A new Android emulation project called CATii has been announced for dual-screen handheld devices, but its launch announcement quickly drew controversy after the developer criticized a competitor for allegedly using AI-generated code, only to face immediate accusations of doing the same.​
The project was introduced on Reddit with a provocative tagline describing it as “your new emulator frontend, cuz the other one is a mess of AI,” directly targeting iiSU, an Android emulation frontend that has faced scrutiny over its development practices. However, the announcement backfired when users immediately pointed out that CATii’s own promotional video and user interface demonstration appeared to rely heavily on AI-generated content.
Despite the controversy, developer arthie clarified that CATii is not vibe-coded, and is not even a traditional launcher, but rather a unified application where all emulators run within a single process. According to the developer’s statement on their Discord, users can “open the app → go to the store tab → tap to install the core you want (NES, PS1, Dreamcast, whatever) and boom, it’s ready to play.” This architecture draws inspiration from RetroArch’s core system and Stremio’s addon model, but promises a simplified, “family friendly” interface without “200 menus and scary settings.”
The platform will feature cloud-based account functionality, with CATii accounts automatically syncing installed cores, game saves, settings, and UI customizations across devices. This unified approach aims to distinguish it from existing solutions in the Android dual-screen emulation space, which currently includes modified versions of emulators like Citra MMJ, Drastic, and community forks of Cemu.​​
Following the backlash, arthie acknowledged the criticism but stood firm on continuing development, and claims the project will “release exactly what we promised/showed.” I, for one, remain skeptical. As with iiSU before it, the scope is massive, but I wish arthie the best and look forward to seeing development unfold.
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