diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e9f7458..9135c62 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ option(ENABLE_OPENGL "Enables the OpenGL backend" ON)
 option(ENABLE_VULKAN "Enables the Vulkan backend" ON)
 option(ENABLE_DISCORD_RPC "Enables the Discord Rich Presence feature" ON)
 
+if (UNIX)
+  option(ENABLE_XDG_DIRS "Enable storage according to XDG specification" ON)
+endif()
+if (SYSTEM_DATA_PATH)
+  add_compile_definitions(SYSTEM_DATA_PATH=\"${SYSTEM_DATA_PATH}\")
+endif()
+
 # input backends
 if (WIN32)
 	option(ENABLE_XINPUT "Enables the usage of XInput" ON)
@@ -133,6 +140,10 @@ if (ENABLE_CUBEB)
 	add_compile_definitions("HAS_CUBEB=1")
 endif()
 
+if (ENABLE_XDG_DIRS)
+  add_compile_definitions(XDG)
+endif()
+
 add_subdirectory("dependencies/ih264d" EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 
 find_package(ZArchive)
diff --git a/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp b/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp
index f370c81..55fc824 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ OnlineValidator Account::ValidateOnlineFiles() const
 {
 	OnlineValidator result{};
 	
-	const auto otp = ActiveSettings::GetPath("otp.bin");
+	const auto otp = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("otp.bin");
 	if (!fs::exists(otp))
 		result.otp = OnlineValidator::FileState::Missing;
 	else if (fs::file_size(otp) != 1024)
@@ -432,7 +432,7 @@ OnlineValidator Account::ValidateOnlineFiles() const
 	else
 		result.otp = OnlineValidator::FileState::Ok;
 	
-	const auto seeprom = ActiveSettings::GetPath("seeprom.bin");
+	const auto seeprom = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("seeprom.bin");
 	if (!fs::exists(seeprom))
 		result.seeprom = OnlineValidator::FileState::Missing;
 	else if (fs::file_size(seeprom) != 512)
diff --git a/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp b/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp
index bfa5d82..50f46d1 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ uint32 loadSharedData()
 	for (sint32 i = 0; i < sizeof(shareddataDef) / sizeof(shareddataDef[0]); i++)
 	{
 		bool existsInMLC = fs::exists(ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath(shareddataDef[i].mlcPath));
-		bool existsInResources = fs::exists(ActiveSettings::GetPath(shareddataDef[i].resourcePath));
+		bool existsInResources = fs::exists(ActiveSettings::GetSystemDataPath(shareddataDef[i].resourcePath));
 
 		if (!existsInMLC && !existsInResources)
 		{
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ uint32 loadSharedData()
 			// alternatively fall back to our shared fonts
 			if (!fontFile)
 			{
-				path = ActiveSettings::GetPath(shareddataDef[i].resourcePath);
+				path = ActiveSettings::GetSystemDataPath(shareddataDef[i].resourcePath);
 				fontFile = FileStream::openFile2(path);
 			}
 			if (!fontFile)
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ uint32 loadSharedData()
 		return memory_getVirtualOffsetFromPointer(dataWritePtr);
 	}
 	// alternative method: load RAM dump
-	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shareddata.bin");
+	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetSystemDataPath("shareddata.bin");
 	FileStream* ramDumpFile = FileStream::openFile2(path);
 	if (ramDumpFile)
 	{
diff --git a/src/Cafe/Filesystem/FST/KeyCache.cpp b/src/Cafe/Filesystem/FST/KeyCache.cpp
index 7fedc3d..124611f 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/Filesystem/FST/KeyCache.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/Filesystem/FST/KeyCache.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ void KeyCache_Prepare()
 	sKeyCachePrepared = true;
 	g_keyCache.clear();
 	// load keys
-	auto keysPath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("keys.txt");
+	auto keysPath = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("keys.txt");
 	FileStream* fs_keys = FileStream::openFile2(keysPath);
 	if( !fs_keys )
 	{
diff --git a/src/Cafe/GameProfile/GameProfile.cpp b/src/Cafe/GameProfile/GameProfile.cpp
index d3e930e..85de1f4 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/GameProfile/GameProfile.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/GameProfile/GameProfile.cpp
@@ -180,12 +180,12 @@ void gameProfile_load()
 
 bool GameProfile::Load(uint64_t title_id)
 {
-	auto gameProfilePath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("gameProfiles/{:016x}.ini", title_id);
+	auto gameProfilePath = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("gameProfiles/{:016x}.ini", title_id);
 
