Introducing the Multisystem² Arcade
The Heber MiSTer Multisystem² Arcade is a premium, fully featured FPGA based arcade (JAMMA) system that runs the MiSTer FPGA project.
Unlike locked-down hardware, the Multisystem² Arcade is a dynamically-reconfigurable platform which can drop into your arcade cabinet and run games using original controls, CRT monitors, and is designed to be future expandable* to support machine-specific features such as force feedback.
Featuring an integrated audio amplifier and CTRLDock Arcade, this all-in-one board handles JAMMA dual-player I/O, analogue inputs (spinners, trackballs, wheels), and expansion kick harnesses for up to 9 buttons per player.
Multisystem² Arcade is fully compatible with all MiSTer arcade, console, and computer cores.
All Multisystem² Arcade consoles come fully assembled and ready-to-play in a custom-designed, high quality 3D printed case.
Read the full user manual for Multisystem2 Arcade here
*Expanded capability may require support in the MiSTer core you are running. Multisystem2 Arcade can also run custom cores.
A dynamically reconfigurable platform
FPGA synthesis uses a hardware-based approach to accurately replicate the behaviour of classic games consoles, home computers and arcade systems. The FPGA (“Field Programmable Gate Array”) chip itself can be programmed to mimic the original hardware’s circuits at low level.
This allows for real-time recreation of the logic used in the processors, graphics & sound chips, and other components without any software processing – resulting in an often cycle-accurate behaviour with none of the latency associated with software-based emulation – perfect for fast-action arcade games where response times are critical or real light-gun systems using a CRT monitor and original peripherals.
The MiSTer FPGA project is a huge community-driven resource providing high-quality emulation cores for systems such as the NES, SNES, Amiga, Sega Megadrive, and many arcade machines – using reverse-engineering to carefully and accurately reproduce the way these old systems work.
All-in-one Arcade system
With it’s built-in JAMMA and analogue connectivity, you can directly connect the Multisystem² Arcade to Arcade CRT monitors to play Arcade games how they were meant to be played for lag-free CRT gaming.
For higher resolution CRT’s and PC monitors you can connect via the 15-pin VGA supporting CGA, Medium and high resolution Cores.
Onboard Controls
The Multisystem² Arcade has an onboard CTRLDock Arcade supporting up to 9 action buttons per player. Trackball, spinner and analogue controls for both players. Four rear-mounted USB ports to support further CTRLDock expansion and multiple modern controllers and other USB devices.
NFC card loading can also be used with Zaparoo! and a suitable USB based NFC card reader.
Alternatively, expand your connectivity with the CTRLDock, the low-latency controller interface designed to expand the number of Arcade players perfectly.
NFC game loading
With the optional Zaparoo NFC reader add-on, individual cores and games can be loaded with a simple tap of a card, with no interaction with any menus needed!
Save your game choice to a compatible NFC sticker and apply to your own physical media – for example, a SNES, Megadrive or NEOGEO cartridge, then tap the cart onto the console to instantly load that game.
You can also make a special “lucky dip” cards to load any random game, or a randomly selected game from specific cores.
Write your own game & core choices or custom routines to your own NFC tags directly from the Multisystem² Arcade system.
Multisystem² Arcade Features & Highlights
- Already assembled – ready to use
- Easy to open enclosure for Arcade use – no screws or fixings required
- Rail guide mounts supplied as standard for fitting into a Arcade cabinet
- JAMMA (NEOGEO) 56 way hard gold edge fingers for Arcade connectivity
- Dual Trackball Player 1 & 2 connectors
- CPS1/2 Kick connector for Player 1 & 2 Expansion, ideal for games such as Streetfighter II etc
- Extra I/O for further player expansion or extra Arcade button inputs
- 8 way DIL switch control for onboard CTRLDock Arcade. – Selects Joystick / Trackball use and button setup
- High quality connectors, components and assembly
- Designed, manufactured and assembled in the UK
- 10 Layer PCB, SNAC 20 way I/O expansion for future daughter-board expansion of I/O and Arcade connectivity
- 4 standard USB 2.0 ports with an extra 2 x 4way USB headers that can be fitted directly to the PCB by the user,
I2C expansion and many user customisable I/O headers for buttons and LED’s as desired - Altera Cyclone 5 FPGA / 128MB SDRAM (ISSI)
- Backwards compatible with MiSTer Stack & Multisystem 1/2 – plays all available cores (Single SDRAM configuration)
- 24 bit analogue video output as standard via JAMMA and dedicated ‘VGA analogue’
- Stereo class D 10W Audio amplifier onboard with physical volume control
- Stereo Audio line out for external audio amplification
- Fanless operation, fitted with FPGA heatsink as standard
Multisystem² Arcade Gallery
MiSTer Multisystem² Arcade is here!
