Android: 120 Hz + Vulkan + VSync Swap Interval Auto/2 + color correction shader causes crashes on fast forward

[oksklok]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• This is a bug in RetroArch frontend
• I have searched the existing issues

Description

I'm trying to dial in RetroArch on an AYN Odin 3 with its 120 Hz screen, using the Vulkan video driver.

Issue:

• VSync Swap Interval = Auto or 2: normal gameplay seems fine, but toggling fast forward on will randomly crash RetroArch.
• VSync Swap Interval = 1: no crash, but I get very obvious frame pacing stutter during gameplay.
• It happens across multiple cores, including mGBA and gambatte, so it does not seem tied to one specific core or hardware-rendered emulator. My other cores mesen, bsnes, melonDS DS, and SwanStaion seem fine.
• My AYN Thor does not have this issue, even though it also has a 120 Hz screen (probably the exact same panel).
• I already tried the Odin screen calibration tool and RetroArch now reports around 119.962 Hz, so refresh calibration should be reasonably close now.

At this point I suspect some kind of Vulkan + high refresh + Odin 3 / Snapdragon 8 Elite driver issue, but I'm not sure.

Update:

• The crashes only happen when a handheld color correction shader is applied (e.g. lcd-grid-v2-gba-color.slangp) or even handheld/color-mod/gba-color.slangp.
• Tested gbc-color and nds-color. They crash as well.
• Base LCD shaders like lcd-grid-v2 itself doesn't trigger crashes.

Expected behavior

No response

Steps to reproduce the bug

1. On AYN Odin 3
2. Set video driver to Vulkan
3. Set VSync Swap Interval to Auto/2
4. Play a GBA game on mGBA
5. Rapidly toggle fast forward on/off multiple times and RetroArch will crash

Version/Commit

1.22.2

Bisect Results

No response

Present in the nightly version

I don't know

Platform & operating system

AYN Odin 3, Android 15

Affected Cores

mGBA, gambatte

Environment information

No response

Relevant log output

[Video] Set video size to: 960x720.
[Vulkan] Vulkan dynamic library loaded.
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 1.
[Vulkan] Created Android surface: 502889576368.
[Vulkan] Found GPU at index 0: "Adreno (TM) 830".
[Vulkan] Using GPU index 0.
[Vulkan] Using semaphores for WSI acquire.
[Vulkan] Using GPU: "Adreno (TM) 830".
[Vulkan] Queue family 0 supports 3 sub-queues.
[Vulkan] Got 4 swapchain images.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Using resolution 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Using RGB565 format.
[Vulkan] Loading stock shader.
[Input] Found joypad driver: "android".
[Audio] Set audio input rate to: 48000.00 Hz.
[OpenSL] Requested audio latency: 32 ms.
[OpenSL] Setting audio latency: Block size = 576, Blocks = 11, Total = 6336...
[Audio] Started synchronous audio driver.
[Display] Found display driver: "vulkan".
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Core] Using content: "/storage/D2D8-3B0B/Roms/GBA/Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (USA).zip#Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (USA).gba".
[Core] Unloading core...
[Core] Unloading core symbols...
RetroArch 1.22.2 (Git 69a4f0e)
=== Build =======================================
Capabilities: ASIMD
[INFO] Version: 1.22.2
[INFO] Git: 69a4f0e
[INFO] Built: Nov 20 2025
[INFO] =================================================
[Input] Found input driver: "android".
[Core] Loading dynamic libretro core from: "/data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64/cores/mgba_libretro_android.so".
[Override] Redirecting save file to "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/saves/mGBA/Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (USA).srm".
[Override] Redirecting save state to "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/states/mGBA/Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (USA).state".
[Environ] GET_CORE_OPTIONS_VERSION.
[Environ] GET_LANGUAGE: "0".
[Environ] SET_CORE_OPTIONS_V2_INTL.
[Remap] Core-specific remap found at "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/config/remaps/mGBA/mGBA.rmp".
[Environ] SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: RGB565.
[Environ] SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS.
[Environ] GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
[Content] Loading content file: "/storage/D2D8-3B0B/Roms/GBA/Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (USA).zip#Castlevania - Aria of Sorrow (USA).gba".
[Content] CRC32: 0x47a42f0e.
[Environ] SET_AUDIO_BUFFER_STATUS_CALLBACK.
[Environ] GET_SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/system".
[Core] Version of libretro API: 1, Compiled against API: 1
[Core] Geometry: 240x160, Aspect: 1.500, FPS: 59.73, Sample rate: 48000.00 Hz.
[Video] Set video size to: 720x480.
[Vulkan] Vulkan dynamic library loaded.
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 2.
[Vulkan] Created Android surface: 502889407888.
[Vulkan] Found GPU at index 0: "Adreno (TM) 830".
[Vulkan] Using GPU index 0.
[Vulkan] Using semaphores for WSI acquire.
[Vulkan] Using GPU: "Adreno (TM) 830".
[Vulkan] Queue family 0 supports 3 sub-queues.
[Vulkan] Got 4 swapchain images.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Using resolution 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Using RGB565 format.
[Shaders] Specific shader preset found at "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/config/mGBA/mGBA.slangp".
[Slang] Compiling shader: "/data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64/shaders/shaders_slang/handheld/shaders/color/lut/GBA-LUT.slang".
[Vulkan] Using render target format R8G8B8A8_UNORM for pass output #0.
[Slang] Compiling shader: "/data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64/shaders/shaders_slang/handheld/shaders/lcd-cgwg/lcd-grid-v2.slang".
[Vulkan] Using render target format R8G8B8A8_UNORM for pass output #1.
[Slang] Compiling shader: "/data/user/0/com.retroarch.aarch64/shaders/shaders_slang/handheld/shaders/color/gba-color.slang".
[Vulkan] Using render target format R8G8B8A8_UNORM for pass output #2.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Input] Found joypad driver: "android".
[Video] Found display server: "android".
[Audio] Set audio input rate to: 48203.57 Hz.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[OpenSL] Requested audio latency: 32 ms.
[OpenSL] Setting audio latency: Block size = 576, Blocks = 11, Total = 6336...
[Audio] Started synchronous audio driver.
[Display] Found display driver: "vulkan".
[Playlist] Loading favorites file: "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/playlists/builtin/content_favorites.lpl".
[Playlist] Loading history file: "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/playlists/builtin/content_history.lpl".
[Playlist] Loading history file: "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/playlists/builtin/content_image_history.lpl".
[Playlist] Loading history file: "/storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/playlists/builtin/content_music_history.lpl".
[Environ] SET_MEMORY_MAPS.
[Environ] SET_SUPPORT_ACHIEVEMENTS: yes.
[Environ] SET_MINIMUM_AUDIO_LATENCY.
[Environ] GET_RUMBLE_INTERFACE.
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
GBA Memory: Detected SRAM savegame
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 0.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 2.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 0.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 2.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 0.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 2.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 0.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 2.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 0.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 240x160 (format: 37).
[Vulkan] Setting swap interval: 2.
[Vulkan] Native window size: 1920x1080.
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 256x256 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Creating framebuffer 1620x1080 (max 1 level(s)).
[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 0x0 (format: 37).

