[Bug] RetroArch EasyRPG core: Crash triggered when running certain games in the same session

[gaoyimin1980]

When running an RPG Maker 2000/2003 game with an external .bin translation file (e.g., TrsData_*.bin) in RetroArch using the EasyRPG core, the following pattern occurs:

1.First run of any game with .bin translation → launches successfully.

2.In the same RetroArch session, the second game launch (ANY game, with or without .bin translation) → immediate crash.

3.Third game launch in the same session → runs normally.

4.Closing and reopening RetroArch resets the pattern.

5.The same games without .bin translation do not exhibit this behavior. The standalone EasyRPG Player is unaffected.

[Mimigris]

What is this TrsData_*.bin file? Is that a RetroArch feature? Not aware of such thing existing in EasyRPG, so I don't really see the link. Could you provide more context?

[gaoyimin1980]

What is this TrsData_*.bin file? Is that a RetroArch feature? Not aware of such thing existing in EasyRPG, so I don't really see the link. Could you provide more context?

Sorry, I previously described the issue incorrectly — it’s actually unrelated to the .bin translation files. The problem occurs when running certain localized (Chinese) RPG Maker games in RetroArch.

Here’s what happens:

The first time I run one of these games in RetroArch, everything works fine.

I then close the game (but do not exit RetroArch).

When I try to launch any game afterward, RetroArch crashes immediately and forcefully exits.

After restarting RetroArch, I can run games normally again — until the bug repeats.

It feels like some kind of cache or memory state from the first game isn’t being properly cleared, which interferes with the second launch. Once RetroArch is restarted, the cache seems to reset and everything works again (just my guess).

I’m using the EasyRPG Player core version 0.8.1.1, but I’m not sure whether this issue is caused by RetroArch itself or by the EasyRPG core.

To help reproduce the issue, I’ve uploaded one of the games that consistently triggers this bug.

Dragon Quest b.zip

[Mimigris]

I gave a try at what you said, using the latest RetroArch Steam build on Windows, using the EasyRPG 0.8.1.1 libretro core from the EasyRPG website, opening Dragon Quest b and closing it, from the title screen, from the game, with the translation set or not set, opening other games I have, but wasn't able to trigger any problem.

In idea, it sounds a bit similar to #3035 & #3015, which were issues were the game would crash when being closed while playing a MIDI file, which would have been the case for Dragon Quest b since the game only uses MIDI files, but this was fixed before 0.8.1.1 so it shouldn't be that.

Not very familiar with libretro environments and sometimes it can be a bit hard to debug them, so I'll ask more details:

• What is the version listed of the EasyRPG Player when loading it in RetroArch? (exact version and date, displayed in the settings menu accessible by pressing Enter iirc on RetroArch)
• On which platform was it played? (OS, libretro distribution)
• Are there specific conditions under which the bug occurs? Does it happen when exiting from the title screen without even selecting any language and loading any game in Dragon Quest q?
• Does it happen with every game loaded? Can it happen when loading a separate copy of Dragon Quest b? (would be easier to test if so)

[gaoyimin1980]

I gave a try at what you said, using the latest RetroArch Steam build on Windows, using the EasyRPG 0.8.1.1 libretro core from the EasyRPG website, opening Dragon Quest b and closing it, from the title screen, from the game, with the translation set or not set, opening other games I have, but wasn't able to trigger any problem.

In idea, it sounds a bit similar to #3035 & #3015, which were issues were the game would crash when being closed while playing a MIDI file, which would have been the case for Dragon Quest b since the game only uses MIDI files, but this was fixed before 0.8.1.1 so it shouldn't be that.

Not very familiar with libretro environments and sometimes it can be a bit hard to debug them, so I'll ask more details:

• What is the version listed of the EasyRPG Player when loading it in RetroArch? (exact version and date, displayed in the settings menu accessible by pressing Enter iirc on RetroArch)
• On which platform was it played? (OS, libretro distribution)
• Are there specific conditions under which the bug occurs? Does it happen when exiting from the title screen without even selecting any language and loading any game in Dragon Quest q?
• Does it happen with every game loaded? Can it happen when loading a separate copy of Dragon Quest b? (would be easier to test if so)

I am running on a Microsoft Xbox Series X console with Developer Mode enabled. I have installed RetroArch 1.20, using the EasyRPG Player core version 0.8.1.1. All my games are compressed into .zip format to save space and improve file loading efficiency.

Issue description: When I launch RetroArch and run Dragon Quest b.zip with the core, everything works fine the first time. I then exit the game but do not quit RetroArch. If I immediately re-run Dragon Quest b.zip, the game starts at the language selection screen. However, after choosing option 1 or 2 to proceed, the game crashes.

If I restart RetroArch before re-running Dragon Quest b.zip, the game works normally again. It feels like RetroArch may be performing some caching or memory operations, leaving temporary data uncleared until RetroArch either crashes or is manually restarted (this is just my guess).

This issue does not occur with all games. It seems more common with Chinese-localized games — some are fine, others show this problem. I have also tested EasyRPG Player 0.8.0, and the problem persists. The attached game Mimicryman.zip does not have this issue.

Mimicryman.zip

[Mimigris]

It could be an issue with the Xbox environment possibly, but this will probably be a bit hard to replicate since I don't think anyone in the team has an Xbox Series to do the debugging, so this may take time to solve.