 	std::optional<std::vector<uint8>> profileContents = FileStream::LoadIntoMemory(gameProfilePath);
 	if (!profileContents)
 	{
-		gameProfilePath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("gameProfiles/default/{:016x}.ini", title_id);
+		gameProfilePath = ActiveSettings::GetSystemDataPath("gameProfiles/default/{:016x}.ini", title_id);
 		profileContents = FileStream::LoadIntoMemory(gameProfilePath);
 		if (!profileContents)
 			return false;
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ bool GameProfile::Load(uint64_t title_id)
 
 void GameProfile::Save(uint64_t title_id)
 {
-	auto gameProfilePath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("gameProfiles/{:016x}.ini", title_id);
+	auto gameProfilePath = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("gameProfiles/{:016x}.ini", title_id);
 	FileStream* fs = FileStream::createFile2(gameProfilePath);
 	if (!fs)
 	{
diff --git a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp
index 41e33a1..38e52bb 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ void GraphicPack2::LoadGraphicPack(fs::path graphicPackPath)
 void GraphicPack2::LoadAll()
 {
 	std::error_code ec;
-	fs::path basePath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("graphicPacks");
+	fs::path basePath = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("graphicPacks");
 	for (fs::recursive_directory_iterator it(basePath, ec); it != end(it); ++it)
 	{
 		if (!it->is_directory(ec))
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp
index ebf425b..7ad99e4 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp
@@ -197,17 +197,17 @@ void LatteShaderCache_load()
 	LatteShaderCache_initCompileQueue();
 	// create directories
 	std::error_code ec;
-	fs::create_directories(ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/transferable"), ec);
-	fs::create_directories(ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/precompiled"), ec);
+	fs::create_directories(ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/transferable"), ec);
+	fs::create_directories(ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/precompiled"), ec);
 	// initialize renderer specific caches
 	if (g_renderer->GetType() == RendererAPI::Vulkan)
 		RendererShaderVk::ShaderCacheLoading_begin(cacheTitleId);
 	else if (g_renderer->GetType() == RendererAPI::OpenGL)
 		RendererShaderGL::ShaderCacheLoading_begin(cacheTitleId);
 	// get cache file name
-	const auto pathGeneric = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/transferable/{:016x}_shaders.bin", cacheTitleId);
-	const auto pathGenericPre1_25_0 = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/transferable/{:016x}.bin", cacheTitleId); // before 1.25.0
-	const auto pathGenericPre1_16_0 = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/transferable/{:08x}.bin", CafeSystem::GetRPXHashBase()); // before 1.16.0
+	const auto pathGeneric = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/transferable/{:016x}_shaders.bin", cacheTitleId);
+	const auto pathGenericPre1_25_0 = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/transferable/{:016x}.bin", cacheTitleId); // before 1.25.0
+	const auto pathGenericPre1_16_0 = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/transferable/{:08x}.bin", CafeSystem::GetRPXHashBase()); // before 1.16.0
 
 	LatteShaderCache_handleDeprecatedCacheFiles(pathGeneric, pathGenericPre1_25_0, pathGenericPre1_16_0);
 	// calculate extraVersion for transferable and precompiled shader cache
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/OpenGL/RendererShaderGL.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/OpenGL/RendererShaderGL.cpp
index e9e86f5..dc088ae 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/OpenGL/RendererShaderGL.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/OpenGL/RendererShaderGL.cpp
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ void RendererShaderGL::ShaderCacheLoading_begin(uint64 cacheTitleId)
 	{
 		const uint32 cacheMagic = GeneratePrecompiledCacheId();
 		const std::string cacheFilename = fmt::format("{:016x}_gl.bin", cacheTitleId);
-		const std::wstring cachePath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/precompiled/{}", cacheFilename).generic_wstring();
+		const std::wstring cachePath = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/precompiled/{}", cacheFilename).generic_wstring();
 		g_programBinaryCache = FileCache::Open(cachePath, true, cacheMagic);
 		if (g_programBinaryCache == nullptr)
 			cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "Unable to open OpenGL precompiled cache {}", cacheFilename);
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Renderer.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Renderer.cpp
index c7f7b81..366ce54 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Renderer.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ void Renderer::SaveScreenshot(const std::vector<uint8>& rgb_data, int width, int
 		// save to png file
 		if (save_screenshot)
 		{
-			fs::path screendir = ActiveSettings::GetPath("screenshots");
+			fs::path screendir = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("screenshots");
 			if (!fs::exists(screendir))
 				fs::create_directory(screendir);
 