Find out everything you need to know about the new Multisystem² Arcade with Richard and Neil.
FPGA for Arcades – Multisystem² revealed!
Richard and Neil reveal the new Multisystem² Arcade and demonstrate how we’re using it in the Arcade Archive to power our NEO-GEO MVS and RoadBlasters cabs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the ordering and shipping process?
- Multisystem² Arcade shipping is planned to start In August and will continue into September 2026
- Shipping in order number sequence – Updates on our shipping progress can be found on our blog here
- Any other items ordered with pre-order products will be shipped as a single order when all items are available
- USA customers have the 10% tariff added at checkout to streamline shipping & customs by Royal Mail International service.
- Non-UK customers may be subject to local import taxes.
- If you require multiple Multisystem2 Arcade boards, we have a shop listing for a pack of 5 x Multisystem2 Arcade systems at a discounted price
What's included in the box?
The retail package includes: 1 x fully assembled Multisystem² Arcade FPGA system – enclosed in a high-quality 3D printed black case, audio knob, expansion port cover and dual quick-fit slide rails.
What extras will I need for my Multisystem² Arcade?
You will need the following to get up-and-running:
- An SD Card – for the software setup and game storage – 32GB or higher is recommended (see the user manual for further specifications and instructions)
- A suitable JAMMA arcade cabinet or similar JAMMA interface that can deliver +5V DC and +12V DC along with Arcade controls and video
What are the technical specifications of the Multisystem² Arcade?
- FPGA Power: Altera Cyclone 5 FPGA with heatsink, 128MB SDRAM (Alliance), and 1GB LPDDR RAM (ISSI)
- Video Output: 24-bit analogue video. Hardware Composite Sync for JAMMA. 15- way ‘VGA’ style port for CRTs and LCDs (native and scaled)
- Audio: Onboard Class D 10W power amplifier with physical volume control; 3.5mm line-out and stereo line headers
- Connectivity: Integrated powered USB 2.0 hub with 4 external ports for controllers, keyboards and Zaparoo NFC readers
- Low Latency: Integrated CTRLDock Arcade for ultra-fast input response times
- Advanced I/O: Support for dual-player controls, analogue inputs, and Kick harness expansion (up to 9 buttons per player)
- Dedicated input connectors for Player 1 & 2 Trackballs, Spinners, or Optical input devices
What future expandability options are there for the Multisystem² Arcade?
- Includes headers for OSD/Reset switches, Power/Disc LEDs, I2C bus (for OLED displays), and HDMI expansion).
- Future Proof: SNAC and expansion port for future community upgrades and custom I/O boards
- CTRLDock Arcade firmware can be updated to support new features
- UK Heritage: Designed, manufactured, and hand-assembled in the UK by Heber Ltd.
Designed as a ‘user hackable’ arcade board – Custom modifications encouraged!
- 2 x extra Internal USB header positions on the PCB – user fitted if required.
- OSD / USER & Reset switch headers for external buttons if required.
- Power / Disc / User LED header positions on the PCB – user fitted if required.
- SNAC and further I/O EXP expansion port – future use for expansions and community upgrades / custom I/O boards.
- Pin strip header positions for all JAMMA connections – for custom wire looms – user fitted if required.
- Pin strip header position for JAMMA Power In/Out – user fitted if required.
- I2C expansion header positions on the PCB – user fitted if required.
