This was posted 2 years 6 months 17 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Retroarch in Xbox One/Series Retail Mode Free (Normally Requires $20 Dev Subscription and Console in Dev Mode)

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Retroarch in Xbox One/Series Retail Mode Free (Normally Requires $20 Dev Subscription and Console in Dev Mode)
Go to Deal
PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 07:11 gamr13.github.io (1168 clicks)
Last edited 11/04/2022 - 10:07 by 1 other user

This was popular last year.

The original person doing the work is still developing Retroarch, but stopped adding new accounts to the whitelist (hence the previous deal was expired). Since then someone has started whitelisting again. So those that missed out last time can join the fun.

Xbox One consoles can play from NES up to PS1 games.

Xbox Series consoles can play from NES up to DreamCast, GameCube/Wii and limited PS2.

Basically you're making Xbox a RetroPie killer for free.

Instructions:

  1. Complete this form https://forms.gle/uigzj4RAUZw3pU839
  2. Check the gamr13s-announcements Discord room here to see when the next batch of Xbox accounts have been whitelisted (he generally does it every day).
  3. Once your account is whitelisted, go to https://gamr13.github.io using Edge on the Xbox and click on each to install the apps.
  4. Use the FTP app to copy over the required BIOS files and Roms (obviously these can't be linked to here and you should legally own these to do so).
    Enjoy.

Make sure you check out DuckStation (either standalone or in Retroarch). Even the OG Xbox One can upscale PS1 game to 1080p at 60fps. It looks gorgeous.

Ignorant people were reporting the deal last time. To be clear from the start, Retroarch and Duckstation are open source.

Gaming Retro Gaming Video Game Xbox One Game Xbox Series Game

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gamr13
gamr13

closed Comments

    • [Deactivated] on 30/09/2021 - 07:31

      Mister FPGA has the best input lag. Especially for neo geo it’s basically nil

      • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 07:34
        +1

        Well sure, if you're going to compare with FPGA. But this compared to a Raspberry Pi, I doubt there'll be any difference.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/09/2021 - 08:28

          You’re correct. But for those that really care about input lag such as for playing metal slug it’s about the best you can do since it emulates the original hardware

      • kapone on 30/09/2021 - 13:39
        +1

        Also a Ferrari will beat my Corolla in a race.

        Those who would buy a Mister already know what they are. For the average Joe, Retroarch on the Xbox is a great thing

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 07:32

      Can't find any where the backs up this claim.

      • TruthNuke on 30/09/2021 - 08:18
        -2

        It's well documented.
        Go play SMB on a physical NES and then try play it on retroarch.

        • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 08:23
          +2

          So you are comparing real hardware to Retroarch in general.

          Obviously real hardware will have less input lag. Especially when played on a CRT.

          • FabMan on 30/09/2021 - 08:30
            +2

            @PainToad: Considering Nintendo sell Virtual Console games, SEGA has the Mega Drive collection, and there are a whole bunch of mini consoles all using emulation, it seems people and the companies themselves are happy with emulation and its additional latency.

            • TruthNuke on 30/09/2021 - 08:47

              @FabMan: I've seen people claim on RPi's many years ago that they were getting "no input lag" despite literally not being able to get less than 8 frames input lag on the hardware/emulator/game they claimed they were playing on. That's just absurd to me.
              But hey, I'm glad they're happy. Things are much, much better these days anyway and are only improving. RPCS3 for example looks like it only may be a year or two away from being legit.

          • TruthNuke on 30/09/2021 - 08:32
            -3

            @PainToad: It didn't seem obvious to you an hour ago.

            For me, I found action games/platformers/shooters/racing games unplayable due to the input lag. It's passable on modern hardware with tweaks like runahead for pre-SNES consoles but it's still noticeably irksome after having spent hundreds of hours playing on the actual hardware growing up.

            • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 08:35
              +4

              @TruthNuke:

              It didn't seem obvious to you an hour ago.

              Because an hour ago when you made your post with zero context, it wasn't clear you were talking about emulation VS real hardware. Your comments appeared to claim Retroarch on Xbox had too much input lag compared to Retroarch on other systems.

