diff --git a/src/common/path_util.cpp b/src/common/path_util.cpp
index 1cf80430a..7137a2205 100644
--- a/src/common/path_util.cpp
+++ b/src/common/path_util.cpp
@@ -128,10 +128,10 @@ static auto UserPaths = [] {
     create_path(PathType::CustomTrophy, user_dir / CUSTOM_TROPHY);
     create_path(PathType::CustomConfigs, user_dir / CUSTOM_CONFIGS);
     create_path(PathType::CacheDir, user_dir / CACHE_DIR);
-    create_path(PathType::FontDir, user_dir / FONT_DIR);
+    create_path(PathType::FontDir, user_dir / SYSFONTS_DIR);
     // subdirectory for fonts
-    std::filesystem::create_directory(user_dir / FONT_DIR / "font");
-    std::filesystem::create_directory(user_dir / FONT_DIR / "font2");
+    std::filesystem::create_directory(user_dir / SYSFONTS_DIR / "font");
+    std::filesystem::create_directory(user_dir / SYSFONTS_DIR / "font2");
 
     std::ofstream notice_file(user_dir / CUSTOM_TROPHY / "Notice.txt");
     if (notice_file.is_open()) {
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ static auto UserPaths = [] {
         notice_file.close();
     }
 
-    std::ofstream font_instructions(user_dir / FONT_DIR / "Instructions.txt");
+    std::ofstream font_instructions(user_dir / SYSFONTS_DIR / "Instructions.txt");
     if (font_instructions.is_open()) {
         font_instructions << "Place /preinst/common/font contents into font folder\n"
                              "Place /system/common/font2 contents into font2 folder\n";
diff --git a/src/common/path_util.h b/src/common/path_util.h
index f5979e3b2..00cf870e7 100644
--- a/src/common/path_util.h
+++ b/src/common/path_util.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ constexpr auto METADATA_DIR = "game_data";
 constexpr auto CUSTOM_TROPHY = "custom_trophy";
 constexpr auto CUSTOM_CONFIGS = "custom_configs";
 constexpr auto CACHE_DIR = "cache";
-constexpr auto FONT_DIR = "sys_fonts";
+constexpr auto SYSFONTS_DIR = "sys_fonts";
 
 // Filenames
 constexpr auto LOG_FILE = "shad_log.txt";
diff --git a/src/core/emulator_settings.cpp b/src/core/emulator_settings.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..49d997c49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/emulator_settings.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,293 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright 2025-2026 shadPS4 Emulator Project
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <common/path_util.h>
+#include "emulator_settings.h"
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+std::shared_ptr<EmulatorSettings> EmulatorSettings::s_instance = nullptr;
+std::mutex EmulatorSettings::s_mutex;
+
+namespace nlohmann {
+template <>
+struct adl_serializer<std::filesystem::path> {
+    static void to_json(json& j, const std::filesystem::path& p) {
+        j = p.string();
+    }
+    static void from_json(const json& j, std::filesystem::path& p) {
+        p = j.get<std::string>();
+    }
+};
+} // namespace nlohmann
+
+// --------------------
+// Print summary
+// --------------------
+void EmulatorSettings::PrintChangedSummary(const std::vector<std::string>& changed) {
+    if (changed.empty()) {
+        std::cout << "[Settings] No game-specific overrides applied\n";
+        return;
+    }
+    std::cout << "[Settings] Game-specific overrides applied:\n";
+    for (const auto& k : changed)
+        std::cout << "    * " << k << "\n";
+}
+
+// --------------------
+// ctor/dtor + singleton
+// --------------------
+EmulatorSettings::EmulatorSettings() {
+    // Load();
+}
+EmulatorSettings::~EmulatorSettings() {
+    Save();
+}
+
+std::shared_ptr<EmulatorSettings> EmulatorSettings::GetInstance() {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(s_mutex);
+    if (!s_instance)
+        s_instance = std::make_shared<EmulatorSettings>();
+    return s_instance;
+}
+
+void EmulatorSettings::SetInstance(std::shared_ptr<EmulatorSettings> instance) {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(s_mutex);
+    s_instance = instance;
+}
+
+// --------------------
+// General helpers
+// --------------------
+
+std::filesystem::path EmulatorSettings::GetSysFontsDir() {
+    if (m_general.sys_fonts_dir.value.empty()) {
+        return Common::FS::GetUserPath(Common::FS::PathType::FontDir);
+    }
+    return m_general.sys_fonts_dir.value;
+}
+
+void EmulatorSettings::SetSysFontsDir(const std::filesystem::path& dir) {
+    m_general.sys_fonts_dir.value = dir;
+}
+
+// --------------------
+// Save
+// --------------------
+bool EmulatorSettings::Save(const std::string& serial) const {
+    try {
+        if (!serial.empty()) {
+            const std::filesystem::path cfgDir =
+                Common::FS::GetUserPath(Common::FS::PathType::CustomConfigs);
+            std::filesystem::create_directories(cfgDir);
+            const std::filesystem::path path = cfgDir / (serial + ".json");
+
+            json j = json::object();
+
+            // Only write overrideable fields for each group
+            json generalObj = json::object();
