A new version of the popular Game Boy emulator VisualBoyAdvance-M has been released. Version 2.2.1, published on July 19, 2025, delivers a set of technical improvements aimed at better stability and usability.
What’s New
Among the most notable changes is support for TAR, .xz, and .bz2 compressed ROM files. This means users can now load games from compressed formats without needing to extract them first. The update also improves GBA sound emulation and refines the emulator’s build system across platforms, particularly for macOS and Linux users.
About VBA-M
VBA-M is a maintained fork of the original VisualBoyAdvance, designed for cross-platform use and continued accuracy. It remains a go-to option for playing Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance titles on modern systems.
Download
Version 2.2.1 is available now on the official GitHub page.
Very cool to see this emulator is still getting updates. I think it’s been around for about 20 years or so.