              For me, I found action games/platformers/shooters/racing games unplayable due to the input lag. It's passable on modern hardware with tweaks like runahead for pre-SNES consoles but it's still noticeably irksome after having spent hundreds of hours playing on the actual hardware growing up.

              Everyone's different. For me, I can't stand the input lag when running emulators on Android. But for me, it's fine on other systems.

      • FabMan on 30/09/2021 - 08:22
        +2

        I remember looking a while back that doing Ryu's hadouken on original hardware had 5 frames of delay, and doing it on Retroarch had 7, so the difference was 2 frames. Run Ahead to 1 reduced the delay to 6 frames, so this seems good for non-competitve play.

        I have a Mister FPGA connected to a CRT and I still reckon Retroarch on XBox Series is awesome and would love to have it if I had an XBox.

    • turna on 30/09/2021 - 07:50
      +2

      Is this Xbox specific or retroarch in general regardless of platform?

      • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 07:56
        +6

        Considering how little information he gave, just ignore him. I see two possibilities:
        1. He's comparing to real hardware or FPGA.
        2. He talking about the controllers being wireless. Which would effect any system and won't be worse than a regular Xbox game. If it's that much of an issue, plug in a wired controller.

    • ashanrath on 30/09/2021 - 08:00

      Even with wired controller?

    • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 08:05
      +7

      I'm sure there's some, there always is, but in my near year of using it, in fast reaction games like Tony Hawk and whatnot that I know like the back of my hand, I can't notice anything at all, feels 100% speed to me, I've played THPS3 on original hardware, back compat via 360, and fat PS3, on Wii U via Nintendont, NVIDIA SHIELD via emulation, hell I even played it on the school WinXP laptop in the day, and this feels as good as any of them, absolutely no noticeable difference.

      And THPS on the PS Classic was what alerted me to the 50/60FPS difference when I didn't clock it on some other games.

    • TEER3X on 30/09/2021 - 07:58

      Because we can

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 07:58
      +6

      all this trouble

      It's very easy.

      a better experience?

      Why exactly would having a laptop connected to a TV be a better experience? Sounds like a terrible experience compared to an all in one dedicated console experience.

      • mr_me450 on 30/09/2021 - 09:48
        -2

        You think submitting your Xbox email details to an unverified 3rd party, sitting on a waitlist and, under normal circumstances, paying a $20 fee is all easier than just plugging in an HDMI cable? Well ok then.

        • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 09:54
          +3

          easier than just plugging in an HDMI cable?

          Last time I checked, laptops don't come preconfigured with Retroarch/Emulators, so laptop or Xbox, you're still going to have to set things up.

          Still waiting for you to tell me how it's a better experience for usage, not initial setup….

          • mr_me450 on 30/09/2021 - 12:13
            -3

            @PainToad: Are you really intent on being that obtuse? Your Xbox doesn't come preconfigured with emulators either, so you have those steps plus the ones I listed above, plus the handing over of personal information. As for the experience, on a XB1 you're limited to NES to PS1 games, on an XSX/S you're limited to up to PS2 and that's not even fully supported. If you're that excited about it then go out and enjoy but it seems pretty laughable to me.

            • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 12:46
              +2

              @mr_me450:

              plus the ones I listed above

              Which are very simple.

              plus the handing over of personal information

              An email address. Valid point but not related to the "experience" of using the system.

              As for the experience, on a XB1 you're limited to NES to PS1 games, on an XSX/S you're limited to up to PS2 and that's not even fully supported.

              The same as on a laptop you're limited to what ever the specs of the specific laptop can handle. Main additions on a rather high spec laptop I can think of a Citra and CEMU.

              seems pretty laughable to me

              Why being so arrogant?

    • [Deactivated] on 30/09/2021 - 08:01
      +4

      can you send me a laptop so i can confirm?

    • jsediv on 30/09/2021 - 09:24
      +3

      Why would anyone go to all the trouble of plugging a laptop into their TV when you can easily install it onto your xbox?

