Flycast supports the following game formats:
- SEGA Dreamcast Titles:
.cdi, .gdi, .chd, .cue (includes Windows CE games)
- SEGA NAOMI GD-ROM Titles:
.7z, .zip, .dat/.lst, .chd
- SEGA NAOMI 1 & 2 Titles:
.zip, .7z, .dat/.lst
- Sammy Atomiswave Titles:
.zip, .7z
Note: Flycast does not support Hikaru or SEGA System SP games.
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Prepare Files:
- Get the Flycast
.appx file (e.g., flycast_2.5.appx).
- (Optional) Get a Dreamcast BIOS (dc_boot) file for better compatibility.
-
Upload BIOS to USB (optional but recommended):
- Create a
Sega - Dreamcast games folder on your USB.
- Place the BIOS file and Dreamcast games inside.
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Install Flycast:
- Enable Xbox Device Portal in your Xbox Dev Mode settings.
- On your PC, open a web browser and enter the Xbox Device Portal URL.
- Go to My games & apps → Add.
- Drag and drop the Flycast
.appx file, click Next, then Start.
- Once installed, click Done.
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Change App to Game Mode:
- On Xbox, hover over Flycast → press Select → View Details.
- Change it from App to Game.
Where to upload your ROMs:
- Xbox Device Portal → File explorer →
LocalAppData\Flycast\LocalState
- Create a
games folder here.
- Upload Dreamcast ROMs.
- You can upload
.zip files — the portal will prompt you to unzip.
For cheats, VMUs, etc.:
- Upload to:
LocalAppData\Flycast\LocalState\Data
- Launch Flycast.
- Go to Settings → Content Location → Add.
- Press Up on the D-pad → A → keep pressing A on .. (Parent Directory) until you see drives.
- Select the E:/ drive (USB)
- If using internal storage the default drive will be Q:/.
- Press B → Select Current Directory.
- Transparent Sorting: Per Pixel
- Automatic Frame Skipping: Leave default
- Widescreen Mode: Enable if desired
- Filtering: 16x
- VSync: Enable if needed
- Show FPS Counter / VMU in-game: Optional
- Internal Resolution: Max for Series X; reduce on Series S for best performance
- Quick Menu: Press Start + Select in game.
- Save States / Load States: Available in the quick menu.
Texture packs can only be loaded from the internal storage.
-
Prepare the Texture Pack:
- Extract to get GameID folder (if not already extracted).
- Recompress the GameID folder as
.zip.
-
Upload in Xbox Portal:
- Upload
.zip to:
Flycast\LocalState\Data\textures
- Portal will ask: Extract zip file contents to this directory? → Click YES.
-
Enable in Flycast:
- Quick Menu → Settings → Video Tab → Enable Load Custom Textures.
- If you don’t see the unzip prompt in the portal, try restarting your Xbox or switching browsers.
Credit to CronicCanabis88 for the instructions
- Launch Flycast in Xbox Dev Mode.
- Go to →
Settings → Network.
- Enable Use DCNet (tick the checkbox).
- Save settings.
- Fully restart Flycast.
- Go to Online / Network mode.
- When asked:
- Username → type at least 3 characters.
- Password → type at least 3 characters.
- Hit OK → you’re ready to connect.
- Select Register New User.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Confirm details → connect to online.
- Select NEW USER on the main menu.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Confirm → online racing is ready.
- Go to Network menu.
- Press left to Account 1.
- Register new user:
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Save → ready to race online.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Privacy code → enter any 10-digit number.
- Confirm → join online minigames.
- Nickname → at least 3 characters.
- Password → anything.
- You’re set!
- IMPORTANT: Needs saved profile before going online.
- On main menu, go to → Settings → Game Options.
- Enter:
- Go to → Car Profile → set car name + details.
- BACK OUT → SAVE ON THE MAIN MENU (it will ask you to save, choose Yes).
- To play online:
- Load the saved profile.
- Connect to online.
- TIP: Use save state after loading profile to skip this next time.
- Go to Network Options.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Required for online stats + leaderboards.
- Go to → Options → Player.
- Set player name.
- SAVE PROFILE.
- Before online play → always load this profile.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
- Username → at least 6 characters.
- Password → at least 6 characters.
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Save State Shortcut
- Set
Save State to e.g., LB.
- Set
Load State to e.g., RB.
- After entering username/password, save state at network screen → next time, just load state.
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Where to Find Matches