GammaOS Next v1.1.0 (GameMT E6 Max Family) Release Notes

Patreon Exclusive Release
Password obtained from Patreon for GammaOS Insider tier supporters: https://www.patreon.com/posts/144807385
This release becomes publicly available to non-supporters on 30th January 2026. The password will be posted here after that date.

Release Date: 1st December 2025

Overview

GammaOS Next v1.1.0 delivers the first Android 14 / LineageOS 21 release for the GameMT E6 Max family, including both non-Bluetooth and Bluetooth enabled variants.

This update is a generational step up from GammaOS Next v1.0.0 (Android 13 / LineageOS 20), bringing a more modern OS stack, improved performance and responsiveness, enhanced rendering stability, and a more console-like handheld experience.

Both Full (Google Apps included) and Lite (no Google services, performance focused) editions are provided. On this hardware, GammaOS Lite is strongly recommended as the primary build for day-to-day use.

Important:
Due to changes in the base OS and vendor stack, a clean installation is strongly recommended when moving to Android 14. Dirty flashing over previous builds may lead to instability or boot issues and is done at your own risk.

Key Features

Android 14 / LineageOS 21 Base

A modern system base that provides:

• Improved security and privacy features
• Better scheduler responsiveness and task handling
• More stable rendering and reduced jank
• Refined background process management and power behaviour

GammaOS continues to focus on low overhead and high performance for emulation workloads.

Global Shader Pipeline

GammaOS introduces a unified shader pipeline:

• Includes CRT-Simple and LCD3x shaders out of the box, with more effects planned
• Integrated with system composition for consistent behaviour across supported surfaces
• Correct handling of rotation, scaling, and high DPI displays
• Long-press the Shader Quick Settings tile to open shader configuration

Immersive Mode (Enabled by Default)

A consistent, console-style full screen experience:

• Hides status and navigation bars during gameplay and most foreground apps
• Swipe from the screen edges to temporarily reveal the system bars when needed
• Configurable via a dedicated Immersive Mode Quick Settings tile

GammaEQ (System-Level Audio EQ)

A new system-level audio equalizer engine:

• Implemented at the AudioFlinger fast mixer level where supported
• Designed for low latency and stable output for games and emulators
• In this release, configuration is property driven (no UI yet)
• A dedicated GammaEQ configuration UI and wider preset support are planned for future updates

Core System Improvements

Compared to earlier Android 13 / v1.0.0 builds, this release includes:

• Improved task switcher responsiveness and touch handling
• Reduced rendering latency and animation jitter
• Lower background CPU usage under typical gaming workloads
• More predictable thermal behaviour during sustained emulation
• Faster boot times and wake-from-sleep behaviour
• More reliable D-pad and analog input handling

GameMT E6 Max Family Specific Enhancements and Fixes

This release includes a set of targeted changes for all GameMT E6 Max variants:

• Support for All Models (Including Bluetooth)

  • Unified support for non-Bluetooth and Bluetooth-equipped GameMT E6 Max devices
  • Consistent feature set and tuning across the full device family

• HDMI Audio Fixed

  • HDMI audio output now functions correctly when connected to a compatible external display
  • Audio is correctly routed over HDMI instead of being locked to the device speakers

• WiFi Crash During GMS Setup Resolved

  • The previous issue where WiFi could crash during initial Google account / GMS setup on the Full build has been resolved
  • It is now safe to connect to WiFi during first boot and Google setup on the Full edition
  • The old workaround of skipping WiFi on first boot is no longer required

• Performance Governors on Wake Corrected

  • Fixed a regression where the selected performance profile was not reliably re-applied after suspend/resume
  • The chosen performance mode now persists correctly across sleep/wake cycles

• General Stability and Responsiveness

  • Improved frame pacing and reduced microstutter in common emulation scenarios
  • Better handling of input events and long play sessions on this hardware
  • Slightly improved thermal behaviour, especially on the Lite build

GammaOS Lite vs Full on GameMT E6 Max

On the GameMT E6 Max hardware, the choice between Lite and Full has a significant impact on thermals, performance, and battery life.

GammaOS Lite (Strongly Recommended)

Lite is designed as the primary and recommended configuration for this device:

• No Google Play services or Google framework processes
• Much lower background CPU and RAM usage
• Better sustained performance under emulation workloads
• Noticeably cooler operation over long sessions
• Improved battery life compared to Full
• Fewer background wakeups and less OS overhead

For most users and most use cases (emulators, standalone games, local streaming), GammaOS Lite is the recommended and default choice.

GammaOS Full (Use at Your Own Risk on This Device)

The Full build includes GMS (Google Mobile Services) and the Google Play ecosystem:

• Play Store, Play Games, cloud saves, and Google-integrated apps are available
• Background Google services increase CPU usage and wakeups
• Higher thermal load leading to:
  • Increased device temperature
  • More frequent or aggressive throttling under load
  • Reduced battery life compared to Lite

On the GameMT E6 Max, GMS is particularly harsh on thermals and long-term performance, especially for heavy emulation.