- I2C bus for RTC and many more projects such as OLED displays (See TTY2OLED Venice1200 on Github).
- Fan / Power headers fitted if required both +5VDC and +12VDC
- Stereo Line header positions – for custom wire looms – user fitted if required.
- Support for Zaparoo NFC loading system by adding NFC reader to any USB port.
- Supports funkycochise Insert-Coin ‘darkboot’ Arcade scripts for an authentic power-on experience, no loading bars or info displayed
How do I configure the player control binding?
Player Bindings are configured in the mister.ini file – Player 1 & Player 2 as Left and Right positions.
As standard the MiSTer O/S will wait to spot any player controls input and automatically assign that as Player 1. This can be a problem with arcade machines if you press any button on the control panel that would normally be reserved for Player 2. This will effectively swap positions of Player 1 and Player 2 on the cabinet controls – not ideal in many situations.
We have added only one custom control line to the mister.ini file to bind Player 1 & Player 2 to the correct inputs on the JAMMA harness. This means that when you press any button on the control panel it will detect the correct Player 1 and Player 2 inputs, meaning Player 1 is on the left and Player 2 is on the right for a standard wired JAMMA arcade cabinet.
You should not need to alter any other settings in the default mister.ini file for correct operation inside a standard JAMMA Arcade cabinet. All default settings will be native resolutions and native frequencies for the default cores. No scaling and no adjustment of the video or sound signals.
The only lines we suggest that you add are the following to bind player controls as mentioned above:
Insert the below section into the mister.ini file just below where you find the command “controller_info=6”:
[code]; Heber Multisystem2 Arcade – Player bindings to CTRLDock Arcade I/O built in to Multisystem2 Arcade
; The following settings bind the JAMMA I/O to the correct Player 1 & 2 positions on the Arcade cabinet
; Player 1 to always be Player 1 I/O on JAMMA and Left on a standard Arcade cabinet
; Player 2 to always be Player 2 I/O on JAMMA and Right on a standard Arcade cabinet
;
; This configuration stops accidental player 2 becoming player 1 if a player 2 button is pressed first.
; If any joypad is selected first, the below commands also always maps to player 1 & 2
player_1_controller=usb-1.7/input2/
player_2_controller=usb-1.7/input3/[/code]
Please note that all default player inputs (currently up to 9 buttons for each player) will be mapped correctly to the default player inputs, so you should not need to do any global remapping.
Certain FPGA cores may require some inputs to be remapped for the specific game, for example some arcade cores use L & R for Coin and Start, where many others use the standard Select for Coin and Start for Starting the game after a coin is deposited.
Cores that use a trackball may need ‘mouse’ sensitivity changed to scale for the correct trackball operation, see individual menu core settings for this and also note that we have switch 4 on the 8 way DIL switch that controls onboard trackball sensitivity too.
Important tips for quick start testing of JAMMA / Trackball etc
You would normally connect up a dedicated arcade trackball to the Player Joystick controls of the JAMMA harness, but as most people will have a generic JAMMA cabinet, we have added 6 way connectors for direct Trackball X/Y direction.
The 8 way DIL switch Number 1 needs to be ON for trackball use. The three connectors should be fitted as above.
Switch Number 1 needs to be OFF for Joystick use – this is important as the Joystick direction uses the same pins as Trackball motion. Also make sure to remove P17 (trackball motion player1) for Joystick use via JAMMA.
How do I setup and configure the CTRLDock Arcade?
CTRLDock Arcade supports a joystick or 2-axis trackball, start, coin, and 9 action buttons per player, plus service, test and tilt switch inputs. These inputs include protection against being connected to the power supply and are suitable for use with both ‘open drain’ drivers such as a button connected between the input and GND and ‘push pull’ drivers such as the outputs of many trackballs. A button is detected as pressed when it is shorted to GND.