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/RendererShaderVk.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/RendererShaderVk.cpp
index 7af5204..703c92d 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/RendererShaderVk.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/RendererShaderVk.cpp
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ void RendererShaderVk::ShaderCacheLoading_begin(uint64 cacheTitleId)
 	}
 	uint32 spirvCacheMagic = GeneratePrecompiledCacheId();
 	const std::string cacheFilename = fmt::format("{:016x}_spirv.bin", cacheTitleId);
-	const std::wstring cachePath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/precompiled/{}", cacheFilename).generic_wstring();
+	const std::wstring cachePath = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/precompiled/{}", cacheFilename).generic_wstring();
 	s_spirvCache = FileCache::Open(cachePath, true, spirvCacheMagic);
 	if (s_spirvCache == nullptr)
 		cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "Unable to open SPIR-V cache {}", cacheFilename);
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanPipelineStableCache.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanPipelineStableCache.cpp
index 50d5a25..b86b0a5 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanPipelineStableCache.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanPipelineStableCache.cpp
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ VulkanPipelineStableCache& VulkanPipelineStableCache::GetInstance()
 uint32 VulkanPipelineStableCache::BeginLoading(uint64 cacheTitleId)
 {
 	std::error_code ec;
-	fs::create_directories(ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/transferable"), ec);
-	const auto pathCacheFile = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/transferable/{:016x}_vkpipeline.bin", cacheTitleId);
+	fs::create_directories(ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/transferable"), ec);
+	const auto pathCacheFile = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/transferable/{:016x}_vkpipeline.bin", cacheTitleId);
 	
 	// init cache loader state
 	g_vkCacheState.pipelineLoadIndex = 0;
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanRenderer.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanRenderer.cpp
index 7c81a3c..8cf1f12 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Renderer/Vulkan/VulkanRenderer.cpp
@@ -2305,7 +2305,7 @@ void VulkanRenderer::WaitCommandBufferFinished(uint64 commandBufferId)
 
 void VulkanRenderer::PipelineCacheSaveThread(size_t cache_size)
 {
-	const auto dir = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/driver/vk");
+	const auto dir = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/driver/vk");
 	if (!fs::exists(dir))
 	{
 		try
@@ -2382,7 +2382,7 @@ void VulkanRenderer::PipelineCacheSaveThread(size_t cache_size)
 void VulkanRenderer::CreatePipelineCache()
 {
 	std::vector<uint8_t> cacheData;
-	const auto dir = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/driver/vk");
+	const auto dir = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/driver/vk");
 	if (fs::exists(dir))
 	{
 		const auto filename = dir / fmt::format("{:016x}.bin", CafeSystem::GetForegroundTitleId());
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp
index 87bf572..10d69ef 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ void memory_writeDumpFile(uint32 startAddr, uint32 size, const fs::path& path)
 void memory_createDump()
 {
 	const uint32 pageSize = MemMapper::GetPageSize();
-	fs::path path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("dump/ramDump{:}", (uint32)time(nullptr));
+	fs::path path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("dump/ramDump{:}", (uint32)time(nullptr));
 	fs::create_directories(path);
 
 	for (auto& itr : g_mmuRanges)
diff --git a/src/Cafe/IOSU/legacy/iosu_crypto.cpp b/src/Cafe/IOSU/legacy/iosu_crypto.cpp
index 0433995..ef30a2b 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/IOSU/legacy/iosu_crypto.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/IOSU/legacy/iosu_crypto.cpp
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ void iosuCrypto_loadSSLCertificates()
 void iosuCrypto_init()
 {
 	// load OTP dump
-	if (std::ifstream otp_file(ActiveSettings::GetPath("otp.bin"), std::ifstream::in | std::ios::binary); otp_file.is_open())
+	if (std::ifstream otp_file(ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("otp.bin"), std::ifstream::in | std::ios::binary); otp_file.is_open())
 	{
 		otp_file.seekg(0, std::ifstream::end);
 		const auto length = otp_file.tellg();
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ void iosuCrypto_init()
 		hasOtpMem = false;
 	}
 
