Provenance EMU

Overview

Provenance EMU is a state-of-the-art multi-system emulator that brings classic gaming to modern Apple devices. As the founder and lead developer, I’ve transformed what began as a simple NES emulator into one of the most comprehensive and powerful emulation platforms available for iOS, tvOS, and macOS.

Technical Achievements

  • First Full-Speed N64 Emulation: Pioneered the first full-performance Nintendo 64 emulator for iOS without requiring jailbreak or JIT compilation
  • ARM64 Optimization: Successfully ported and optimized multiple emulation cores for ARM64 architecture, including the first working Atari Jaguar emulator for iOS
  • Modern Architecture: Complete rewrite in Swift using protocol-oriented design, MVVM architecture, and the latest Apple frameworks
  • Cross-Platform: Seamless experience across iOS, tvOS, and macOS using shared codebase and SwiftUI
Provenance Game Library Gameplay Experience Provenance Menu Interface

Supported Systems

Provenance supports an extensive range of classic gaming systems:

  • Nintendo (NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance)
  • Sega (Genesis/Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, CD, 32X, Saturn)
  • Sony (PlayStation 1)
  • Atari (2600, 5200, 7800, Lynx, Jaguar)
  • NEC (PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16, PC-FX)
  • SNK (Neo Geo Pocket, Neo Geo CD)
  • Bandai (WonderSwan)

Features

  • Modern UI: Beautiful SwiftUI interface with customizable themes and layouts
  • Cloud Sync: iCloud integration for save states and game data
  • Controller Support: Extensive controller support including MFi, PS4/PS5, and Xbox controllers
  • Advanced Features: Save states, cheats, fast-forward, and real-time shaders
  • Auto-Save: Automatic save state creation and game save backup
  • Metadata: Automatic game artwork and information fetching
  • Extensions: Native extension such as file-provider and Siri, intents and more.
Game Spotlight

Community & Development

Provenance has grown into a vibrant open-source project with:

  • 4,000+ GitHub stars
  • 100+ contributors
  • Active Discord community with thousands of members
  • Comprehensive wiki documentation
  • Regular updates and feature additions
Provenance TV

Technical Stack

  • Frontend: SwiftUI, UIKit
  • Architecture: MVVM, Protocol-Oriented Design
  • Performance: Metal Graphics, ARM64 Optimization
  • Data Management: Core Data, iCloud sync
  • Modern Swift: Combine, Swift Concurrency
  • Low-Level: AArch64 Assembly, SIMD Optimization
  • Build System: SPM, Carthage

Provenance represents a significant achievement in iOS development and emulation technology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on Apple platforms while maintaining a user-friendly experience that anyone can enjoy.

Project link: https://provenance-emu.com

Nifty tech tag lists from Wouter Beeftink