LaunchBox Retro Gaming on a £35 Android TV Box - setup, RetroArch and standalone emulators

LaunchBox is my favourite app for retro gaming on the PC. But there's also an Android version that will even run on my cheap S905X3 powered Android TV box.
In this video I'll show you how to set the whole system up. How to connect RetroArch and how to use stand alone emulators to get better performance.
This setup runs everything up to and including the Nintendo 64.
Get your own TV box....
Amlogic S905X3 powered boxes
Amazon UK - amzn.to/3HIBJsM
Amazon US - amzn.to/3N5L5Qo
Amlogic S922X powered boxes
Amazon UK - amzn.to/3xMFKIc
Amazon US - amzn.to/3Oe7rAE
Don't forget to check out my project page at
bytesnbits.co.uk/launchbox-an...
Download LaunchBox at
www.launchbox-app.com/
0:00 Introduction
2:08 Download and Install LaunchBox
4:17 Install RetroArch Plus
5:05 Configure RetroArch
10:58 Install game and BIOS files
12:43 Install your first console
17:18 Choosing the right core
19:34 Installing a system with a BIOS file
22:51 Overriding emulator settings to improve performance
24:49 Replacing RetroArch with faster stand alone emulator
27:40 Conclusion

Пікірлер: 66

  • @tonyhorton152
    @tonyhorton1524 ай бұрын

    You are the only person to explain the hot keys and set them up first this step messed me up for so long thank you for explaining!

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    4 ай бұрын

    No problem. Hope you're enjoying the games.

  • @tonyhorton152

    @tonyhorton152

    4 ай бұрын

    @@BytesNBits I have retro arch setup but I’m having trouble with the Front End setup. Do you have any videos setting up any front ends? At work I’ll look later, or if you drop a link it would be greatly appreciated! Love the content keep it up and thanks again!

  • @lactobacillusprime
    @lactobacillusprime2 жыл бұрын

    Very nice launchbox is on android now too. Thanks for this concise explanation.

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    2 жыл бұрын

    You're welcome!

  • @manti1923
    @manti1923 Жыл бұрын

    This is alot of work but big thanks for making the effort

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    You're welcome

  • @blacktimusP
    @blacktimusP6 ай бұрын

    Omg yo....thanks for the lesson...it's way better than emuelec...❤ thanks man😊

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    6 ай бұрын

    You're welcome!!

  • @regismaltais8269
    @regismaltais82698 ай бұрын

    i love your solution because retroarch keey being updated and i fight with Emuelec without any success. You solution suit me very well...thanks

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    8 ай бұрын

    Great. There are a number of ways to get the games working. Whichever one works best for you.

  • @Bloomalloo
    @Bloomalloo Жыл бұрын

    I've been trying to install this on my Sony Bravia X900H with Android TV built in, but it keeps saying "app not installed." What should I do?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Does the TV let you use the play store? Are you able to side load the Launchbox app as that isn't available through the play store? If you're able to install Retroarch but not Launchbox you could try another front end called Dig.

  • @umutkayacan7659
    @umutkayacan76592 жыл бұрын

    a 30 min vid?! Let me get some snacks!

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    2 жыл бұрын

    I hope you enjoy the video!

  • @CarlosPigozzi
    @CarlosPigozzi Жыл бұрын

    Hello, great video! Could you tell what file manager you use, to install the same one please?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi. I'm pretty sure I just used the standard Windows Explorer.

  • @shannonmoore9936
    @shannonmoore9936 Жыл бұрын

    What if the apk is not in the file

  • @pushseb8684
    @pushseb86842 ай бұрын

    I don't understand because I downloaded retroarch and launchbox set up every correctly just like the video but when I click play it won't play and if I turn off extract zip file and I click play it opens retroarch but the screens black? I've been struggling for months I still can't figure it out

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    2 ай бұрын

    Try extracting the files from the zip file and putting those in the rom folder. Maybe Retroarch is having problems extracting them.

  • @TopOnePer
    @TopOnePer Жыл бұрын

    I have tried it on Amazon fire tv cube and it’s buggy. Wish they could improve the launch box with either retro arch already installed or emulator’s included

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Most of the front ends rely on you installing stuff behind the scenes. They really only provide an easy means to start the right app and game.

  • @dr.papadopolis7171
    @dr.papadopolis717111 ай бұрын

    Batocera, is just too much to put on android, so is Launchbox (and RetroArch) the best there is for a game rom collection? Im sure different front ends have different pros and cons , I wish Retrobat could run on Android I don't think it can but I'm checking on it..

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    11 ай бұрын

    I think almost all of the front ends use RetroArch as the actual emulation engine so a lot of it's really down to personal preference which one you use.

  • @asabir12
    @asabir125 ай бұрын

    This is the great invention simple and easy.. can you please let me know from where and which site that I get the games of each consoles and BIOS files ?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    5 ай бұрын

    KZread doesn't like us to tell you the actual sites to go to. Just do a search on Google for something like console vimm and see what that throws up.

  • @alfredofioravanti4662
    @alfredofioravanti4662 Жыл бұрын

    Is it possible to connect an arcade stick to the android tv through the usb port? Will it work?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes. That should work fine.

  • @user-lw3ey8pl7z
    @user-lw3ey8pl7z Жыл бұрын

    Hi m8. Greetings fro Greece. If i use emuelec or batocera to my tv box do i need every time to type reboot upgrade or just one time is enough and then tv box always boot from sd ram or usb? Thanks in advance m8.

