Zola 2026-10-08T00:00:00+00:00 https://blog.worldofpixels.ovh/tags/playnite/atom.xml 2026-10-08T00:00:00+00:00 2026-10-08T00:00:00+00:00 endyw https://blog.worldofpixels.ovh/rog-xbox-ally-playnite-romm/ <p>A handheld running Windows sounds great, until you have to find your games and your saves. Between the various launchers and the various apps you play with, everything ends up scattered.</p> <p>Here is how I set up my ROG Xbox Ally to get <strong>a single retro library</strong>, with <strong>my ROMs served by my own server</strong>. Along the way, my <strong>saves exist in three copies</strong> and follow me from one device to another.</p> <h2 id="overview">Overview</h2> <table><thead><tr><th>Component</th><th>Role</th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr><td><a rel="external" href="https://playnite.link/">Playnite</a></td><td>The launcher, with a desktop mode and a fullscreen mode, the latter controllable by gamepad.</td></tr> <tr><td><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/rommapp/romm">RomM</a></td><td>My self-hosted server that organizes my ROMs and keeps a copy of my saves.</td></tr> <tr><td><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/rommapp/playnite-plugin">RomM extension for Playnite</a></td><td>Imports the RomM library into Playnite and syncs saves.</td></tr> <tr><td><a rel="external" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118310/RetroArch/">RetroArch (Steam version)</a></td><td>The emulator, launched <em>via</em> Steam to get Steam Cloud, Steam Input and Remote Play Together.</td></tr> <tr><td><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/WindAflame/playnite-plugins">RetroArch (Steam) plugin</a></td><td>My plugin: it makes Playnite go through the Steam version of RetroArch.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>The idea: Playnite is the interface where you pick a game. It lists the games provided by RomM, then launches them <em>via</em> the Steam version of RetroArch.</p> <h2 id="step-1-install-playnite">Step 1: install Playnite</h2> <p>On the ROG Xbox Ally, I use Playnite in <strong>fullscreen mode</strong>. It is designed for gamepads and shows Steam games, games from other launchers and RomM games in a single interface.</p> <p>Playnite can be downloaded from <a rel="external" href="https://playnite.link/">its official website</a>:</p> <ol> <li>Switch the ROG Xbox Ally to Desktop mode.</li> <li>Download and install Playnite.</li> <li>In Armoury Crate, add a shortcut to <code>Playnite Fullscreen</code> to launch it straight from the console interface.</li> </ol> <h2 id="step-2-set-up-the-retroarch-emulator">Step 2: set up the RetroArch emulator</h2> <p>First, install <a rel="external" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118310/RetroArch/">RetroArch from Steam</a> (it's free), then enable Steam Cloud in its properties if it isn't already.</p> <p>By default, Playnite launches <code>retroarch.exe</code> directly. On a handheld, you then lose everything Steam brings:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Steam Input</strong> and its controller profiles;</li> <li>the Steam <strong>overlay</strong>;</li> <li><strong>playtime</strong> tracked on Steam;</li> <li><strong>Steam Cloud</strong>, which syncs RetroArch saves;</li> <li><strong>Remote Play Together</strong>.</li> </ul> <p>My <a rel="external" href="https://github.com/WindAflame/playnite-plugins">RetroArch (Steam) plugin</a> creates a "RetroArch (Steam)" emulator in Playnite, with one profile per <em>core</em>. Each profile goes through <code>steam.exe -applaunch 1118310 ...</code> instead of launching the executable. The plugin also automatically downloads missing <em>cores</em> when a game is launched.</p> <p>To install it: grab the <code>.pext</code> from the <a rel="external" href="https://github.com/WindAflame/playnite-plugins/releases">releases page</a> and open it with Playnite.</p> <h2 id="step-3-connect-playnite-to-romm">Step 3: connect Playnite to RomM</h2> <p>RomM is a self-hosted ROM manager: it organizes the collection, fetches metadata and cover art, and serves the files to clients.</p> <p>The <a rel="external" href="https://github.com/rommapp/playnite-plugin">official RomM extension</a> bridges it with Playnite:</p> <ol> <li>Install the extension from Playnite (<strong>Add-ons</strong> menu).</li> <li>Enter the RomM server address and authenticate (credentials, API token or QR code).</li> <li>Map each RomM platform to an emulator and a profile (the "RetroArch (Steam)" <em>core</em>).</li> <li>Run the import: games show up in Playnite and are downloaded on demand.</li> </ol> <blockquote class="markdown-alert-note"> <p>The extension needs a RomM instance configured with IGDB API credentials. See the <a rel="external" href="https://docs.romm.app/">RomM documentation</a>.</p> </blockquote> <p>A big advantage of RomM: a ROM has <strong>the same file name on all my devices</strong>. And that is exactly the name RetroArch uses to name the save file. This is what makes saves portable from one device to another.