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.
