Legal

Terms of Use

Last updated: June 2026

Welcome to Shadowboy. By downloading, installing, accessing, or using the Shadowboy Android application, Shadowboy Desktop application, related services, or any associated features (collectively, the “App”), you agree to the terms below. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

License to Use

Subject to these terms, you are granted a personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to install and use the App on devices you own or control for your own personal, non-commercial use.

ROMs are your responsibility. Shadowboy does not include, distribute, or link to copyrighted game ROMs, BIOS files, firmware, disc images, or commercial game content. You are solely responsible for ensuring that you have the legal right to use any content you import, load, back up, or play with the App. Using content you do not own or are not authorized to use may violate the copyright laws of your country.

What You May Not Do

Distribute, sell, sublicense, or rent the App or any part of it
Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App, except where explicitly permitted by the open-source licenses of bundled third-party components (see the License and Notices pages)
Remove, alter, or obscure any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices
Use the App to infringe the intellectual property rights of others

Third-Party Components and Data Providers

Shadowboy includes or uses third-party components that are covered by their own licenses, depending on platform and build. These may include mGBA, Snes9x, Genesis Plus GX, FCEUmm, PPSSPP, FFmpeg notices bundled with PPSSPP, Mupen64Plus-Next, DeSmuME, SwanStation, Flycast, Dolphin, PCSX2/LRPS2, libretro components and core interfaces, the bundled libretro cheat database (CC BY-SA 4.0), Electron, React, AndroidX, Material Components for Android, Oboe, and other runtime, build, archive, UI, and platform dependencies. Those components are governed by their respective licenses; see the Third-Party Notices page for the full list.

Shadowboy backend services may also use third-party metadata and artwork providers, including RAWG, to improve library titles, genres, descriptions, and cover art. Those providers do not supply ROMs and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsoring Shadowboy.

No Warranty

The App is provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranty of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee that the App will be uninterrupted, error-free, or compatible with every device, operating system, ROM, BIOS file, firmware image, disc image, save file, controller, or peripheral.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, ShadowBoy Contributors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or relating to your use of the App, including but not limited to loss of save data, ROM files, screenshots, configuration files, library metadata, purchases, profits, business interruption, or device functionality.

Trademarks

“Shadowboy” and the Shadowboy logo are trademarks of ShadowBoy Contributors. Nintendo, Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. SEGA, Genesis, Mega Drive, Master System, Game Gear, Sega Saturn, and Dreamcast are trademarks of SEGA. PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PS2, PlayStation Portable, PSP, and related names are trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft. Linux is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. Shadowboy is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nintendo, SEGA, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft, or any console manufacturer.

Changes

We may update these terms from time to time. Material changes will be noted via a new “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Continued use of the App after changes take effect means you accept the revised terms.

Contact

For questions about these terms, reach us at [email protected].