+            for (auto& item : m_general.GetOverrideableFields()) {
+                json whole = m_general;
+                if (whole.contains(item.key))
+                    generalObj[item.key] = whole[item.key];
+            }
+            j["General"] = generalObj;
+
+            // Debug
+            /* json debugObj = json::object();
+            for (auto& item : m_debug.GetOverrideableFields()) {
+                json whole = m_debug;
+                if (whole.contains(item.key))
+                    debugObj[item.key] = whole[item.key];
+            }
+            j["Debug"] = debugObj;
+
+            // Input
+            json inputObj = json::object();
+            for (auto& item : m_input.GetOverrideableFields()) {
+                json whole = m_input;
+                if (whole.contains(item.key))
+                    inputObj[item.key] = whole[item.key];
+            }
+            j["Input"] = inputObj;
+
+            // Audio
+            json audioObj = json::object();
+            for (auto& item : m_audio.GetOverrideableFields()) {
+                json whole = m_audio;
+                if (whole.contains(item.key))
+                    audioObj[item.key] = whole[item.key];
+            }
+            j["Audio"] = audioObj;
+
+            // GPU
+            json gpuObj = json::object();
+            for (auto& item : m_gpu.GetOverrideableFields()) {
+                json whole = m_gpu;
+                if (whole.contains(item.key))
+                    gpuObj[item.key] = whole[item.key];
+            }
+            j["GPU"] = gpuObj;
+
+            // Vulkan
+            json vulkanObj = json::object();
+            for (auto& item : m_vulkan.GetOverrideableFields()) {
+                json whole = m_vulkan;
+                if (whole.contains(item.key))
+                    vulkanObj[item.key] = whole[item.key];
+            }
+            j["Vulkan"] = vulkanObj;*/
+
+            std::ofstream out(path);
+            if (!out.is_open()) {
+                std::cerr << "Failed to open file for writing: " << path << std::endl;
+                return false;
+            }
+            out << std::setw(4) << j;
+            out.flush();
+            if (out.fail()) {
+                std::cerr << "Failed to write settings to: " << path << std::endl;
+                return false;
+            }
+            return true;
+        } else {
+            const std::filesystem::path path =
+                Common::FS::GetUserPath(Common::FS::PathType::UserDir) / "config.json";
+            json j;
+            j["General"] = m_general;
+            /* j["Debug"] = m_debug;
+            j["Input"] = m_input;
+            j["Audio"] = m_audio;
+            j["GPU"] = m_gpu;
+            j["Vulkan"] = m_vulkan;
+            j["Users"] = m_userManager.GetUsers();*/
+
+            std::ofstream out(path);
+            if (!out.is_open()) {
+                std::cerr << "Failed to open file for writing: " << path << std::endl;
+                return false;
+            }
+            out << std::setw(4) << j;
+            out.flush();
+            if (out.fail()) {
+                std::cerr << "Failed to write settings to: " << path << std::endl;
+                return false;
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
+    } catch (const std::exception& e) {
+        std::cerr << "Error saving settings: " << e.what() << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+// --------------------
+// Load
+// --------------------
+bool EmulatorSettings::Load(const std::string& serial) {
+    try {
+        const std::filesystem::path userDir =
+            Common::FS::GetUserPath(Common::FS::PathType::UserDir);
+        const std::filesystem::path configPath = userDir / "config.json";
+
+        // Load global config if exists
+        if (std::ifstream globalIn{configPath}; globalIn.good()) {
+            json gj;
+            globalIn >> gj;
+            if (gj.contains("General")) {
+                json current = m_general;         // JSON from existing struct with all defaults
+                current.update(gj.at("General")); // merge only fields present in file
+                m_general = current.get<GeneralSettings>(); // convert back
+            }
+            /* if (gj.contains("Debug")) {
+                json current = m_debug;
+                current.update(gj.at("Debug"));
+                m_debug = current.get<DebugSettings>();
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Input")) {
+                json current = m_input;
+                current.update(gj.at("Input"));
+                m_input = current.get<InputSettings>();
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Audio")) {
+                json current = m_audio;
+                current.update(gj.at("Audio"));
+                m_audio = current.get<AudioSettings>();
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("GPU")) {
+                json current = m_gpu;
