FAKE-08 - RetroBIOS¶
| Type | libretro |
| Source | https://github.com/jtothebell/fake-08 |
| Version | v0.0.2.19 |
| Profiled | 2026-03-18 |
| Cores | fake08 |
| Systems | pico8 |
No BIOS or firmware files required. This core is self-contained.
FAKE-08 is an open-source PICO-8 compatible runtime for running .p8 and .p8.png cartridges on platforms where the official PICO-8 binary is not available (3DS, Vita, Switch, Wii U, various handhelds).
The core retrieves RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_GET_SYSTEM_DIRECTORY in retro_set_environment() (libretro.cpp:162-163) but never uses the value. No file is loaded from the system directory. The PICO-8 boot sequence, global Lua functions, and default cart menu are compiled directly into the binary as string constants (p8GlobalLuaFunctions.h, DefaultCart.h).
When no ROM is passed (supports_no_game = true), the core queues its built-in BIOS cart "__FAKE08-BIOS.p8" (libretro.cpp:751). This is not an external file -- it is generated internally by the VM.
The core accepts .p8 (text) and .png (cartridge-as-image) formats (libretro.cpp:258). Content is loaded either via the libretro data buffer or full path depending on the NEED_FULL_PATH compile flag.
Generated on 2026-03-20T19:12:20Z