    • TightTerry on 30/09/2021 - 10:30
      +1

      Why would I plug my laptop into my TV when my XBOX is permanently plugged in with instant on? Sounds like a lot more effort

  • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 08:02
    +28

    Been doing this for almost a year now and it's (profanity) fantastic, Xbox now has my top 5 all in 4K glory - Spider-Man 2, Vice City, Battlefront 2 (officially), Tony Hawk 3, and Hit & Run.

    I recently installed Duckstation on the kiddo's Xbox One too and it runs fantastic. She wanted to play Spyro and Crash on her tele but we only have the remakes on PS4 at the moment and she's got the ol' Xbone in her room, threw Duckstation on there, turned on the widescreen hack, upscaling out the arse and whatnot and Spyro in particular looks great, the upscaling and save states (fantastic for kids, obviously) makes replaying the original versions that much more enjoyable. PPSSPP also works pretty darn well on Xbox One, we've got Spider-Man 3 and Crash Tag Team among others on there on her one and they run full speed with 2 or 3x upscaling, outside of Lego Marvel (which we have on there), there's no Spidey content you can play digitally on Xbox One so it was a fantastic addition for her.

    Anyway, RetroArch is where it's at though, sixth gen games at full speed and upscaled out the wazoo? Bye bye NVIDIA SHIELD, sayonara Wii U with Nintendont, see you in hell fat old back compat PS3 I still have. It's been the most played thing on my Series X & S by leaps and bounds.

    • AustriaBargain on 30/09/2021 - 11:34

      Nintendont wasn’t emulation though, it was running on real hardware.

      • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 11:48

        I'm aware, it's the only reason I have a Wii and the main reason I have a Wii U.

        I was just listing off the last few things I used for my old games in order of which they were replaced. Used to play a lot of back compat 360, then got back compat PS3, then got Wii U and Wii, then got SHIELD, now XSX trumps the lot.

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 30/09/2021 - 08:27

    Thanks op, I'm not that familiar with discord, but hopefully It doesn't take long. Is mame supported on this?

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 08:27
      +1

      Is mame supported on this?

      Yep. But I'd recommend FBNeo for arcade.

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 30/09/2021 - 11:02

        Thank you, I'd see what I can find.

  • locknuts on 30/09/2021 - 08:27
    +1

    If I own Gamecube game discs, is it legal for me to download those ROMs? I have a licence to play them.

    • beerpara on 30/09/2021 - 08:31
      -3

      Piracy is no party.

    • FabMan on 30/09/2021 - 08:33
      +3

      I believe you are allowed to rip them yourself, but not allowed to download from other sources. I download copies of games I own and games not for sale with a clean conscious.

      • ChadHominem on 30/09/2021 - 10:15
        +1

        Why would it matter where you get them from though?

        • FabMan on 30/09/2021 - 11:43

          "For software this means it is illegal to copy or distribute software, or its documentation, without the permission of the copyright holder. If you have a legal copy of software you are allowed to make a single archival copy of the software for backup purposes."

          If someone is distributing it, it is illegal, so you shouldn't be using illegal services.

          • ChadHominem on 30/09/2021 - 12:54
            +2

            @FabMan: But I think it’s the person who is distributing that is breaking the law? If you own the software how can they say that the copy you make yourself is legal but the one you get online is illegal when they’re the same thing?

            Like a situation where you own the software but your discs are scratched. If you had made a copy before it got scratched you’re fine but if you forgot and get an identical disk image online that’s illegal?

            • NoApostrophePlurals on 01/10/2021 - 01:00
              +1

              @ChadHominem: The same way you can grow a few plants of marijuana but you can't buy some off someone even though you have your own at home. It's not the same.

            • FabMan on 01/10/2021 - 06:41
              +2

              @ChadHominem: I wasn't present at the law making sessions, but I imagine its a case of not wanting to encourage the distribution of 'backed up' software, which is illegal.