+                current.update(gj.at("GPU"));
+                m_gpu = current.get<GPUSettings>();
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Vulkan")) {
+                json current = m_vulkan;
+                current.update(gj.at("Vulkan"));
+                m_vulkan = current.get<VulkanSettings>();
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Users"))
+                m_userManager.GetUsers() = gj.at("Users").get<Users>();*/
+        } else {
+            SetDefaultValues();
+            // ensure a default user exists
+            /* if (m_userManager.GetUsers().user.empty())
+                m_userManager.GetUsers().user = m_userManager.CreateDefaultUser();*/
+            Save();
+        }
+
+        // Load per-game overrides and apply
+        if (!serial.empty()) {
+            const std::filesystem::path gamePath =
+                Common::FS::GetUserPath(Common::FS::PathType::CustomConfigs) / (serial + ".json");
+            if (!std::filesystem::exists(gamePath))
+                return false;
+
+            std::ifstream in(gamePath);
+            if (!in.is_open())
+                return false;
+
+            json gj;
+            in >> gj;
+
+            std::vector<std::string> changed;
+
+            if (gj.contains("General")) {
+                ApplyGroupOverrides<GeneralSettings>(m_general, gj.at("General"), changed);
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Debug")) {
+                ApplyGroupOverrides<DebugSettings>(m_debug, gj.at("Debug"), changed);
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Input")) {
+                ApplyGroupOverrides<InputSettings>(m_input, gj.at("Input"), changed);
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Audio")) {
+                ApplyGroupOverrides<AudioSettings>(m_audio, gj.at("Audio"), changed);
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("GPU")) {
+                ApplyGroupOverrides<GPUSettings>(m_gpu, gj.at("GPU"), changed);
+            }
+            if (gj.contains("Vulkan")) {
+                ApplyGroupOverrides<VulkanSettings>(m_vulkan, gj.at("Vulkan"), changed);
+            }
+
+            PrintChangedSummary(changed);
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    } catch (const std::exception& e) {
+        std::cerr << "Error loading settings: " << e.what() << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
+}
+
+void EmulatorSettings::SetDefaultValues() {
+    m_general = GeneralSettings{};
+    m_debug = DebugSettings{};
+    m_input = InputSettings{};
+    m_audio = AudioSettings{};
+    m_gpu = GPUSettings{};
+    m_vulkan = VulkanSettings{};
+}
diff --git a/src/core/emulator_settings.h b/src/core/emulator_settings.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..73a659a32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/emulator_settings.h
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright 2025-2026 shadPS4 Emulator Project
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <functional>
+#include <memory>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include "common/types.h"
+
+// -------------------------------
+// Generic Setting wrapper
+// -------------------------------
+template <typename T>
+struct Setting {
+    T value{};
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+void to_json(nlohmann::json& j, const Setting<T>& s) {
+    j = s.value;
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+void from_json(const nlohmann::json& j, Setting<T>& s) {
+    s.value = j.get<T>();
+}
+
+// -------------------------------
+// Helper to describe a per-field override action
+// -------------------------------
+struct OverrideItem {
+    const char* key;
+    // apply(basePtrToStruct, jsonEntry, changedFields)
+    std::function<void(void*, const nlohmann::json&, std::vector<std::string>&)> apply;
+};
+
+// Helper factory: create an OverrideItem binding a pointer-to-member
+template <typename Struct, typename T>
+inline OverrideItem make_override(const char* key, Setting<T> Struct::* member) {
+    return OverrideItem{key, [member, key](void* base, const nlohmann::json& entry,
+                                           std::vector<std::string>& changed) {
+                            if (!entry.is_object())
+                                return;
+
+                            Struct* obj = reinterpret_cast<Struct*>(base);
+                            Setting<T>& dst = obj->*member;
+
+                            Setting<T> tmp = entry.get<Setting<T>>();
+
+                            if (dst.value != tmp.value) {
+                                changed.push_back(std::string(key) + " ( " +
+                                                  nlohmann::json(dst.value).dump() + " → " +
+                                                  nlohmann::json(tmp.value).dump() + " )");
+                            }
+
+                            dst.value = tmp.value;
+                        }};
+}
+
+// -------------------------------