[gouchi]

@oksklok Thank you for the report. Can you retry with nightly build and provide some log ?

Thank you.

[oksklok]

@oksklok Thank you for the report. Can you retry with nightly build and provide some log ?

Thank you.

Thanks for the reply, @gouchi ! I did want to try the nightly build at one point, but I was debating that I'd have to tinker again with the new features/changes and stuff. My current setup is already almost perfect apart from this issue.

Could you please elaborate if there are changes in the nightly build that could possibly be a fix for this issue? I'll definitely give it go if so!

[oksklok]

Hi @gouchi , I attached the log right up until the crash.

[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 0x0 (format: 37).

I think the last line could be telling since the "0x0" part is different from all the "240x160" above, but I'm not tech-savvy enough to pinpoint the exact cause. Could you please share some insight?

What I did this session:

1. Launch RA
2. Enable logs
3. Change VSync Swap Interval from 1 to Auto
4. Launch a GBA game using mGBA
5. Rapidly flipping fast forward on/off until it crashes

[oksklok]

retroarch.log

Here's the log produced on my AYN Thor, which shares the same 120 Hz panel, same Vulkan backend, same Swap Interval at Auto, same core, same shader preset, but it didn't crash.

[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 0x0 (format: 37).

Interesting enough that this "0x0" line appeared multiple times but the Thor survived instead of crashing like the Odin 3, which I believe strongly points to a device-specific issue (Adreno 830 / Snapdragon 8 Elite)?

[oksklok]

retroarch.log

Here's the log produced on the Thor on the latest nightly version since I don't have the Odin lying around at the moment. Although the Thor didn't crash before anyway, I did find something interesting. Compared to the stable version, the "0x0" lines completely disappeared or were replaced with "1x1".

[Vulkan] Updating framebuffer size 1x1 (format: 37).

After some back-and-forth with ChatGPT, the most likely relevant change is in gfx/drivers/vulkan.c, especially vulkan_set_viewport(). Not sure if this could be the fix for the crash on the Odin though.

[oksklok]

After some thorough testing I think I've found the root cause:

• The crashes only happen when a handheld color correction shader is applied (e.g. lcd-grid-v2-gba-color.slangp) or even handheld/color-mod/gba-color.slangp.
• Tested gbc-color and nds-color. They crash as well.
• Base LCD shaders like lcd-grid-v2 itself doesn't trigger crashes.
• This explains why my home console systems don't suffer from this issue since I'm using CRT shaders with them.
• This also explains why melonDS DS is also spared because it's using the lcd1x-nds shader there.

Still doesn't explain why the Thor is okay though, since it's using the exact same lcd-grid-v2-gba-color.slangp preset.

[gouchi]

@oksklok Thank you for the detail analysis and tests ! Can you update your title issue with your finding at least about the shaders ;)

[oksklok]

@oksklok Thank you for the detail analysis and tests ! Can you update your title issue with your finding at least about the shaders ;)

Done! Good luck on figuring out a fix! This issue has been driving me crazy ever since I noticed it like 2 days ago. As someone with zero coding knowledge I'm basically desperate at this point lol. Did everything I could.