    • Valowick on 30/09/2021 - 08:36
      +1

      No. But if you can backup those discs, it isn’t illegal to use an emulator to play your own made ROMs because emulation itself isn’t illegal.

  • MrSammyMcG on 30/09/2021 - 08:33
    +1

    So to be clear Dev mode is no longer required? I was saving up my Microsoft rewards points for it, so I just want to clarify I don't need them anymore?

    • TLZ on 30/09/2021 - 08:39

      Not needed. If you want hassle free though just play them through the Edge browser.

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 08:39
      +1

      Dev mode allows:
      1. Custom cores can be added.
      2. Less likely to lose saves with updates (back them up with FTP).
      3. You can update Retroach versions without waiting for it gam13 to upload it.

      But:
      1. You'll have to restart every time you want to switch between Xbox game and retro games.

      I'd go with this instead of dev mode.

      • MrSammyMcG on 30/09/2021 - 09:24

        When you say custom cores are they the emulator plug ins?

        • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 09:25

          They are the emulators themselves. Retroarch is the UI for the cores/emulators.

          It comes with all the cores 99.99% of people would want. So it's not an issue.

  • TLZ on 30/09/2021 - 08:38
    +1

    There's an easier way now. Just play them through the Edge browser. No need to setup anything.

    https://youtu.be/gn8LqGCSxSo

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 08:40
      +2

      Less performance. I see that as a cool gimmick, not something I'd want to actually use.

      • TLZ on 30/09/2021 - 10:44
        +1

        Still an easy option for people who don't want to download anything though. Very simple and straightforward.

  • AtomuKirin on 30/09/2021 - 08:46
    +1

    I paid for the dev mode 2 weeks ago, then Edge browser comes out, and now this….ugh….

  • theguyrules on 30/09/2021 - 08:48

    This is awesome - thanks for the detailed steps and the heads up!

  • Nukkels on 30/09/2021 - 08:49
    -5

    Why is Xbox One not powerful enough to emulate a 10 year old console? PCs have no trouble and an Xbox is just a PC.

    • theguyrules on 30/09/2021 - 08:53
      +5

      The Xbox One is an 8 year old console…

      • Nukkels on 30/09/2021 - 09:32
        -2

        And the PS2 is 21 years old. 13 years older.

        • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 09:39

          And?

          • Nukkels on 30/09/2021 - 09:42
            -3

            @PainToad: Retroarch with PS2 can run on rpi, so it's not exactly a huge hardware requirement - yet an Xbox One isn't powerful enough, so you need an Xbox series (which isn't that much more powerful anyway)?

            It's either very poorly coded or there is something else going on.

            • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 09:46
              +3

              @Nukkels:

              Retroarch with PS2 can run on rpi

              Lol, no it can't.

              which isn't that much more powerful anyway

              Not correct.

              there is something else going on.

              Yep there is, you don't understand the hardware requirements of PS2 emulation.

            • theguyrules on 30/09/2021 - 10:03
              +2

              @Nukkels: Do you know how emulation works?

            • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 11:53
              +1

              @Nukkels: I'll be real with you, I'm no expert, I just use these sorts of things to play my old games and don't question or learn them.

              But from my understanding, the way using the UWP version of RA works (this), it only has access to a limited amount of RAM (couldn't tell you how much, don't want to be giving wrong figures) and other limitations, which is why the Xbox One version is only really advisable for older stuff, where the Series consoles with their beefier specs can handle a lot more stuff. I've heard of people running GameCube playably (though not full speed) on the One X for example, but that's just people talking I can't verify myself since I never thought the One X was enough upgrade worth a purchase.

              If you chuck an emulator onto a computer, or phone or any other device really for that matter, it will usually have access to all the power of said device, if not all of it, it's why some games still run better on the infinitely lower spec'd SHIELD TV for me than on RA on Xbox Series X. Point being, if you had access to the full power of the Series consoles and the emulator was designed to work with them (my understanding is this bloke just "releases" a copy of the proper Dev Mode official build, so it's designed to work on the console, just within the UWP limitations) accordingly, it should be able to smash out incredible results. Alas, pretty well flawless GameCube and Wii emulation on a retail console with no modding or anything is pretty (profanity) sweet no matter how you cut it.