What do the switches do?
| Switch number | Down (OFF) | Up (ON) |
| 1 | P1 Joystick | P1 Trackball |
| 2 | P2 Joystick | P2 Trackball |
| 3 | Buttons are mapped to joystick, even for players with trackball enabled | Buttons are mapped to mouse buttons for players with trackball enabled |
| 4 | Trackball operates at normal speed | Trackball operates at double speed |
| 5 | Analogue input channels on the kick harness are unused | Analogue input channels on the kick harness are used – full scale voltage range of 0V to 3.3V, one per player. |
| 6 | Analogue input channels on the kick harness are unused | Analogue input channels on the kick harness are used – full scale voltage range of 0V to 3.3V, one per player. |
| 7 | CTRLDock Arcade USB-N interface is disconnected from the Xilinx. The USB interface is accessible via P38 and can be used to connect CTRLDock Arcade to another computer. | CTRLDock Arcade USB-N interface is connected to the Xilinx – use this position for normal operation. |
| 8 | CTRLDock Arcade USB-P interface is disconnected from the Xilinx. The USB interface is accessible via P38 and can be used to connect CTRLDock Arcade to another computer. | CTRLDock Arcade USB-P interface is connected to the Xilinx – use this position for normal operation. |
A MiSTer Script will allow future updates to CTRLDock Arcade onboard firmware and controls.
The Multisystem² Arcade has positions for more 'hackable' connectors, tell me more...
Multisystem² Arcade is designed as a ‘user hackable’ Arcade board – Custom modifications encouraged!
- 2 x extra Internal USB header positions on the PCB – user fitted if required.
- OSD / USER & Reset switch headers for external buttons if required.
- Power / Disc / User LED header positions on the PCB – user fitted if required.
- SNAC and further I/O EXP expansion port – future use for expansions and community upgrades / custom I/O boards.
- Pin strip header positions for all JAMMA connections – for custom wire looms – user fitted if required.
- Pin strip header position for JAMMA Power In/Out – user fitted if required.
- I2C expansion header positions on the PCB – user fitted if required.
- I2C bus for RTC and many more projects such as OLED displays (See TTY2OLED Venice1200 on Github).
- Fan / Power headers fitted if required both +5VDC and +12VDC
- Stereo Line header positions – for custom wire looms – user fitted if required.
- Support for Zaparoo NFC loading system by adding NFC reader to any USB port.
Supports funkycochise Insert-Coin ‘darkboot’ arcade scripts for an authentic power-on experience, no loading bars or info displayed.
Do I need to map my player controls?
With a standard MiSTer Fusion install all the buttons will be mapped for both player 1 and player 2 – up to 9 buttons as standard (using both JAMMA and the CPS1 + Expansion connectors).
For example, Street Fighter 2 – should just work with all correct player controls mapped for the 6 buttons (using the kick harness).
These are the generic button map, so ‘Select’ is often JAMMA Coin and ‘Start’ is JAMMA Start for each player.
In some arcade games you may need to remap buttons for specific cabinet configurations or older arcade cores that use L and R buttons for Coin and Start.
Can I use this for *Insert Arcade Cabinet/Game here* ?
The Multisystem² Arcade is designed to support all Arcade MiSTer FPGA cores. Some physical Arcade cabinets may require custom controls, some can be wired into the Optical / spinner and analogue inputs others may require an expansion or adaptor.
The JAMMA connector is a standard wiring method for many different types of Arcade machines, some early machines from the 80’s can be adapted to use JAMMA, others may require more buffer boards or other types of wiring.
If you have a specific project in mind, let us know and we will try to help and advise how to connect up a Multisystem² Arcade into your machine.
Does Multisystem2 Arcade have HDMI Output?
No, The Multisystem2 Arcade is designed to run in OLD cabs, using CRT monitors, that’s why it exists. Its part of the ongoing hardware preservation effort working with the MiSTer FPGA project.
During development we added a connector on the back of the PCB that has enough of the HDMI Bus to run an LCD screen (panel). This connector is not fitted as standard on the production board, but if anyone wants to experiment with digital video output you maybe able to ‘hack’ these signals to do things such as a digital marquee.
HDMI is not part of the defined spec or listed features for Multisystem2 Arcade.
Do not buy Multisystem2 Arcade if you need HDMI, please look at the console version Multisystem2 – that has HDMI and Analogue as standard.