+// General settings
+// -------------------------------
+struct GeneralSettings {
+    Setting<std::filesystem::path> sys_fonts_dir;
+    std::vector<OverrideItem> GetOverrideableFields() const {
+        return std::vector<OverrideItem>{};
+    }
+};
+
+NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(GeneralSettings, sys_fonts_dir)
+
+// -------------------------------
+// Debug settings
+// -------------------------------
+struct DebugSettings {
+    std::vector<OverrideItem> GetOverrideableFields() const {
+        return std::vector<OverrideItem>{};
+    }
+};
+//NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(DebugSettings)
+
+// -------------------------------
+// Input settings
+// -------------------------------
+
+struct InputSettings {
+    std::vector<OverrideItem> GetOverrideableFields() const {
+        return std::vector<OverrideItem>{};
+    }
+};
+//NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(InputSettings)
+
+// -------------------------------
+// Audio settings
+// -------------------------------
+struct AudioSettings {
+    std::vector<OverrideItem> GetOverrideableFields() const {
+        return std::vector<OverrideItem>{};
+    }
+};
+
+//NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(AudioSettings)
+
+// -------------------------------
+// GPU settings
+// -------------------------------
+struct GPUSettings {
+    std::vector<OverrideItem> GetOverrideableFields() const {
+        return std::vector<OverrideItem>{};
+    }
+};
+//NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(GPUSettings)
+// -------------------------------
+// Vulkan settings
+// -------------------------------
+struct VulkanSettings {
+    std::vector<OverrideItem> GetOverrideableFields() const {
+        return std::vector<OverrideItem>{};
+    }
+};
+//NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_NON_INTRUSIVE(VulkanSettings)
+
+// -------------------------------
+// Main manager
+// -------------------------------
+class EmulatorSettings {
+public:
+    EmulatorSettings();
+    ~EmulatorSettings();
+
+    static std::shared_ptr<EmulatorSettings> GetInstance();
+    static void SetInstance(std::shared_ptr<EmulatorSettings> instance);
+
+    bool Save(const std::string& serial = "") const;
+    bool Load(const std::string& serial = "");
+    void SetDefaultValues();
+
+    // general accessors
+    std::filesystem::path GetSysFontsDir();
+    void SetSysFontsDir(const std::filesystem::path& dir);
+
+private:
+    GeneralSettings m_general{};
+    DebugSettings m_debug{};
+    InputSettings m_input{};
+    AudioSettings m_audio{};
+    GPUSettings m_gpu{};
+    VulkanSettings m_vulkan{};
+    // UserManager m_userManager;
+
+    static std::shared_ptr<EmulatorSettings> s_instance;
+    static std::mutex s_mutex;
+
+    // Generic helper that applies override descriptors for a specific group
+    template <typename Group>
+    void ApplyGroupOverrides(Group& group, const nlohmann::json& groupJson,
+                             std::vector<std::string>& changed) {
+        for (auto& item : group.GetOverrideableFields()) {
+            if (!groupJson.contains(item.key))
+                continue;
+            item.apply(&group, groupJson.at(item.key), changed);
+        }
+    }
+
+    static void PrintChangedSummary(const std::vector<std::string>& changed);
+
+public:
+#define SETTING_FORWARD(group, Name, field)                                                        \
+    auto Get##Name() const {                                                                       \
+        return group.field.value;                                                                  \
+    }                                                                                              \
+    void Set##Name(const decltype(group.field.value)& v) {                                         \
+        group.field.value = v;                                                                     \
+    }
+#define SETTING_FORWARD_BOOL(group, Name, field)                                                   \
+    auto Is##Name() const {                                                                        \
+        return group.field.value;                                                                  \
+    }                                                                                              \
+    void Set##Name(const decltype(group.field.value)& v) {                                         \
+        group.field.value = v;                                                                     \
+    }
+#define SETTING_FORWARD_BOOL_READONLY(group, Name, field)                                          \
+    auto Is##Name() const {                                                                        \
+        return group.field.value;                                                                  \
+    }
+
+#undef SETTING_FORWARD
+#undef SETTING_FORWARD_BOOL
+};