-	if (std::ifstream seeprom_file(ActiveSettings::GetPath("seeprom.bin"), std::ifstream::in | std::ios::binary); seeprom_file.is_open())
+	if (std::ifstream seeprom_file(ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("seeprom.bin"), std::ifstream::in | std::ios::binary); seeprom_file.is_open())
 	{
 		seeprom_file.seekg(0, std::ifstream::end);
 		const auto length = seeprom_file.tellg();
@@ -630,13 +630,13 @@ sint32 iosuCrypt_checkRequirementsForOnlineMode(std::wstring& additionalErrorInf
 {
 	std::error_code ec;
 	// check if otp.bin is present
-	const auto otp_file = ActiveSettings::GetPath("otp.bin");
+	const auto otp_file = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("otp.bin");
 	if(!fs::exists(otp_file, ec))
 		return IOS_CRYPTO_ONLINE_REQ_OTP_MISSING;
 	if(fs::file_size(otp_file, ec) != 1024)
 		return IOS_CRYPTO_ONLINE_REQ_OTP_CORRUPTED;
 	// check if seeprom.bin is present
-	const auto seeprom_file = ActiveSettings::GetPath("seeprom.bin");
+	const auto seeprom_file = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("seeprom.bin");
 	if (!fs::exists(seeprom_file, ec))
 		return IOS_CRYPTO_ONLINE_REQ_SEEPROM_MISSING;
 	if (fs::file_size(seeprom_file, ec) != 512)
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp b/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp
index 90f9225..40c8e42 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp
@@ -2122,7 +2122,7 @@ void RPLLoader_LoadDependency(rplDependency_t* dependency)
 	// attempt to load rpl from Cemu's /cafeLibs/ directory
 	if (ActiveSettings::LoadSharedLibrariesEnabled())
 	{
-		const auto filePath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("cafeLibs/{}", dependency->filepath);
+		const auto filePath = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("cafeLibs/{}", dependency->filepath);
 		auto fileData = FileStream::LoadIntoMemory(filePath);
 		if (fileData)
 		{
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_FS.cpp b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_FS.cpp
index 3d13fdb..fb72ca8 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_FS.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_FS.cpp
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ namespace coreinit
 			return;
 
 		std::error_code ec;
-		const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("sdcard/");
+		const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("sdcard/");
 		fs::create_directories(path, ec);
 		FSCDeviceHostFS_Mount("/vol/external01", path.generic_wstring().c_str() , FSC_PRIORITY_BASE);
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ namespace coreinit
 				return FS_RESULT::ERR_PLACEHOLDER;
 
 			std::error_code ec;
-			const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("sdcard/");
+			const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("sdcard/");
 			fs::create_directories(path, ec);
 			if (!FSCDeviceHostFS_Mount(mountPathOut, path.generic_wstring().c_str(), FSC_PRIORITY_BASE))
 				return FS_RESULT::ERR_PLACEHOLDER;
diff --git a/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.cpp b/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.cpp
index f58e798..6d403de 100644
--- a/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.cpp
+++ b/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ void cemuLog_createLogFile(bool triggeredByCrash)
 	if (LogContext.file_stream.is_open())
 		return;
 
-	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("log.txt");
+	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("log.txt");
 	LogContext.file_stream.open(path, std::ios::out);
 	if (LogContext.file_stream.fail())
 	{
diff --git a/src/Common/ExceptionHandler/ExceptionHandler_win32.cpp b/src/Common/ExceptionHandler/ExceptionHandler_win32.cpp
index 25dca26..9f38cdd 100644
--- a/src/Common/ExceptionHandler/ExceptionHandler_win32.cpp
+++ b/src/Common/ExceptionHandler/ExceptionHandler_win32.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ bool CreateMiniDump(CrashDump dump, EXCEPTION_POINTERS* pep)
 	if (dump == CrashDump::Disabled)
 		return true;
 
-	fs::path p = ActiveSettings::GetPath("crashdump");
+	fs::path p = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("crashdump");
 
 	std::error_code ec;
 	fs::create_directories(p, ec);
@@ -356,11 +356,11 @@ void createCrashlog(EXCEPTION_POINTERS* e, PCONTEXT context)
 		const auto temp_time = std::chrono::system_clock::to_time_t(now);
 		const auto& time = *std::gmtime(&temp_time);
 
-		fs::path p = ActiveSettings::GetPath("crashdump");
+		fs::path p = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("crashdump");
 		p /= fmt::format("log_{:04d}{:02d}{:02d}_{:02d}{:02d}{:02d}.txt", 1900 + time.tm_year, time.tm_mon + 1, time.tm_mday, time.tm_year, time.tm_hour, time.tm_min, time.tm_sec);
 
 		std::error_code ec;
-		fs::copy_file(ActiveSettings::GetPath("log.txt"), p, ec);
+		fs::copy_file(ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("log.txt"), p, ec);
 	}
 
 	exit(0);
diff --git a/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp b/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp
index c7ff4fe..23bc364 100644
--- a/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ void ActiveSettings::LoadOnce()
 	s_path = s_full_path.parent_path();
 	s_filename = s_full_path.filename();
 
