This libretro core brings the classic Amstrad CPC experience back to life. Combine it with CRT shaders and welcome back to the 80s on your good old CPC.

Credits & Acknowledgements

Original Caprice32 Core: Ulrich Doewich.
Wiituka/pituka code integration: (c) 2004-2016 David Colmenero.
Pistol Emulation:
- Gunstick Emulation from Wiituka (c) 2008-2009 David Colmenero.
- Phaser Emulation from caprice32 (c) 2016-2024 Colin Pitrat.
CPC464+/CPC6128+/GX4000 Emulation:
- Base Plus implementation (c) 2016-2019 Colin Pitrat.
- ASIC, DMA, PRI, and PPI accurate hardware rewrites (c) 2026 David Colmenero.
Autorun fixes: Inspired by the great work of Frédéric Coste (Fredouille) on caprice-forever (see catalog/amsdos_catalog and format.c).
RetroArch/Libretro team: http://www.libretro.com

Usage

The core supports automatic loading and execution (autorun) for most standard formats. Just load your content and the game should autostart.

📼 Tape Games (.cdt, .voc, .wav)

Load a tape file and Caprice32 will automatically type the RUN" command and press enter. You can use the "Tape Loading Speed" core option to fast-forward the loading process.

💾 Disk Games (.dsk, .m3u)

Load a disk image or an M3U playlist for multi-disk games. The core will read the catalog and automatically launch the executable binary.

🕹️ CPC+ & GX4000 Cartridges (.cpr)

To play cartridge games or use Plus features, ensure the Model core option is set to 6128+.

After latest accurate ASIC emulation rewrites, highly demanding titles requiring pixel-perfect raster timings, DMA instructions, and hardware sprite multiplexing—like the Sonic GX port and the Shadow of the Beast demo—now render flawlessly for the first time in Caprice32!

Game Database

Our game database is based on clean-cpc-db. A database that has checked every game so that you don't have to spend whole day of finding the correct and functional version of your favorite game. In clean-cpc-db you'll find only clean versions with no weird intros or menus, just working games!

Due to the creation of this database, we have started a small game mapping project, to bring an easyest CPC plug and play experiencie! You can help us...

Contribute with your RMP files (Work in Progress).

When a game is detected as a clean version, a green disc icon appears at the bottom.

Keyboard emulated layout

English layout

Spanish layout

French layout

Keyboard Custom Binds

Choose AMSTRAD KEYBOARD in Quick Menu > Controls and User 1/2 config different than joystick to map your retropad keys per game/rom.

Caprice brings some default keymaps confings, these configs are detailed at libretro docs: https://docs.libretro.com/library/caprice32/

Features not covered in docs

Swap disk using Combo Button + L / R.

If you are using a game that has multiple disks loaded using an M3U for example. You can switch between the loaded discs simply by pressing the combo button and the L button (to switch to the previous disc) or the R button (to switch to the next disc).

New Model: [cap32_model] (6128 | 464 | 464DDI | 664 | 6128+)

Choose which Amstrad CPC model to emulate, currently added 464DDI to allow BASIC 1.0 games and DSK

Crop Screen Borders: [cap32_scr_crop] (disabled | enabled)

For small screens you can now enable software screen crop to remove most of the on-screen border.

New filename flags (case insensitive)

"[464]": Force BASIC 1.0 and AMSDOS ROMs, to allow play correctly first CPC games.
"BASIC 1.0": Force 464 model when you load CDT or add DDI drive if use DSK.
"[CPM]": Force load CPM BIOS first, useful for some infocom CPM games.
"[576K]": RAM mode with 512+64KB, useful for some homebrew games. Also allows [128K] and [064K].

Examples :

Abadia del Crimen, La (1988)(Opera Soft)(es) [464].cdt => 464 (tape)
Manic Miner (UK) (1984) [Basic 1.0].dsk => 464+DDI
Donkey Kong (1986)(Ocean Software)[464].dsk => 464+DDI
Harrier Attack (1986)(Amsoft) [Basic 1.0].cdt => 464
Shadows Of Sergoth, The (2018)(PD)(M3)(v1.0)(Side A)[576K].dsk => 576 RAM

Lightgun Emulation

Configure your Weapon

You need set on Options > Controls > Device Type: Amstrad Lightgun and on Core Options > Light Gun Input (and show cross if your want).

Gunstick Games

Mike Gunner 
Bestial Warrior
Cosmic Sheriff
El Equipo A
Guillermo Tell
Outlaws
Solo
Sootland
Space Smugglers
Target Plus
Trigger

Amstrad Magnum Phaser

Operation Wolf
Bullseye
Missile Ground Zero
Robot Attack
Rookie
Solar Invasion
American Turbo-King
Billy the Kid
Bronx Street Cop
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Jungle Warfare

Trojan Light Phazer

The Enforcer
Skee Shoot

Known Bugs

Old3DS need some optimizations (~18fps).
Minor CPC Bugs and FDC needs more work to accurately emulate complex protections.
Gunstick emulation is not working with green phosphor or lowres modes.