Network connection (wired recommended for best netplay)
A second Batocera PC to play with (LAN or WAN)
Outbreak is a netplay overlay for Batocera. It doesn't replace anything —
it adds a web panel, LAN discovery, and one-button hosting/joining on top of
your existing setup.
1 Install
SSH into your Batocera machine and run:
curl -sL https://tinyurl.com/2ck7b59j | bash
That's it. The installer will:
Download and extract Outbreak
Pin netplay-compatible cores (so both players use identical emulators)
Register the boot hook (Outbreak starts automatically on every reboot)
Start the server immediately
Don't know how to SSH? On your PC, open a terminal and run:
ssh root@YOUR_BATOCERA_IP — the default password is linux.
On Windows you can use PowerShell, CMD, or PuTTY.
2 Open the Web Panel
After install, you'll see a message like:
Open: http://192.168.0.100:8765/ui
Open that URL in any browser — phone, tablet, or another PC on the same network.
This is your control panel for hosting and joining games.
Finding your IP later:
Check the Batocera main menu → Network Settings
Or SSH in and run: hostname -I
The web panel is always at http://<IP>:8765/ui
3 Add Your Games
Outbreak supports 754 multiplayer games across 14 systems.
You'll need to supply your own ROM files — the ROM Guide has exact filenames and paths for every supported game.
Both players need the exact same ROM file for netplay to work
Copy ROMs to the correct folder on your Batocera drive (paths listed in the ROM Guide)
The Outbreak Host carousel populates once matching ROMs are detected
Netplay requires byte-identical ROMs on both consoles. Check the ROM Guide for the exact filenames and romset versions needed.
4 Host & Join
To host:
On your Batocera, navigate to the Outbreak Host system in the carousel
Select a game and press A to launch
Your session appears on the web panel and other consoles automatically
To join:
Open the web panel on the joining console
You'll see the host's session — click JOIN
Outbreak matches cores, finds the ROM, and launches RetroArch automatically
5 Updates
Outbreak auto-updates in the background. When a new version is released,
your console will pick it up within a few hours and restart the server seamlessly.
To force an immediate update, just re-run the install command.
Help
Troubleshooting
Can't reach the web panel? Make sure both devices are on the same network. Try pinging the Batocera IP.
Join says "connection too slow"? Use a wired connection. WiFi adds latency that can exceed the ping threshold.
Game won't start on join? Both players need the exact same ROM file. Check the ROM Guide.
Black screen after exiting a game? Press Select + Start to exit RetroArch. If stuck, hold the power button to reboot.