-	g_config.SetFilename(GetPath("settings.xml").generic_wstring());
+	g_config.SetFilename(GetConfigPath("settings.xml").generic_wstring());
 	g_config.Load();
 
 	std::wstring additionalErrorInfo;
@@ -220,8 +220,59 @@ fs::path ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath()
 	return GetDefaultMLCPath();
 }
 
-fs::path ActiveSettings::GetDefaultMLCPath()
+#ifdef XDG
+std::string ActiveSettings::GetXDGPath(const char* envVar, const std::string& defaultValue)
+{
+	auto raw_value = std::getenv(envVar);
+	return !raw_value || std::strlen(raw_value) == 0 ? defaultValue : std::string(raw_value);
+}
+#endif
+
+fs::path ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath()
+{
+#ifdef XDG
+	auto config_home = GetXDGPath("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", fmt::format("{}/.config", std::getenv("HOME")));
+	auto dir = fs::path(fmt::format("{}/cemu", config_home));
+	if (!fs::exists(dir))
+		fs::create_directories(dir);
+	return dir;
+#endif
+	return s_full_path;
+}
+
+fs::path ActiveSettings::GetCachePath()
+{
+#ifdef XDG
+	auto config_home = GetXDGPath("XDG_CACHE_HOME", fmt::format("{}/.cache", std::getenv("HOME")));
+	auto dir = fs::path(fmt::format("{}/cemu", config_home));
+	if (!fs::exists(dir))
+		fs::create_directories(dir);
+	return dir;
+#endif
+	return s_full_path;
+}
+
+fs::path ActiveSettings::GetDataPath()
+{
+#ifdef XDG
+	auto config_home = GetXDGPath("XDG_DATA_HOME", fmt::format("{}/.local/share", std::getenv("HOME")));
+	auto dir = fs::path(fmt::format("{}/cemu", config_home));
+	if (!fs::exists(dir))
+		fs::create_directories(dir);
+	return dir;
+#endif
+	return s_full_path;
+}
+
+fs::path ActiveSettings::GetSystemDataPath()
 {
-	return GetPath("mlc01");
+#ifdef SYSTEM_DATA_PATH
+	return fs::path(SYSTEM_DATA_PATH);
+#endif
+	return s_full_path;
 }
 
+fs::path ActiveSettings::GetDefaultMLCPath()
+{
+	return GetDataPath("mlc01");
+}
diff --git a/src/config/ActiveSettings.h b/src/config/ActiveSettings.h
index 95ceae1..c47ebeb 100644
--- a/src/config/ActiveSettings.h
+++ b/src/config/ActiveSettings.h
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ public:
 	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetFilename() { return s_filename; }
 	
 	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetMlcPath();
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetCachePath();
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetConfigPath();
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetDataPath();
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetSystemDataPath();
+	[[nodiscard]] static std::string GetXDGPath(const char* envVar, const std::string& defaultValue);
 
 	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetPath(std::string_view p) 
 	{
@@ -57,6 +62,62 @@ public:
 		return GetMlcPath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
 	}
 	
+	template <typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetCachePath(std::string_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetCachePath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
+	template <typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetCachePath(std::wstring_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetCachePath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
+	template <typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetConfigPath(std::string_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetConfigPath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
+	template <typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetConfigPath(std::wstring_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetConfigPath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
+	template <typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetDataPath(std::string_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetDataPath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
+	template <typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetDataPath(std::wstring_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetDataPath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
+	template<typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetSystemDataPath(std::string_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetSystemDataPath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
+	template<typename ...TArgs>
+	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetSystemDataPath(std::wstring_view format, TArgs&&... args)
+	{
+		cemu_assert_debug(format.empty() || (format[0] != L'/' && format[0] != L'\\'));
+		return GetSystemDataPath() / fmt::format(fmt::runtime(format), std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
+	}
+
 	// get mlc path to default cemu root dir/mlc01
 	[[nodiscard]] static fs::path GetDefaultMLCPath();
 
@@ -126,4 +187,3 @@ private:
 
 	inline static bool s_has_required_online_files = false;
 };
-
diff --git a/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp b/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp
index e78b30b..b1a72b0 100644
--- a/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ bool CemuApp::OnInit()
 
 	Bind(wxEVT_ACTIVATE_APP, &CemuApp::ActivateApp, this);
 
-	if (!TestWriteAccess(ActiveSettings::GetPath()))
+	if (!TestWriteAccess(ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath()))
 		wxMessageBox(_("Cemu can't write to its directory.\nPlease move it to a different location or run Cemu as administrator!"), _("Warning"), wxOK | wxCENTRE | wxICON_EXCLAMATION, nullptr);
 
 	auto& config = GetConfig();
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ int CemuApp::FilterEvent(wxEvent& event)
 
 std::vector<const wxLanguageInfo*> CemuApp::GetAvailableLanguages()
 {
-	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("resources");
+	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetSystemDataPath("resources");
 	if (!exists(path))
 		return {};
 	
