MAMEWorld Forums - EmuChat - Re: End of 32-bit

> https://www.mamedev.org/?p=474
>
> After Christmas there will be no more official release of 32-bit builds, although you
> can build your own.
>
> Also, 0.215 will be the last where you can make a build for XP, by using GCC 5.3 .
>
> My projects (MESS, MESSUI, MAMEUI, HBMAME) will not have 32-bit builds after 0.215 .
> As above, you can make them yourself.

The writing was already on the wall for 32-bit systems when 0.180 was released, when support for most Pentium 4 era (e.g. AGP) video cards was dropped. Given that 64-bit systems are a dime a dozen these days it probably won't even be noticed, aside from those running a 32-bit OS on 64-bit hardware for whatever reason.

Microsoft is probably the sole reason why support for 32-bit (x86) PCs has been around for so long - making $$$$$$$$$$ on upgrading all those XP and Vista machines when Windows 7 could have easily been a 64-bit only release, given that 32-bit x86 CPUs were practically dead in the water even in 2009 when Windows 7 was first released (as in, PCs for the general public, not embedded/industrial machines where older operating systems tend to remain virtually untouched anyway e.g. ATMs and point-of-sales machines that still use Windows XP). Meanwhile, Macs have been 64-bit only since way back in 2011 when OS X Lion came out.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the last 32-bit versions are given an unofficial fork just to keep cabinet owners and other PC hardware laggards in the loop (e.g. when more ROM sets and decapped/emulated protection devices are inevitably added to the upcoming 64-bit only builds, they may be able to be back-ported to the older MAME versions if MAME's code hasn't changed significantly), much like how RetroArch etc. maintains 20-year old versions of MAME solely for compatibility with potato-powered toasters.