MiSTer Amiga core adds better CD32 and CDTV support

MiSTer’s Amiga core just got a lot less fussy for CD32 and CDTV owners. The updated core adds dedicated support for disc-based Amiga software, trimming away the extra setup that used to turn some launches into a small project instead of a quick play session.

GenerationAmiga reported the update on June 6, 2026, and the practical focus is clear: ROM loading, disc handling, CD audio, boot behavior, and controller support. That mix matters because the CD32 was never just a standard Amiga with a different boot medium. Many games expect the machine to boot from disc, recognize the right ROMs, respond properly to multi-button pads, and keep the music flowing from the CD itself. When any of those pieces are missing, a game can misboot, lose audio, or feel awkward to control.

The new work also brings Commodore’s CDTV into the same lane. CDTV arrived in 1991 as an Amiga-based multimedia entertainment system, while the CD32 was announced at the Science Museum in London on July 16, 1993 and released in September 1993 in Europe, Australia, Canada and Brazil. That history is part of the appeal here: MiSTer has long been a comfortable home for floppy-era Amiga software, but CD-era hardware has needed more coaxing. This update narrows that gap.

The community had already been pushing in this direction. A MiSTer FPGA Forum thread titled “Native CD32/CDTV support” was active on May 5, 2026, and forum contributor Caldor wrote on May 18, 2026, “Currently I am working on maybe implementing a better A1200 / CD32 stock speed option.” In a separate GitHub issue, users also pointed out that the CD32 extended ROM includes the cd.device driver, which mounts at boot and can give the system CD-ROM access even when it starts from floppy or hard drive.

That is why this feels like more than another core revision. For active Amiga players, the payoff is simpler booting, cleaner controller behavior, and fewer hoops to jump through when loading disc-based games. MiSTer’s Amiga setup now edges closer to the original CD32 and CDTV experience, not just the familiar floppy side of the platform.