@@ -308,11 +308,15 @@ void CemuApp::CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start)
 	// cemu directories
 	try
 	{
-		const auto controllerProfileFolder = GetCemuPath(L"controllerProfiles").ToStdWstring();
+		const auto controllerProfileFolder = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(L"controllerProfiles").generic_wstring();
 		if (!fs::exists(controllerProfileFolder))
 			fs::create_directories(controllerProfileFolder);
 
-		const auto memorySearcherFolder = GetCemuPath(L"memorySearcher").ToStdWstring();
+		const auto gameProfileFolder = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(L"gameProfiles").generic_wstring();
+		if (!fs::exists(gameProfileFolder))
+			fs::create_directories(gameProfileFolder);
+
+		const auto memorySearcherFolder = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(L"memorySearcher").generic_wstring();
 		if (!fs::exists(memorySearcherFolder))
 			fs::create_directories(memorySearcherFolder);
 	}
@@ -399,4 +403,3 @@ void CemuApp::ActivateApp(wxActivateEvent& event)
 	event.Skip();
 }
 
-
diff --git a/src/gui/ChecksumTool.cpp b/src/gui/ChecksumTool.cpp
index 74422c9..9787ffd 100644
--- a/src/gui/ChecksumTool.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/ChecksumTool.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ ChecksumTool::ChecksumTool(wxWindow* parent, wxTitleManagerList::TitleEntry& ent
 				const auto title_id_str = fmt::format("{:016x}", m_json_entry.title_id);
 				const auto default_file = fmt::format("{}_v{}.json", title_id_str, m_info.GetAppTitleVersion());
 
-				const auto checksum_path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("resources/checksums/{}", default_file);
+				const auto checksum_path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("resources/checksums/{}", default_file);
 				if (exists(checksum_path))
 					m_verify_online->Enable();
 			}
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ void ChecksumTool::LoadOnlineData() const
 
 		std::string latest_commit;
 
-		const auto checksum_path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("resources/checksums");
+		const auto checksum_path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("resources/checksums");
 		if (exists(checksum_path))
 		{
 			std::string current_commit;
@@ -593,7 +593,7 @@ void ChecksumTool::OnVerifyOnline(wxCommandEvent& event)
 	const auto title_id_str = fmt::format("{:016x}", m_json_entry.title_id);
 	const auto default_file = fmt::format("{}_v{}.json", title_id_str, m_info.GetAppTitleVersion());
 	
-	const auto checksum_path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("resources/checksums/{}", default_file);
+	const auto checksum_path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("resources/checksums/{}", default_file);
 	if(!exists(checksum_path))
 		return;
 	
diff --git a/src/gui/DownloadGraphicPacksWindow.cpp b/src/gui/DownloadGraphicPacksWindow.cpp
index 28e5bf6..6811b99 100644
--- a/src/gui/DownloadGraphicPacksWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/DownloadGraphicPacksWindow.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ bool DownloadGraphicPacksWindow::curlDownloadFile(const char *url, curlDownloadF
 bool checkGraphicPackDownloadedVersion(const char* nameVersion, bool& hasVersionFile)
 {
 	hasVersionFile = false;
-	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks/version.txt");
+	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks/version.txt");
 	std::unique_ptr<FileStream> file(FileStream::openFile2(path));
 
 	std::string versionInFile;
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ bool checkGraphicPackDownloadedVersion(const char* nameVersion, bool& hasVersion
 
 void createGraphicPackDownloadedVersionFile(const char* nameVersion)
 {
-	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks/version.txt");
+	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks/version.txt");
 	std::unique_ptr<FileStream> file(FileStream::createFile2(path));
 	if (file)
 		file->writeString(nameVersion);
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ void createGraphicPackDownloadedVersionFile(const char* nameVersion)
 
 void deleteDownloadedGraphicPacks()
 {
-	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks");
+	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks");
 	std::error_code er;
 	if (!fs::exists(path, er))
 		return;
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ void DownloadGraphicPacksWindow::UpdateThread()
 		return;
 	}
 
-	auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks");
+	auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks");
 	std::error_code er;
 	//fs::remove_all(path, er); -> Don't delete the whole folder and recreate it immediately afterwards because sometimes it just fails
 	deleteDownloadedGraphicPacks();
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ void DownloadGraphicPacksWindow::UpdateThread()
 			std::strstr(sb.name, "..\\") != nullptr)
 			continue; // bad path
 
