✨ Feature request - `.sav` save file support

[Rikj000]

Stand alone mGBA saves game progression as .sav files.
For some reason the libretro core for mGBA, saves these same files as .srm files,
which out-of-the-box are not compatible with each-other but can allegedly be converted.

This is an unnecessary conversion step which should not exist in the first place,
which makes it basically impossible to synchronize saves between devices, through things like Syncthing.

Imho RetroArch should not dictate to other emulators in which format they should save their files,
instead RetroArch should at least support the original save file formats alongside custom RetroArch only formats.

Linked mGBA Issue

mgba-emu#2144

[endrift]

They're exactly the same except for the extension.

[baco]

They're exactly the same except for the extension.

Just to know. Why is that decision then?

[dreadful-dev]

So, is it a huge issue to enable mGBA to fallback to loading .sav if .srm is not present? Trying to sync between standalone emulation devices (e.g. TrimUI Brick) and PC running retroarch using syncthing is a nightmare because of this. Why not support both? Prioritize .srm for consistency but also support .sav for compatability?

[endrift]

This is up to the frontend, not the core. The core just takes whatever file the frontend (usually Retroarch) gives, and the frontend will just pick .srm. You should bug the Retroarch repo instead.

[dreadful-dev]

Thank you, this was my misunderstanding. Would the main retroarch repo be the appropriate place to post this question?

[endrift]

I think so. I'm not a libretro dev; I'm the mGBA dev.

[dreadful-dev]

Understood. Thank you for your contribution! I've gotten so many hours of joy from this emulator and just had a moment of frustration. I'll direct this request to the proper channels.