Recommendation:
Use GammaOS Full on the GameMT E6 Max only if you explicitly require Google services. Be aware that overheating, performance degradation under sustained load, and reduced battery life are expected side effects. Use at your own risk. For all other users, GammaOS Lite is strongly recommended.

GammaOS Experience on GameMT E6 Max

Daijisho + RetroArch Integration

• Preconfigured Daijisho launcher and RetroArch environment
• Ready to organise and launch:
  • GB, GBC, GBA
  • NES, SNES, Genesis
  • PSX
• BIOS files are not included and must be supplied by the user

Input and Control Features

• Universal Button Remapping

  • Map any physical button to any key or input
  • Enables custom layouts per-player or per-emulator

• Analog Stick Calibration

  • Adjust analog range and deadzone
  • Helps reduce drift and tune sensitivity

• D-pad / Analog Swap and Axis Inversion

  • Swap D-pad and analog stick roles where needed
  • Invert individual axes for titles that require different mappings
  • Accessible via Quick Settings tiles

• L2 / R2 Button Fixes

  • Ensures proper trigger behaviour across games and apps
  • Improved compatibility compared to stock firmware

Power and Performance Modes

Tuned performance governors and profiles for handheld use:

• Max Performance

  • Pushes CPU and other relevant frequencies for maximum responsiveness
  • Intended for demanding emulators or short, high performance sessions

• Normal Performance

  • Dynamic scaling based on workload
  • Balanced mode for general usage and light gaming

• Power Save

  • Aggressively reduced frequencies for battery-first usage
  • Best for lightweight emulation and media

Modes are selectable via Quick Settings tiles, and their state now survives suspend/resume correctly.

• Deep Sleep Mode (cgroup Freeze)
  • Aggressively freezes background apps to minimise power draw during idle
  • Some apps may not resume correctly and may need to be restarted
  • Intended for advanced users who understand the trade-offs

UX and Navigation Enhancements

• Screen Rotation Controls

  • Enforce landscape orientation for a console-like handheld experience
  • Avoids accidental orientation changes during gameplay

• App Drawer in Navigation Bar

  • Quick access to an app drawer directly from the navigation bar
  • Allows fast app switching without returning to the home screen

• Quick Settings Tiles

  • One-tap toggles for:
    • Performance profiles
    • Analog sensitivity
    • ABXY remapping
    • Axis inversion
    • D-pad / analog swap
    • Shaders
    • Immersive mode
    • Deep Sleep and other GammaOS tools

Storage and Root

• Relaxed Scoped Storage

  • Looser file access rules to reduce friction for emulators and frontends
  • Easier access to ROM libraries, BIOS, and saves without constant permission prompts

• Magisk Root

  • Magisk is preinstalled to provide root access for users who need advanced customisation
  • Allows installation of modules and additional tweaks at the user’s discretion

Installation Instructions

Installation is performed using the GameMT E6 Max specific process documented in the GammaOS Next wiki.

For up-to-date, device-specific installation guidance (including clean installation and upgrade paths), follow:

https://github.com/TheGammaSqueeze/GammaOSNext/wiki/GammaOS-Next-Installation#gamemt-e6-max

Flashing will erase all user data. Ensure that you back up any important files before proceeding. A clean installation when moving to this Android 14 base is strongly recommended.

Known Issues

• ES-DE themes failed to download

  • Follow this Wiki guide to overcome this issue: https://github.com/TheGammaSqueeze/GammaOSNext/wiki/%5BES%E2%80%90DE%5D-Fix-for-%22FAILED-TO-LOCK-FILE%22-error-when-downloading-themes

• MTP File Transfer Instability (Kernel Limitation)

  • Using standard MTP file transfer can cause system crashes and unexpected reboots
  • Root cause is a FUSE compatibility issue between modern Android and the legacy GameMT kernel
  • GameMT has not provided updated kernel sources or vendor support, so this issue cannot be fixed within GammaOS Next at this time

  Workaround:
  Use ADB-based file transfer rather than MTP. ADB Explorer is recommended:
  https://github.com/Alex4SSB/ADB-Explorer

• Deep Sleep Mode

  • When Deep Sleep / cgroup freeze is enabled, some third-party apps may fail to resume correctly
  • If an app behaves incorrectly after the device has been idle, disable Deep Sleep or reboot the device

• GammaEQ and Shader Roadmap

  • GammaEQ configuration is currently property-based; there is no GUI in this release
  • Additional shader presets and more advanced configuration options are planned for future updates

Support

For support, feedback, or bug reports, please open an Issue on GitHub:

https://github.com/TheGammaSqueeze/GammaOSNext/issues

Thank you for helping test and refine the Android 14-based GammaOS Next experience on the GameMT E6 Max family. GammaOS Lite is the recommended way to enjoy this release on this hardware.