-		path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks/{}", sb.name);
+		path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath("graphicPacks/downloadedGraphicPacks/{}", sb.name);
 
 		size_t sbNameLen = strlen(sb.name);
 		if(sbNameLen == 0)
diff --git a/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp b/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
index 8f26f81..2fb052e 100644
--- a/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -997,7 +997,7 @@ void MainWindow::OnDebugSetting(wxCommandEvent& event)
 		{
 			try
 			{
-				const auto path = CemuApp::GetCemuPath(L"dump\\curl").ToStdWstring();
+				const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath(L"dump/curl").generic_wstring();
 				fs::create_directories(path);
 			}
 			catch (const std::exception& ex)
@@ -1054,8 +1054,8 @@ void MainWindow::OnDebugDumpUsedTextures(wxCommandEvent& event)
 		try
 		{
 			// create directory
-			const auto path = CemuApp::GetCemuPath(L"dump\\textures");
-			fs::create_directories(path.ToStdWstring());
+			const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath(L"dump/textures");
+			fs::create_directories(path.generic_wstring());
 		}
 		catch (const std::exception& ex)
 		{
@@ -1075,8 +1075,8 @@ void MainWindow::OnDebugDumpUsedShaders(wxCommandEvent& event)
 		try
 		{
 			// create directory
-			const auto path = CemuApp::GetCemuPath(L"dump\\shaders");
-			fs::create_directories(path.ToStdWstring());
+			const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetDataPath(L"dump/shaders");
+			fs::create_directories(path.generic_wstring());
 		}
 		catch (const std::exception & ex)
 		{
diff --git a/src/gui/MemorySearcherTool.cpp b/src/gui/MemorySearcherTool.cpp
index c7c6c73..3ecfff5 100644
--- a/src/gui/MemorySearcherTool.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/MemorySearcherTool.cpp
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ void MemorySearcherTool::OnFilter(wxCommandEvent& event)
 
 void MemorySearcherTool::Load()
 {
-	const auto memorySearcherPath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("memorySearcher/{:016x}.ini", CafeSystem::GetForegroundTitleId());
+	const auto memorySearcherPath = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("memorySearcher/{:016x}.ini", CafeSystem::GetForegroundTitleId());
 	auto memSearcherIniContents = FileStream::LoadIntoMemory(memorySearcherPath);
 	if (!memSearcherIniContents)
 		return;
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ void MemorySearcherTool::Load()
 
 void MemorySearcherTool::Save()
 {
-	const auto memorySearcherPath = ActiveSettings::GetPath("memorySearcher/{:016x}.ini", CafeSystem::GetForegroundTitleId());
+	const auto memorySearcherPath = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("memorySearcher/{:016x}.ini", CafeSystem::GetForegroundTitleId());
 	FileStream* fs = FileStream::createFile2(memorySearcherPath);
 	if (fs)
 	{
diff --git a/src/gui/debugger/DebuggerWindow2.cpp b/src/gui/debugger/DebuggerWindow2.cpp
index cca9bfb..e31031d 100644
--- a/src/gui/debugger/DebuggerWindow2.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/debugger/DebuggerWindow2.cpp
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ DebuggerWindow2::DebuggerWindow2(wxFrame& parent, const wxRect& display_size)
 {
 	this->wxWindowBase::SetBackgroundColour(*wxWHITE);
 
-	const auto file = ActiveSettings::GetPath("debugger/config.xml");
+	const auto file = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("debugger/config.xml");
 	m_config.SetFilename(file.generic_wstring());
 	m_config.Load();
 
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ bool DebuggerWindow2::Show(bool show)
 std::wstring DebuggerWindow2::GetModuleStoragePath(std::string module_name, uint32_t crc_hash) const
 {
 	if (module_name.empty() || crc_hash == 0) return std::wstring();
-	return ActiveSettings::GetPath("debugger/{}_{:#10x}.xml", module_name, crc_hash).generic_wstring();
+	return ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("debugger/{}_{:#10x}.xml", module_name, crc_hash).generic_wstring();
 }
 
 void DebuggerWindow2::OnBreakpointHit(wxCommandEvent& event)
diff --git a/src/gui/input/InputSettings2.cpp b/src/gui/input/InputSettings2.cpp
index 5793cbd..e48d2a2 100644
--- a/src/gui/input/InputSettings2.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/input/InputSettings2.cpp
@@ -669,10 +669,10 @@ void InputSettings2::on_profile_delete(wxCommandEvent& event)
 	}
 	try
 	{
-		const fs::path old_path = ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/{}.txt", selection));
+		const fs::path old_path = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/{}.txt", selection));
 		fs::remove(old_path);
 
