X-Arcade setup on Mac with RetroArch or OpenEmu
Useful Answer
For newer Apple Silicon Macs, use RetroArch before OpenEmu when setting up X-Arcade controls. OpenEmu may work better on older Intel Macs, but support experience suggests it is less reliable on newer M-series Macs, especially for arcade cores and custom controller mappings.
Recommended Mac setup:
- Install RetroArch.
- Install the MAME and/or FinalBurn Neo cores.
- Go to Settings > Input > RetroPad Binds > Port 1 Controls.
- Map the joystick and buttons for the X-Arcade controller.
- For trackball or spinner input, check the mouse device selection and try the device labeled similar to
HID 1241:1111.
For Arcade2TV-XR on Mac, use the square USB-B port for wired data. The USB-C port powers the control panel and marquee lighting but does not send controller data to the Mac. If the customer is using the wireless keyboard/mouse path, power the unit normally and plug the included wireless dongle into the Mac.
When remapping in OpenEmu, put Arcade2TV-XR in Keyboard Mode when possible, then click each empty control field in OpenEmu and press or move the matching X-Arcade control. One confirmed Mac/OpenEmu setup worked after support clarified the USB-B data connection and keyboard-mode remapping flow.
If the customer is using OpenEmu on an Apple Silicon Mac and cannot get MAME controls working consistently, do not spend too much time forcing that path. RetroArch is the safer recommendation. For the simplest arcade-emulation experience overall, a dedicated Batocera, RetroPie, or Windows setup may be easier than macOS.
Source Context
The customer was trying to use a Tankstick Max with a MacBook Pro and asked about EmulationStation/OpenEmu. Support recommended RetroArch for newer Macs, noted that OpenEmu tends to work better on older Intel Macs, and provided the RetroArch input path plus the likely HID mouse index for trackball or spinner setup. A separate Arcade2TV-XR Mac/OpenEmu case confirmed that USB-B is the wired data port, USB-C is power only, and Keyboard Mode remapping in OpenEmu is the smoother path.