BSNES Emulator Update Introduces Enhanced Online Multiplayer and Multitap Functionality for SNES Games
The landscape of Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) emulation continues to evolve as BSNES, one of the most accurate and respected SNES emulators, ushers in a new era of online multiplayer capabilities.
Traditionally, players seeking robust SNES online multiplayer opted for emulators such as Snes9x, paired with popular frontends like RetroArch or Fightcade.
These options provided the essential netplay features necessary for enjoying classic multiplayer experiences remotely, while other emulators in the space have often lagged behind in functionality.
Over the last year, notable advancements have been made thanks to HeatXD, a dedicated developer in the retro gaming community.
In July of last year, HeatXD unveiled a custom fork of BSNES on GitHub, innovatively integrating GekkoNet—a peer-to-peer rollback game networking SDK.
This integration aimed to make online multiplayer not only possible on BSNES, but also more stable and user-friendly for fans of the original SNES library.
The initial release (V1) made a splash by enabling netplay on a wide range of multiplayer SNES titles. This past weekend marked another major milestone as HeatXD released a second build (V2), introducing full multitap support to the BSNES community.
With this upgrade, players can now enjoy online sessions with up to five participants for all SNES games that originally supported multitap functionality.
Classics like the Japan-exclusive Super Bomberman 5, released in 1997, are now playable online with the full complement of players for the first time through BSNES's enhanced features. The V2 update doesn't stop at expanded player support.
According to recent release notes and confirmed by developer statements, the update brings improvements to session stability, refined spectating options, and crucial fixes for previously reported crashes.
The netplay setup interface has also been redesigned, with usability enhancements to ensure a smoother onboarding process for both newcomers and experienced users. Players are advised to pay careful attention to the developer's recommendations for a seamless experience: all parties should ensure identical game versions are being used and avoid altering emulator settings during online play, as such changes could result in session desynchronization. BSNES with enhanced GekkoNet-powered netplay is currently available for download across Windows, Linux, Mac, and freeBSD platforms.
However, users of the Mac build, particularly those with M1 hardware, should note that there may be rendering issues based on ongoing development observations. HeatXD’s ongoing work demonstrates a commitment to both stability and authentic multiplayer experiences, positioning BSNES as a formidable option for fans wanting to relive SNES classics with friends worldwide.
The emulator’s open-source nature and active development community mark it as a significant contender in the retro gaming space and an important piece of software preservation for Nintendo's iconic 16-bit hardware.
Traditionally, players seeking robust SNES online multiplayer opted for emulators such as Snes9x, paired with popular frontends like RetroArch or Fightcade.
These options provided the essential netplay features necessary for enjoying classic multiplayer experiences remotely, while other emulators in the space have often lagged behind in functionality.
Over the last year, notable advancements have been made thanks to HeatXD, a dedicated developer in the retro gaming community.
In July of last year, HeatXD unveiled a custom fork of BSNES on GitHub, innovatively integrating GekkoNet—a peer-to-peer rollback game networking SDK.
This integration aimed to make online multiplayer not only possible on BSNES, but also more stable and user-friendly for fans of the original SNES library.
The initial release (V1) made a splash by enabling netplay on a wide range of multiplayer SNES titles. This past weekend marked another major milestone as HeatXD released a second build (V2), introducing full multitap support to the BSNES community.
With this upgrade, players can now enjoy online sessions with up to five participants for all SNES games that originally supported multitap functionality.
Classics like the Japan-exclusive Super Bomberman 5, released in 1997, are now playable online with the full complement of players for the first time through BSNES's enhanced features. The V2 update doesn't stop at expanded player support.
According to recent release notes and confirmed by developer statements, the update brings improvements to session stability, refined spectating options, and crucial fixes for previously reported crashes.
The netplay setup interface has also been redesigned, with usability enhancements to ensure a smoother onboarding process for both newcomers and experienced users. Players are advised to pay careful attention to the developer's recommendations for a seamless experience: all parties should ensure identical game versions are being used and avoid altering emulator settings during online play, as such changes could result in session desynchronization. BSNES with enhanced GekkoNet-powered netplay is currently available for download across Windows, Linux, Mac, and freeBSD platforms.
However, users of the Mac build, particularly those with M1 hardware, should note that there may be rendering issues based on ongoing development observations. HeatXD’s ongoing work demonstrates a commitment to both stability and authentic multiplayer experiences, positioning BSNES as a formidable option for fans wanting to relive SNES classics with friends worldwide.
The emulator’s open-source nature and active development community mark it as a significant contender in the retro gaming space and an important piece of software preservation for Nintendo's iconic 16-bit hardware.
