Put simply, RetroArch is not a user-friendly tool.

Honestly, as someone only casually into emulation for my own personal libraries, it's the worst piece of software I've ever encountered.

Even the very basic task of assigning control maps just straight-up fails to function for Steam Deck, and after hours of painfully frustrating, failed attempts to fix it, I've decided to drop RA for the following reasons:

1) Control maps are not globally saved, and attempting to assign configuration files is an absolute nightmare because nothing is ever read from native save file locations.

2) On Steam Deck, the port (virtual controller) disconnects without fail every single time you swap or reset, regardless of hitting Apply or setting said configs in the pre-game menus.

3) Constantly forgets remapping, meaning it's refusing to save even game-specific settings. You have to remap your entire control scheme at every single launch, swap, or reset.

4) Had a startling tendency to forget even remembered global settings (like the shortcut to open its master menu during load), requiring hard console resets.

5) Entering text in any submenu (ie. Cheats) is a one-and-done process: you cannot open the field to edit single characters, you have to retype the entire code if there was a mistake. That is silly levels of basic quality of life missing.

RA needs some serious time in the oven, especially given it's a (somehow) usual recommend for Steam Deck, but fails to actually perform on it.

Broken gamepad support on Steam Deck, endless reconfigurations in mobile or docked mode needed .

nh