ES-DE 3.5.0 was released on September 30, 2026 with improvements for dual-screen Android devices, new systems, and a broad round of emulator compatibility. The version also expands the theme engine and adds videos to metadata scraping via TheGamesDB.

ES-DE is a frontend, not an emulator. It organizes the library, calls installed programs, and presents box art, videos, and metadata. Therefore, final compatibility still depends on the chosen emulator for each system.

On Android, the most direct change affects foldable devices and handhelds with two panels. The frontend has refined the handling of these configurations, while the new ps4 and atarijaguarcd systems expand the list of platforms that can be organized.

ES-DE 3.5.0 expands the Android experience

The addition of a system to the frontend does not mean the device now emulates that console automatically. The new profile defines the structure, metadata, and routes for compatible emulators. Thus, support for ps4 should be read as organization and integration, not as a native PlayStation 4 core.

This distinction also applies to Atari Jaguar CD. ES-DE coordinates the library, while execution is handled by an external application. In integrated solutions, like the Omnidroid 2.4.1-beta, frontend and cores appear in the same package; here, the roles are kept separate.

ES-DE organizes systems and games in a theme-customizable interface. Image: official website.

Theme engine receives new features

Version 3.5.0 expands the possibilities of the theme engine. This allows authors to adjust more navigation elements and create layouts adapted to different screen aspect ratios and densities. As a result, the same frontend can serve televisions, monitors, handhelds, and mobile phones without depending on a single presentation.

The project also maintains its focus on controller navigation. Box art, videos, lists, and filters are concentrated in an interface designed for distance use, something close to the Big Picture concept.

Themes can reorganize box art, information, and navigation depending on the device. Image: official website.

Scraping via TheGamesDB gains video support

Another new feature is video scraping from TheGamesDB. When the database has the corresponding material, ES-DE can associate it with the game entry along with box art and other data. This way, the library becomes richer without requiring manual registration of each clip.

Like any automatic scraping, results depend on the identifiers and content available in the database. Therefore, unusual names, translations, and regional revisions may still require manual correction.

The automation logic resembles the proposal of EmuDeck 2.7 with AutoMap, although the projects have different scopes. EmuDeck installs and configures a toolset, whereas ES-DE focuses on the presentation and launching of the collection.

More emulators and platform distribution

The changelog includes new emulator options across Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. This broadens the available combinations, but does not eliminate the need to install each compatible program and configure the ROM and data paths.

The builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux are free and open-source. On Android, however, official distribution remains paid via Patreon, Samsung Galaxy Store, or Huawei AppGallery. Therefore, there is no direct equivalence between the desktop package and mobile access.

The frontend also does not provide games, BIOS, or firmware. The user must point to their own copies and respect the legal requirements of each emulator.

For those already using a previous version, the update preserves the role of ES-DE as an organization layer. Still, it is recommended to check the changelog and emulator options before replacing configurations that already work, especially on dual-screen devices.

Sources: official ES-DE website, official ES-DE 3.5.0 highlight video, version announcement on r/emulation and official X post.