Ares Emulator Adds NEC LD-ROM² Support, Advancing LaserActive Game Preservation

In a landmark development for retro gaming enthusiasts, the multi-format emulator Ares has added support for NEC LD-ROM² titles in its latest nightly builds.

This advancement represents a crucial step forward in the preservation and accessibility of Pioneer Electronic Corp's LaserActive gaming system, a hybrid video game console and laserdisc player released in 1993.

The LaserActive, created in partnership with companies such as NEC and Sega, is renowned for its modular design and rare game library, which has long been difficult for both collectors and historians to access. The breakthrough comes on the heels of the recent announcement that Ares became the first emulator to support the Mega LD add-on, an innovative peripheral designed by Pioneer and released in the early '90s.

The Mega LD allowed the LaserActive to play a unique set of Sega Mega Drive, Mega CD, and Mega-LD titles, utilizing the massive storage potential of laserdiscs to offer rich multimedia experiences. This string of technical achievements is chiefly attributed to Roger Sanders, better known within the emulation community as Nemesis.

An Australian expert in LaserActive hardware and software, Sanders successfully developed methods to reliably extract Mega LD game data from laserdiscs and decipher the digital protocols that allowed these titles to run on original hardware.

Building on this progress, Sanders recently announced via a SonicRetro forum discussion that he "has cracked LD-ROM² support for the NEC PAC" and that this functionality is already operational in Ares nightly builds. The NEC PAC, another expansion module for the LaserActive, was developed through collaboration with PC Engine creator NEC.

Unlike the Mega LD, which enabled Sega-related formats, the NEC PAC unlocked compatibility with NEC LD-ROM² titles, HuCard cartridges, CD-ROM² discs, and CD+G media.

Signature games from this era—such as Vajra, Vajra 2, and Demon's Judgment—can now be emulated for the very first time, albeit exclusively in the less stable nightly builds, with broader integration expected in future Ares releases. For decades, the specialized hardware and limited production runs of LD-ROM² titles contributed to their near-mythical status among retro gaming aficionados.

The addition of NEC LD-ROM² emulation not only makes these rare games more accessible, but also plays a vital role in their long-term digital preservation.

As the global community of emulation developers continues to collaborate, advancements like these ensure that a wider audience can experience and study gaming history that was once almost lost to time. Ares’ ongoing progress showcases the importance of open-source projects and dedicated individuals in the retro gaming sphere.

As support for LaserActive and its unique add-ons grows, the emulator further cements its role as a critical tool for digital conservation and education within the industry.

NEC Ares Ares emulator NEC LD-ROM² SEGA Mega LD Roger Sanders Nemesis Pioneer Electronic Corp PC Engine LaserActive SonicRetro