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi. With the setup I used you do need to use the reboot command each time. The other option would be to burn the Eluelec etc directly onto the internal hard drive. I didn't do this as I didn't want to lock my system into the emulator setup. If you follow the instruction on the emulator front end pages they should walk you through the process.

  • @user-lw3ey8pl7z

    @user-lw3ey8pl7z

    Жыл бұрын

    @@BytesNBits Thank you so much for the reply. I want to use my tv box for arcade cabinet so it will not be easy to reboot every time. I will look at instructions as you suggest. Thank you for the help m8.!!!

  • @restezen
    @restezen3 ай бұрын

    I might have missed it, but is there a reason to use launchbox instead of just running games directly through retroarch?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    3 ай бұрын

    Launchbox just gives you a nicer interface to run the games from. Images, preview videos etc.

  • @restezen

    @restezen

    3 ай бұрын

    @BytesNBits Thanks for the reply! I've been using launchbox for about a week now, and I actually find it to be very clunky compared to just using retroarch. Especially since I have to use retroarch to customize the different core settings and controls, anyway. And unless you get launchbox premium, the interface isn't that much more visually appealing and you can't even use a controller to navigate. And it looks like you can even get custom themes for retroarch that would rival the themes you can get with premium launchbox. So, I'm still looking for an advantage to using launchbox, and the only one I have found so far seems to be if you are using multiple standalone emulators in addition to retroarch. So, for that reason alone, I'll continue to use launchbox, haha!

  • @gabscharett
    @gabscharett4 ай бұрын

    anyone else get a "parse error" when installing launch box to their android box? I was thinking maybe i needed to allow installation from unknown sources but it was already on. Did I install a corrupted file?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    4 ай бұрын

    Launchbox needs a minimum version of Android 7 to work but 10 or above is best. Make sure you're system is the correct version.

  • @gabrielochoa8138
    @gabrielochoa8138 Жыл бұрын

    Can I use this tv box to play with 4 players? For games such as Mario party in N64

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi. I don't know! I haven't got four controllers to try it out. You'll need a USB hub if they are plug in units. Android does support multiple controllers so it should work. RetroArch certainly has a settings screen that suggests it can use them.

  • @gabrielochoa8138

    @gabrielochoa8138

    Жыл бұрын

    @@BytesNBits oh great, thanks

  • @Joeker174
    @Joeker174 Жыл бұрын

    Do you know if launchbox would work on a amlogic S905L chipset?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    If the system can boot into Android you can install LaunchBox. The systems you can emulate will depend on the processing power of the device. Most will cope with the 8 bit consoles at the very least.

  • @Joeker174

    @Joeker174

    Жыл бұрын

    @@BytesNBits thanks for that mate 👍... I also saw its only a free app upto 100 games so may go down the lemuroid option.

  • @Limit5482
    @Limit5482 Жыл бұрын

    Does anyone know how I can play Luigi’s mansion dark moon on an android device? What do I need?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Try the Citra emulator. I think there is an android version.

  • @Shorty_66
    @Shorty_662 жыл бұрын

    Hello, could you please add the German translation as a subtitle, I don't see any option to choose a subtitle. thanks for an answer

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi. Sorry I don't have any translations of the video. If you go to the project page at bytesnbits.co.uk you should be able to translate the text on there.

  • @Shorty_66

    @Shorty_66

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@BytesNBits I didn't mean the video in DE... but on KZread to add the subtitle generally in German. You can choose from several languages for subscribers. Thanks for a reply

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Shorty_66 Hi. I'll have a look and see what options KZread provides.

  • @Shorty_66

    @Shorty_66

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@BytesNBits thanks this is very good.. 👍 👍

  • @LuisAFigueroa
    @LuisAFigueroa Жыл бұрын

    Nice alternative to EmuElec and Batocera. Now, I would like to know if it's possible to replace the android OS in those X96 Max Plus boxes and what's the safest way to do it.

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm not sure if you can. You'd need a custom Android build specifically for the box.

  • @kevincarmon9806
    @kevincarmon98062 жыл бұрын

    will this with batocera on sd

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi. I made a video on installing Emuelec - very similar process the Batocera. But yes, it should work. Just make sure you use the right version.

  • @dg67f
    @dg67f Жыл бұрын

    hi, if i want to restart my tv stick with the original operating system, without emuelec anymore, can I do it and how?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Emuelec installs onto the SD card so you just take it out and you are back to the stock TV box.

  • @GoDJaSoN
    @GoDJaSoN9 ай бұрын

    where to download the game?

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    9 ай бұрын

    Please have a look on my bytesnbits.co.uk website for more help finding games.

  • @jonny23ification
    @jonny23ification Жыл бұрын

    Didn't work for me using my H96 max

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Did you manage to get the apk file installed? And RetroArch? There's a good alternative to LaunchBox. Have a look at the Dig emulator frontend in the app store.

  • @sickvic3909
    @sickvic39092 жыл бұрын

    Oh yeah this is much easier, lmao. Thanks anyway.

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    2 жыл бұрын

    No problem!

  • @shannonmoore9936
    @shannonmoore9936 Жыл бұрын

    What if the Apk is not in the file

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    Жыл бұрын

    Not all the downloads are complete. If it's missing you can try some of the older versions or try another apk archive.

  • @MrsHanhStoreTipsnSharing
    @MrsHanhStoreTipsnSharing2 жыл бұрын

    i think emuelec is better

  • @BytesNBits

    @BytesNBits

    2 жыл бұрын

    I guess it's all personal choice. Performance seems reasonably well matched.