              Again. I'm not expert though, take what I'm saying with a grain of salt, but that's what I've been told here and there and it adds up enough for me to believe it.

  • justtoreply on 30/09/2021 - 08:54

    Question - how do we update retroarch? And do we need to stay offline?

    I got it last time but haven't used it yet. However, I've been fearful to go online for risk of updates killing retroarch.

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 09:18
      +4

      how do we update retroarch?

      You wait for him to push out an update and it will install like any other game update.

      And do we need to stay offline?

      No.

      I got it last time but haven't used it yet.

      You should signup again and reinstall it. Old whitelists got wiped.

      I've been fearful to go online for risk of updates killing retroarch.

      Apparently sometimes you'll need to reinstall it after an OS update. So backup your saves using FTP every now and then.

      • justtoreply on 30/09/2021 - 10:56

        Brilliant reply. If I could give you 10 upvotes I would.

  • Rukiata on 30/09/2021 - 08:58
    +1

    it just says More whitelists! how do we know if we get in or not?

    • MrFunSocks on 30/09/2021 - 09:15

      Go to the URL in the OP and follow the instructions. If you aren't whitelisted it won't work.

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 09:16
      1. Sign up.
      2. The next time he says "More whitelists" you will be included.
      • Rukiata on 30/09/2021 - 10:06

        oh ok ty

  • JuryWheel on 30/09/2021 - 09:05

    So if I organised it through the Dev mode method last year, do I need to do it again? Or am I good to go via edge instead already..?

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 09:19

      So if I organised it through the Dev mode method last year, do I need to do it again?

      If you don't want to have to switch to Dev mode.

      Or am I good to go via edge instead already..?

      Apples and oranges.

  • lunchbox99 on 30/09/2021 - 09:12
    +1

    I already have configured a portable windows folder with retroarch and other emus running under emulationstation front end. I recently started trying to setup on xbone in dev mode but it's so much faffing around - I thought "why am I doing this when I already have 60k roms working under windows?". I just couldn't be bothered.

  • sonivEX on 30/09/2021 - 09:33

    I keep getting 'messages failed to load' in discord. Anyone else seeing the same error?

    • theguyrules on 30/09/2021 - 10:01
      +4

      You need to switch to the "rules" channel and add a ✅ reaction to the rules.
      The link is taking us to a channel we can't view until the rules are accepted.

      • jwh on 30/09/2021 - 10:14
        +2

        Username checks out?

      • sonivEX on 30/09/2021 - 11:03
        +1

        That did the trick for me. Thanks!

      • sonivEX on 30/09/2021 - 11:11
        +1

        @theguyrules and very appropriate alias btw! :D

  • Rage Roze on 30/09/2021 - 10:18

    Do we need do this again if I did it before last year for other deal posted by OP? I don't have xbox to test if retroarch is still working in retail mode?

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 10:21
      +2

      The one you installed back then will still work if you've still got it installed. But you'll need to signup again to continue to receive updates.

  • kazer on 30/09/2021 - 10:30

    soz noob here. is this safe for my xbox/microsoft accounts? i wouldnt be risking anything?

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 10:40

      You're giving someone your email address (not the password or any other details). That's the only risk I can think of.

  • rothsa on 30/09/2021 - 10:38

    Thanks for this Pain Toad. Is this similar to hacking a console? Does it void warranty, is there a possibility of bricking the console, or otherwise open you up to future banning from Xbox Live etc?
    I'd love to play these older games, but don't want any of that hassle. Thanks in advance!

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 10:44
      +4

      Is this similar to hacking a console?

      Nope, no hacking. You're getting your email address added to a white list so you can install a private app from the Xbox Store. Like being invited to a private beta test of a game.

      a possibility of bricking the console

      I personally can't see how. The app only has access to the same hardware APIs that an offical game has access to.

      up to future banning from Xbox Live

      I don't see why they would ban you. It's not hacking and it's not cheating. Also been happening for a year now with no reports of banning.

