pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio dependency error with newer Pi OS Trixie

[jd-cal]

IF THIS IS NOT FILLED OUT, THE TICKET WILL BE CLOESED

Describe the bug
"pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio" dependency fails to be installed when installing aethersx2 on a new Pi OS trixie build

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Flash the latest build of Pi OS 64-bit (Trixie) on a raspberry pi 5 (idk if the bug happens on other models or OS)
2. Install RetroPie
3. Install RetroPie-Extras
4. Run install-extras.sh in the terminal
5. Install aethersx2 module and then exit
6. Run retropie_setup.sh
7. Go to Manage experimental packages and then select aethersx2 at the very bottom
8. Install from source
9. Bug happens

Expected behavior
Can't really say much about this other than expecting it to be installed

Screenshots
Doesn't let me add screenshots. (N/A)
So here's the log if it helps

Log started at: Fri 16 Jan 19:30:29 NZDT 2026

RetroPie-Setup version: 4.8.10 (1760f6e)
System: rpi5 (aarch64) - Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie) - Linux doenpi 6.12.62+rpt-rpi-v8 #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 1:6.12.62-1+rpt1 (2025-12-18) aarch64 GNU/Linux

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Installing dependencies for 'aethersx2' : PS2 emu - AetherSX2
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Did not find needed dependencies: pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio. Trying to install them now.
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
E: Unable to locate package pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio
Could not install package(s): pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio.

Log ended at: Fri 16 Jan 19:30:29 NZDT 2026
Total running time: 0 hours, 0 mins, 0 secs

Device (please complete the following information):

• Model: Pi5 8gb
• OS: Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit Debian Trixie
• Version: not sure which specifically but it's the latest one since i just flashed the sd card like 2 days ago to try ps2 on RetroPie

Additional context
At 1st I tried installing it manually with sudo apt install pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio but even apt doesn't know where to find this dependency. I'm guessing the new Pi OS build with Trixie removed such dependencies so apt can't really find it anymore.

I tried going around this by modifying aethersx2.sh code locally and removing pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio from the dependency function (kind of a janky solution i know but still have to try) but it still doesn't fix the bug because when i try to install again it still throws the same exact error to me. Perhaps theres still some other script referring to
pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio

[Exarkuniv]

sorry that you have a issue with this, but im not supporting trixie at this time. bookworm is as far as i made it so far.
but you did do it right, by removing that line should of fixed it.

there is no other script that it works with. each script is it own thing. so even if there is another one with that line. it does not matter.

i will take a look at the script and see if i can see why its still calling for it

[jd-cal]

ah alright so if i use like a older bookworm version of the Pi OS it should be fixed up nice and ready. Thanks! though now i think it might be some cache or something thats not updating the aethersx2 script on retropie_setup. Ill see if i can perhaps find a way to do a refresh or a clearing of cache for aethersx2 to be installed on a trixie build with retropie

[Exarkuniv]

Once I break out my pi5 again I'll mess around. Removing that line should be it. But I know the scripts can be odd at times.

And yes from the last time I ran that in bookworm it worked just fine I was playing GTA 3.
But that was about a year ago I think. So there is a chance they moved or renamed it. (They like doing that crap)

[jd-cal]

yea im guessing they probably did with Trixie. I still havent figured out how to refresh retropie setup but ill keep posting here for updates

[jd-cal]

oh yea theres this one tutorial video that uses this git to specifically install and run aethersx2 on pi 5 and the comments seem to be having the same issue with Trixie and theres no comments suggesting a fix other than returning to bookworm

[Exarkuniv]

Hmm. I might give Trixie a try and see about just removing that driver and see what happens. It might not be needed for that OS. Don't know

[jd-cal]

Fixed it, turns out theres another copy of aethersx2.sh at RetroPie-Setup/ext/RetroPie-Extra/scriptmodules/emulators. it probably copied to that directory when i selected aethersx2 from RetroPie-Extra/install-extras.sh . welp thats a little weird considering all of the scripts are already at the RetroPie-Extra directory but i guess you have to somehow put it in RetroPie-Setup's directory for it to be able to read the aethersx2 script.

[jd-cal]

wahooooo

so yea i modified the aethersx2.sh script on the one at the RetroPie-Extras directory and not the one inside RetroPie-Setup/ext

idk if i should close this now but i do hope other people see this when trying to run ps2 on their Trixie Pi OS

Thanks a lot man

[Exarkuniv]

Yes that is how the install script works when you first download my repo it puts it in to the extras folder on the main route when you run the installer script and pick what you want it gets copied to the retropie setup folder from there you can run it within retropie setup

That is how the devs for RetroPie have it programmed

You can always manually run it from the actress folder if you want to but for a convenience it gets dropped into the setup folder so that way you can run it from within retropie without a command line

[jd-cal]

what if i just copy paste all the sh files from retropie extra to retropie setup directory will it start to break or something?

[jd-cal]

i might just do that cuz why not lol

[Exarkuniv]

The reason why I have the install script the way it is is because my library is quite large and on weaker boards like the pi3 and 4 it can cause slow down when you run the setup script through emulation station

That is why you run the install.sh And you can pick and choose what you will have dropped into the main setup selection through retropie setup that you can pick when you go to the retro pie menu on emulation station

In the install.sh you do have an option to run a batch copier where it will just dump everything into retropie setup for you

[jd-cal]

ahh okay i see some good optimization stuff
im so glad u made this repo i just wanna say thanks for that

[jd-cal]

im gonna close this now but im gonna have to just spread the word to those ppl with trixie about modifying the script and removing pipewire-media-session-pulseaudio from the dependency session cuz so far audio is great and im up playing gta sa with this pi 5