</p> <h2 id="step-4-enable-romm-sync">Step 4: enable RomM sync</h2> <p>Since version 0.9.0, the RomM extension can sync saves with the server. Just tick <strong>Enable save sync</strong> in its settings. Then:</p> <ul> <li><strong>before launching</strong> a game, it fetches the latest save from the server;</li> <li><strong>on exit</strong>, it uploads the local save;</li> <li>the <strong>Sync saves with RomM</strong> action, in a game's menu, forces a manual sync;</li> <li>in case of conflict, <strong>the most recent version wins</strong>.</li> </ul> <p>To find the saves, the extension reads RetroArch's configuration directly: nothing to set up there either.</p> <p>Pleasant surprise: the RomM extension's save sync works perfectly with our "RetroArch (Steam)" emulator, even though it goes through Steam. There is nothing more to configure.</p> <h2 id="the-result-three-copies-of-every-save">The result: three copies of every save</h2> <table><thead><tr><th>Copy</th><th>Where</th><th>When</th><th>Content</th></tr></thead><tbody> <tr><td>Local</td><td>RetroArch folder on the console</td><td>Continuously, while playing</td><td>Saves and <em>save states</em></td></tr> <tr><td>Steam Cloud</td><td>Valve's servers</td><td>When RetroArch starts and exits</td><td>Folders tracked by Steam</td></tr> <tr><td>RomM</td><td>My server</td><td>Before and after each game launched by Playnite</td><td>In-game saves (<code>.srm</code>)</td></tr> </tbody></table> <p>In practice:</p> <ul> <li><strong>if the console breaks</strong>, the saves are both on Steam and on my server;</li> <li><strong>if my server is down</strong>, Steam Cloud takes over, and vice versa;</li> <li><strong>on another device</strong> (desktop PC, Steam Deck…), just install RetroArch from Steam: Steam Cloud brings the saves back, whether the machine runs Windows or Linux;</li> <li><strong>with another RomM client</strong>, sync goes through the server.</li> </ul> <h2 id="one-save-many-screens">One save, many screens</h2> <p>Since RomM centralizes saves, I get my progress back whichever app I play with:</p> <ul> <li>the <strong>RomM web interface</strong>, which lets you play right in the browser;</li> <li><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/rommapp/argosy-launcher">Argosy</a>, the official RomM Android client;</li> <li><a rel="external" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118310/RetroArch/">RetroArch (Steam)</a>, through Playnite on Windows.</li> </ul> <p>So I can start a game on the ROG Xbox Ally, continue it on my phone on the train, then finish it in the browser.</p> <h2 id="bonus-remote-play-together">Bonus: Remote Play Together</h2> <p>Since RetroArch is launched <em>via</em> Steam, Steam sees it like any other game. For a local multiplayer game (split screen, fighting games, <em>party games</em>…), I can invite a friend with <strong>Remote Play Together</strong> from the Steam overlay. They play from home, without owning RetroArch or the ROM.</p> <h2 id="limitations-to-keep-in-mind">Limitations to keep in mind</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Save states are not portable</strong>: they depend on the <em>core</em> and sometimes on its version. To continue a game on another device, rely on the in-game save rather than a <em>save state</em>.</li> <li><strong>Two syncs run in parallel</strong>: Steam Cloud and RomM each have their own conflict logic. In practice, playing on one device at a time is enough to avoid surprises.</li> <li><strong>Systems with folder-based saves</strong> (PS2, PSP, GameCube, Switch…) are not yet supported by RomM sync.</li> <li><strong>You need a server</strong>: RomM is self-hosted, so you need a machine running (NAS, mini PC, VPS…) to benefit from it, especially away from home.</li> </ul> <h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2> <p>With Playnite as the interface, RomM as the library and RetroArch routed through Steam, the ROG Xbox Ally becomes a true retro console: one place to launch your games, saves in three copies and remote multiplayer as a bonus. Once it's set up, everything happens automatically: all that's left is to play.</p> <h2 id="useful-links">Useful links</h2> <ul> <li><a rel="external" href="https://playnite.link/">Playnite</a></li> <li><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/rommapp/romm">RomM</a> and its <a rel="external" href="https://docs.romm.app/">documentation</a></li> <li><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/rommapp/playnite-plugin">RomM extension for Playnite</a></li> <li><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/rommapp/argosy-launcher">Argosy, the RomM Android client</a></li> <li><a rel="external" href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1118310/RetroArch/">RetroArch on Steam</a></li> <li><a rel="external" href="https://github.com/WindAflame/playnite-plugins">My RetroArch (Steam) plugin for Playnite</a></li> </ul>