Hi everyone!

I am extremely excited to share this because this is one of those features that feels amazing to see running on Android.

GameCube + GBA Link is now working on Dolphin Android!

This means compatible GameCube games can now detect an emulated GBA connected to one of the GameCube controller ports, similar to the original GameCube + Game Boy Advance Link Cable setup.

This opens the door to testing and enjoying features that were originally designed around having a GameCube and a real Game Boy Advance connected together.

And now, this is working on Android.

What is working now?

• GameCube + GBA Link support on Android

• External display support for the GBA screen

• Single-screen fallback with in-game screen switching

• GBA input mapping through GameCube controller ports

• Optional Wii pointer touchpad support on an external display

• Improved external display detection

This is a big step for Dolphin Android dual-screen functionality (and we dont forget single screen aswell).

How does GameCube + GBA Link work?

GameCube controller ports can now be configured as Emulated GBA.

For example:

• GameCube Controller 1: Standard Controller

• GameCube Controller 2: Emulated GBA

• GBA ROM 2: The GBA game linked to Port 2

So if the GBA is configured on Port 2, you need to use GBA ROM 2.

If it is configured on Port 3, use GBA ROM 3, and so on.

This makes the setup much closer to how the original hardware worked.

External display support

If a valid external display is connected, Dolphin Android can now show the GBA screen there automatically.

This is especially exciting because it allows the Android device to behave more like a dual-screen setup.

You can have the GameCube game on the main screen and the GBA screen on an external display.

But if you do not have an external display, that is also supported.

On single-screen devices, the in-game menu can switch between:

• Show GBA Screen

• Show GameCube Screen

So even without an external monitor, the feature is still usable.

GBA input support

GBA input is handled through the same GameCube controller port configured as Emulated GBA.

This means each linked GBA can have its own ROM and input mapping depending on the port being used.

Supported GBA inputs include:

• D-pad

• A

• B

• L

• R

• Start

• Select

Wii pointer on external display

There is also a new optional feature for Wii games.

A valid external display can now be used as a Wii pointer touchpad, but only when the related setting is enabled.

This is important because Wii games will not automatically take over an external display unless you explicitly configure it.

Why this is exciting

This is not just a small UI change.

This brings Dolphin Android closer to supporting one of the most interesting original Nintendo hardware interactions!

GameCube connected to Game Boy Advance.

That means more accurate testing, more compatibility possibilities, and a much better experience for games that used the GBA as a second screen, controller, or linked companion device.

Seeing this working on Android is honestly amazing!

Test build for Patrons

I am preparing an experimental APK test build for Patrons so they can help test this before a public release.

The goal is to collect feedback, fix issues, and make sure the public version is as stable as possible.

If you are a Patron, please check the private test post for the APK and testing instructions.

Thank you so much for supporting this work.

Features like this take a lot of testing, debugging, and experimentation, but they are exactly the kind of things that make Android emulation more powerful and exciting.

I am really happy to finally show this working.

- Sapphire 💙