the two in EmulationStation-DE, you can use the Alternative Emulators feature. Refer to https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/EmulationStation-DE#how-to-select-a-different-emulator-for-a-system, for instructions.

DuckStation Hotkeys

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DuckStation comes with a Steam Input profile for Hotkeys. Activate the Steam Input profile by clicking the Game Controller icon in Game Mode, change the template to Emudeck - DuckStation. The hotkeys below can only be used if you have the Steam Input profile active.

Hotkey DuckStation
Save State Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Load State Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Next Save Slot Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Previous Save Slot Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Pause/Play Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Quick Menu Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Swap Disc Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Fast Forward (Toggle) Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Fast Forward (Hold) Select + R2
Rewind Select + L2
Increase Resolution Scale Start + DPAD Up
Decrease Resolution Scale Start + DPAD Down
Toggle Widescreen Start + DPAD Right
Toggle PGXP Start + DPAD Left
Toggle SoftwareRendering Start + L3
Full Screen Select + R3

For a tutorial on how to select Steam Input Profiles, refer to: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/hotkeys#how-to-select-a-steam-input-profile.

Steam Deck Button Layout: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/Hotkeys#steam-deck-button-layout

DuckStation Tips and Tricks

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How to Optimize Storage (Compression Tool)

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To optimize storage, you can use the EmuDeck Compressor within EmuDeck.

The EmuDeck Compressor will compress your Playstation 1 ROMs from ISO or BIN/CUE to CHD. If your ROM is a BIN/CUE, the Compression Tool will only compress it if you have both the BIN and the CUE files for a ROM. If the ROM is in a zip file or is missing a paired BIN or CUE file, the Compression Tool will not detect the ROM.

After running the EmuDeck Compression Tool, re-run Steam ROM Manager to update your ROM shortcuts to the newly compressed ROM.

Visual Reference:

How to Manage Multiple Discs

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M3U files can be used to manage multiple discs for DuckStation. When the time comes to switch discs, use the Left Trackpad Touch Menu Hotkey. A full list of hotkeys and a tutorial on how to use Steam Input profiles can be found here: #hotkeys.

Learn how to create an M3U File: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/file-management#how-to-manage-roms-with-multiple-discs.