Yaba Sanshiro on Android just received another update, with built‑in Saturn save conversion and another visual overhaul for the game list and UI.
The new save converter works like SaveFileConverter.com, which similarly lets people shuttle Saturn saves between emulators and even some flash carts. Instead of juggling arcane formats and third‑party utilities, Android users can now keep their progress a bit more future‑proof right inside the app. Given how fragile Saturn backup memory and save files can be, anything that lowers the odds of lost saves gets an automatic thumbs‑up.
The visual makeover builds on the refresh Yaba Sanshiro’s Android game list already got last year, which added a cleaner layout and a new in‑app review flow. The current update keeps that trajectory going: more console‑like browsing, less sorting through boring file lists.
It also lands just weeks after 1.18.x touch control updates, where DevMiyax added multi‑button presses with a single finger, a better analog pad, and more stable savestates on mobile. Between that, cloud‑style save features on other platforms, and now easier conversion, the Saturn’s famously stubborn ecosystem is finally starting to feel portable in a way that doesn’t punish you for not sticking to original hardware.
The dev also seems pretty openly on board with using AI as a force multiplier, blogging about “coding with AI” to iterate faster and tackle trickier features that might’ve stalled out before. That mindset explains a lot of Yaba Sanshiro’s recent momentum, and the blog itself is an interesting read.
There’s still the usual Saturn caveats, of course. Compatibility quirks, video core weirdness, and the eternal debate over standalone Yaba Sanshiro versus Saturn cores in RetroArch persist. But if you’ve been sitting on a pile of old saves or bouncing between devices, this Android update makes Yaba Sanshiro like a proper hub for your Saturn life.
Source: Sega Saturn SHIRO!
