Before delving into the troubleshooting steps, ensure you've cleaned your cartridge pins appropriately by following our detailed guide: How Should I Clean my Game Cartridge Pins?.
There are several reasons the Playback app might not recognize your game:
1. Your game is not in our database
Your game may not be registered in our extensive database. If you suspect this might be the case, you can contribute to our growing community by adding the game details to our database. For a step-by-step guide on how to do this, please follow the instructions provided here: How Can I Add a Game to the Database.
2. The cart you are using is unofficial
If you're using an unofficial game cartridge, there's a chance that the game data might be slightly altered. This alteration can prevent the game from matching the information in our database, resulting in the game not being recognised. Ensure that you're using official cartridges to prevent this issue. You can manually identify an unofficial cart using our following guide: How to spot an inauthentic GB/GBC/GBA game.
3. The cartridge isn't being properly read
There could be various reasons why the Playback app isn't reading the cartridge properly:
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Cartridge Insertion: Double-check to ensure that the cartridge is inserted correctly into the Operator.
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Inspect the PCB: Carefully open the cartridge and examine the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for any signs of damage or wear.
If you are also prompted with the "Failed to load game" message, you can refer to the steps outlined in the Integrity Check Failed article.
If multiple official games are consistently giving you this error, there might be an underlying hardware problem with the Operator device itself. In this case, it is advised to File a Warranty Request and our dedicated team will promptly investigate the issue and guide you on the next steps.