-		const fs::path path = ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/{}.xml", selection));
+		const fs::path path = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/{}.xml", selection));
 		fs::remove(path);
 
 		profile_names->ChangeValue(kDefaultProfileName);
diff --git a/src/input/InputManager.cpp b/src/input/InputManager.cpp
index 4ae43ce..852c918 100644
--- a/src/input/InputManager.cpp
+++ b/src/input/InputManager.cpp
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ bool InputManager::load(size_t player_index, std::string_view filename)
 {
 	fs::path file_path;
 	if (filename.empty())
-		file_path = ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}", player_index));
+		file_path = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}", player_index));
 	else
-		file_path = ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/{}", filename));
+		file_path = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/{}", filename));
 
 	auto old_file = file_path;
 	old_file.replace_extension(".txt"); // test .txt extension
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ bool InputManager::save(size_t player_index, std::string_view filename)
 	if (!emulated_controller)
 		return false;
 
-	fs::path file_path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("controllerProfiles");
+	fs::path file_path = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("controllerProfiles");
 	fs::create_directories(file_path);
 
 	const auto is_default_file = filename.empty();
@@ -664,8 +664,8 @@ EmulatedControllerPtr InputManager::delete_controller(size_t player_index, bool
 			if(delete_profile)
 			{
 				std::error_code ec{};
-				fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.xml", player_index)), ec);
-				fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.txt", player_index)), ec);
+				fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.xml", player_index)), ec);
+				fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.txt", player_index)), ec);
 			}
 
 			return result;
@@ -680,8 +680,8 @@ EmulatedControllerPtr InputManager::delete_controller(size_t player_index, bool
 			controller = {};
 
 			std::error_code ec{};
-			fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.xml", player_index)), ec);
-			fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.txt", player_index)), ec);
+			fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.xml", player_index)), ec);
+			fs::remove(ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(fmt::format("controllerProfiles/controller{}.txt", player_index)), ec);
 
 			return result;
 		}
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ void InputManager::apply_game_profile()
 
 std::vector<std::string> InputManager::get_profiles()
 {
-	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("controllerProfiles");
+	const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("controllerProfiles");
 	if (!exists(path))
 		return {};
 
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index f94b276..fb8baec 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ void _putenvSafe(const char* c)
 void reconfigureGLDrivers()
 {
 	// reconfigure GL drivers to store 
-	const fs::path nvCacheDir = ActiveSettings::GetPath("shaderCache/driver/nvidia/");
+	const fs::path nvCacheDir = ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("shaderCache/driver/nvidia/");
 
 	std::error_code err;
 	fs::create_directories(nvCacheDir, err);
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ void unitTests()
 
 int mainEmulatorHLE()
 {
-	if (!TestWriteAccess(ActiveSettings::GetPath()))
+	if (!TestWriteAccess(ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath()))
 		wxMessageBox("Cemu doesn't have write access to it's own directory.\nPlease move it to a different location or run Cemu as administrator!", "Warning", wxOK|wxICON_ERROR); // todo - different error messages per OS
 	LatteOverlay_init();
 	// run a couple of tests if in non-release mode
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ int mainEmulatorHLE()
 	// init Cafe system (todo - the stuff above should be part of this too)
 	CafeSystem::Initialize();
 	// init title list
-	CafeTitleList::Initialize(ActiveSettings::GetPath("title_list_cache.xml"));
+	CafeTitleList::Initialize(ActiveSettings::GetCachePath("title_list_cache.xml"));
 	for (auto& it : GetConfig().game_paths)
 		CafeTitleList::AddScanPath(it);
 	fs::path mlcPath = ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath();
diff --git a/src/util/libusbWrapper/libusbWrapper.cpp b/src/util/libusbWrapper/libusbWrapper.cpp
index e1d7298..6e498c8 100644
--- a/src/util/libusbWrapper/libusbWrapper.cpp
+++ b/src/util/libusbWrapper/libusbWrapper.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ void libusbWrapper::init()
 	m_module = LoadLibraryW(L"libusb-1.0.dll");
 	if (!m_module)
 	{
-		const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetPath("resources/libusb-1.0.dll");
+		const auto path = ActiveSettings::GetSystemDataPath("resources/libusb-1.0.dll");
 		m_module = LoadLibraryW(path.generic_wstring().c_str());
 		if (!m_module)
 		{