05/04/2026
This looks niiiiiiice I'm about to get this OS for my Dreamcast! Already looked it up with Gemini, it's called Ascencion.
Gemini's reply:
That looks like Ascension, which is actually a specialized build of openMenu for the Dreamcast GDEMU. It has been getting a lot of attention recently for how much it modernizes the console's UI compared to the old, clunky GDMenu we used to use.
​Since you're running the GDEMU 5.20 (which is perfect because it has the best compatibility for these newer menu systems), you can definitely get yours looking like that.
​What makes it different?
​Unlike the traditional list-based menus, Ascension (and the latest openMenu forks) supports:
​High-res Box Art: It pulls images for your games so you can scroll through a visual library.
​Virtual Folders: You can finally organize your games by genre or letter instead of one giant scrolling list.
​Custom Themes: It’s highly skinable, allowing for that "modern OS" look you saw.
​How to get it
​To set it up, you’ll want to use the GDMENU Card Manager on your PC. Here is the general workflow:
​Download openMenu: Look for the latest "ateam" fork of openMenu (often bundled as the Virtual Folder Bundle).
​Prepare your SD Card: Use the GDMENU Card Manager (v2.0 or later is recommended).
​Add Art: You’ll need to put your box art into the menu/art folder on your SD card. The Card Manager can often automate this for you.
​Replace the Menu: You replace the standard GDMenu.cdi on your SD card with the openMenu.cdi (renamed to GDMenu.cdi or placed in slot 01 depending on your setup).
It’s a huge step up from the basic text lists, especially if you're like most of us and have a massive SD card filled with the entire library.
