MelonDualDS Becomes WatermelonDS and Gets an Ultra-Light Sibling Called SeedlessDS

The Nintendo DS emulator for Android known as MelonDualDS has officially changed identity. Renamed WatermelonDS, the project released version 0.7.0 over the weekend, bringing a complete interface overhaul with it. At the same time, developer Sapphire Rhodonite is launching SeedlessDS, a lightweight variant built for entry-level Android devices.

A rebrand backed by real technical upgrades

Built on the foundations of the melonDS Android project, WatermelonDS is more than a simple name change: version 0.7.0 introduces a redesigned interface for clearer ROM list browsing and better RetroAchievements integration, along with RetroArch-style shader presets implemented across every available rendering backend. A new experimental Vulkan rendering path, dubbed Vulkan FastPath, also aims to unify and smooth out display performance over the long run.

SeedlessDS, meanwhile, specifically targets lower-powered Android handhelds like the Anbernic RG35XX SP. Built on the DraStic r2.6.0.4a core with an interface rewritten from scratch in Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, this 1.0.0-beta1 release still packs RetroAchievements support, save states with screenshots, and physical controller mapping. A Linux version has also been announced for later down the line. Both apps are available to download from the project's GitHub releases page, whose main repository page outlines the recommended setup for players new to DS emulation on mobile.

Source: Time Extension