      Thanks in advance!

      No worries :)

  • TightTerry on 30/09/2021 - 10:54
    +2

    Are there any decent updated youtube guides for installing and adding bios files etc for the retail version? I remember doing this last year and i found a lot of the guides and how to's where for the dev mode version of this.

  • Pootie Tang on 30/09/2021 - 11:16

    Is the Path Of Neo playable yet?

    • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 12:39

      I know this doesn't answer your question really, but I burned through Enter the Matrix like 6 months ago happily on it.

      • Pootie Tang on 30/09/2021 - 12:43

        I'm more interested why you chose that over path of neo now. Always thought enter was a bit gimmicky. Was fun enough though and tied some points of the movie in.

        https://youtu.be/TroEX6Zt9Jo

        • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 12:47

          Nostalgia, I guess. I played them both 10/15 years ago but Enter was one of the first games I bought for my PS2, pretty sure I played it before I ever actually saw the movies tbh.

          Path of Neo I really enjoyed, but I have a million places I have GameCube ROMs, got them in the Wii, Wii U, SHIELD, and now Xbox, so it's always available, whereas I don't really bother with PS2 much, bigger file sizes, harder to get setup, etc. so I just stick to my old disc copies on my PS2 exclusive games (yes, I know it was on Xbox, and I'm honestly pretty sure I actually had it on there at one point, but you know what I mean) and play them in the proper hardware, but since I don't bust it out too much, Path of Neo, along with many other games I'd like to revisit like Scarface in particular (since it runs slow as (profanity) shit on the fat software back compat PS3), get left in a box and abandonned :'(

          • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 12:55
            +1

            @TheDukeOfNukem: Time to get a Phat PS2 and do the SATA mod ;)

            • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 15:54

              @PainToad: I tried going the Free McBoot route a year or so back and I got a couple things to go but it ended up being more of a headache than it was worth considering I could just as easily shove the disc in. Like it is absolutely fantastic for trying out new games or ones that are hundreds on the resale, but for me, I've got all the games I want on disc and / or the GameCube version running on one of my machines.

              Plus, even with the component (or composit, it's been so long since it's been relevant I forget, but the green / red / blue one) cable on my PS2, it still looks like shit compared to the upscaling offered by everything else, hell, even the back compat PS3 cleans them up a lot better.

  • CHIEFMEGADETH on 30/09/2021 - 14:57

    Awesome will be sending heaps of Xbox fans this way…
    So good having this in retail mode

  • Jackson on 30/09/2021 - 15:31

    Is there any reason to not do this? e.g. it says we need to copy over the bios and roms, am I technically hacking my xbox and is there a chance that M$ will have a fit one day and decide that they will block my xbox? Or will it potentially devalue it once they are rare? (probably a hard question to answer)

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 15:45
      +1

      I've already answered this above.

      it says we need to copy over the bios and roms, am I technically hacking my xbox

      No, you are not hacking/modding anything.

      is there a chance that M$ will have a fit one day and decide that they will block my xbox?

      Why would they?

      Or will it potentially devalue it once they are rare?

      Why would it? It's no different than installing any other game/app.

      • Jackson on 30/09/2021 - 15:46

        Thanks, will give a go

        • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 15:50

          No worries :)

    • TheDukeOfNukem on 30/09/2021 - 15:57
      +1

      No devaluation. I've had to restore both an X and S several times for various reasons since installing it, once it's wiped from the drive there's no trace it was ever there. And it's not like jailbreaking the older iPhones when you still had the Cydia icon on there if you didn't do it all right, this is straight up wiped.

  • brd56 on 30/09/2021 - 16:09

    I did this last time but have since got a new series x, do I need to get whitelisted again or i can just download the apps?

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 16:40
      +1

      You need to do it again as the white list got reset.

  • KingUltra on 30/09/2021 - 17:36

    Filled out the form. When will I know if it's been added?

    • PainToad on 30/09/2021 - 17:56

      Already answered.

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