There is already an Armbian version for OrangePi 3 operative, it can be downloaded from:

https://dl.armbian.com/orangepi3/

I have tried both Ubuntu and Debian with the same result when trying to install Retroarch + EmulationStation or RetroPie, I am missing some of the graphics drivers that due to my inexperience in Linux I am not able to solve.
In Ubuntu I was able to install the graphic environment but I did not manage much.
In RetroPie it does not detect the platform and I tried it with generic-x11, armv7 and rpi3.

I followed the guide:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12037/building-on-ubuntu-server-16-04/28

With the same result as attached.

Could someone install the Retrorange ??
I have tried but I do not know anymore.

you can't get it working there's no mali t720 driver in 5.0.4 kernel and never will , as i wrote in another thread the opi3 is totally useless in linux for any multimedia or emulation stuff

so, I have the orangepi 3 with android with retroarch + arcbrowser running full games. (android is not linux??)

Edited by myzar at 2019-4-1 01:09

I've that running too, no android is not linux, it runs linux kernel but it is a different os , so we are basically screwed for Retrorange , no mali drivers no party ;)

In the version of Armbian for Orange Pi 3 of ubuntu I was able to install the graphic environment desktop of Ubunto and it was quite good.