A few weeks ago, I reviewed the new SuperStation One MiSTer console. The unit shipped with its standout feature—an optical drive dock—that could not boot any games! However, a recent software release from independent developer Anime0t4ku fixed that problem for the Superstation AND brought it to all other MiSTer devices that have USB CD/DVD drives attached too.
Check it out in my latest video!
As of the time of this writing, optical discs from the 3DO, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Neo Geo CD, Sega CD, TurboGrafx-16, and even homebrew SNES MSU1 CDs work in their respective cores.
I tested this new functionality by retrieving my original 1994 copy of Road Rash for the 3DO. After inserting the disc into the SuperStation’s drive and loading the new 3DO core, the FPGA reconfigured itself to function as the original console. The system read the disc directly, and while loading times were predictably longer than they would be with a digital image, the game executed exactly as it would on original hardware.
For users who do not have a specialized console build like the Super Station, this feature is compatible with standard MiSTer setups via a USB optical drive. During my testing with a Hamgeek unit and an external ASUS Blu-ray drive (compensated affiliate link), the process remained straightforward. It is important to note that many optical drives powered solely by the USB bus may require a powered hub to function correctly with the MiSTer, as the power draw can exceed what the board provides. Drives with their own external power supplies do not encounter this limitation.
The setup process is integrated into the existing MiSTer ecosystem via the Update_All script. By running the script and accessing the configuration menu, a user can navigate to the “other cores” section to enable physical CD support. If the option is not available, run Update_all again as it needs to update itself. Once enabled, a new menu option appears for physical disc cores. Most of these are not separate cores but rather the standard cores reconfigured to prioritize the physical drive. I found that it works better if the disc is inserted before the specific console core is launched.
In my video I also tested a copy of Slam City with Scottie Pippen on the Sega CD. This title comes on three discs, and using the physical media saves the storage space that would otherwise be occupied by large digital images for a not so great game. The audio and full-motion video sequences transitioned correctly, maintaining the intended timing of the game’s event-driven mechanics. The last game I tested in the video was a beat up old Sega Saturn game that booted up and played perfectly on the MiSTer’s Saturn core.
This addition aligns with the broader goal of the open source MiSTer project, which is to provide a highly accurate alternative to software-based emulation. By replicating the logic of the original systems inside an FPGA chip, the interaction between the software and the hardware remains consistent with the original experience. When paired with a cathode-ray tube (CRT) television, the setup effectively bridges the gap between modern convenience and original hardware performance.
While digital files remain the faster and more convenient option, there is a distinct utility in being able to hear a physical drive spin up and read a disc that has been sitting in storage for decades.