PlayStation 2 emulators

PlayStation 2

Developer	Sony
Type	Home video game console
Generation	Sixth generation
Release date	2000
Discontinued	2013
Predecessor	PlayStation
Successor	PlayStation 3
Emulated	✓

For other emulators that run on PS2 hardware, see Emulators on PS2.

The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a sixth-generation console released by Sony on October 26, 2000, and it was retailed for $299.99. It has the Emotion Engine CPU based on the MIPS R5900 at 300 MHz with 32 MBs of RDRAM system memory and 4 MBs of eDRAM (VRAM). Its GPU was a custom Graphics Synthesizer, which ran at 150 MHz. It became the highest-selling console of all time, with over 155 million units sold.

Announced in 1999, Sony began developing the console after the immense success of its predecessor. The PS2 offered backward-compatibility for its predecessor's DualShock controller, as well as its games.

The PlayStation 2 received widespread critical acclaim upon release. A total of over 4,000 game titles were released worldwide, with over 1.5 billion copies sold. In 2004, Sony released a smaller, lighter revision of the console known as the PS2 Slim. Even after the release of its successor, the PlayStation 3, it remained popular well into the seventh generation. It continued to be produced until 2013 when Sony finally announced that it had been discontinued after over twelve years of production, one of the longest lifespans of any video game console. By the end of its life, two new games were launched posthumously for the console.

Emulators

Name	Platform(s)	Latest version	Arcade Variations	PSX	Texture replacement	Retro Achievements	FLOSS	Active	Recommended
Desktop
PCSX2		Nightly LRPS2 wxWidgets-latest	~*	✗	✓*	~	✓	✓	✓
Play!		0.63 git libretro core	~*	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	~
AetherSX2		Builds	✗	✗	✓*	✓	✗	✗	~
hpsx64		v0430	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✗
DobieStation		git Builds	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗
orbum		git	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗
NeutrinoSX2 (nSX2)		0.08	✗	✗	✗	✗	✓	✗	✗
PS2emu		0.1	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗
Mobile / ARM
AetherSX2		1.5-4248 latest/alpha 1.5-3668 (no ads)	✗	✗	✓*	✓	✗	✗	✓
Play!		Builds libretro core	~*	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	~
DamonPS2		5.0	✗	✗	✗	✗	✗ *	✓	✗
Console
Official Sony emulators		FW 4.78	✗	✗	~	~	✗	✗	✓
XBSX2.0		git	✗	✗	?	?	✓	✓	✓
Play!		git (Switch) 2020(Vita Port)	~*	✗	✗	✗	✓	✓	✓
LRPS2_libretro		UWP libretro core	✗	✗	?	✗	✓	✓	✗
AetherSX2		Alpha	✗	✗	?	?	✓	✗	✗

Comparisons

PCSX2 (compatibility) (PlayStation 1 mode compatibility)

The first Playstation 2 emulator. Accuracy and performance has continuously improved during nightly builds. The emulator is capable of playing most titles without any major glitches however some titles needs software rendering to run without any major graphical issues. Beyond this PCSX2 supports lots of accessories and hardware features for the PlayStation 2.

For checking if your games work and any fixes, tweaks, or settings you should know beforehand. For more information regarding playability check these sources;

• PCSX2 GameDB (GameIndex)
• PCSX2 Wiki (Note that the wiki can contain outdated information. It is encouraged to do personal testing and contribute to the wiki)
• Official Compatibility List
• PCSX2 github issues

AetherSX2

A closed-source freeware emulator partially forked from PCSX2. It's designed to be optimal for ARM-based platforms, primarily those running Android.

It has multiple versions; The latest google play version which contains ads while an ad free Alpha version can be downloaded directly from the AetherSX2 website.

Play! (compatibility, compatibility#2)

Development is almost all done by the single maintainer jpd002. 942 (38%) out of 2490 tested titles are reported playable and supports Namco System 2x6. Also has a playable Android and iOS port.

DobieStation (compatibility)

Many titles can go ingame, focused on accuracy, and therefore inherently slower than Play! or PCSX2.

HPS2x64 (compatibility)

Can also run quite a few commercial games, but probably less so, and at slower speeds than Play!. It also emulates and focuses more on PlayStation emulation. There is also a mirror that has fixes done to it.

DamonPS2

Closed-source payware/malware emulator only for Android, illegally based on PCSX2, Play! and PPSSPP. It can hardly run any games and behaves very much like virus software. It is best NOT to use this emulator. DamonPS2 uses unnecessary DRM, making the emulator useless without an internet connection.

Hardware Features

Name	PCSX2	Play!	AetherSX2 XBSX2.0	Official Sony emulators
LAN tunneling	✓	TBD	~	✓*
i.LINK	✗*	✗	✗	✗
DVD Movies	✗	✗	✗	✓*
PlayStation and PocketStation	~*	✗*	~*	✓
PSP communication	✗*	✗	✗	✓
Pressure Sensitive Buttons	~	✗	?	✓

i.LINK

S400 Firewire cable for connecting two PS2 console together and play split screen on separate TVs. Not all games supported it and it was dropped in later versions of the console. Currently no emulators support it.

• Games that used the i.LINK cable
• i.Link Games

LAN tunneling

PlayStation 2 slim models Ethernet functionality of the Network Adaptor has been integrated onto the motherboard, slim models don't have an external interface to connect a Network Adapter. Over time, most game servers have been shut down. However, computer programs such as XBSlink, SVDL and XLink Kai allow users to achieve online play for some PS2 games by using a network configuration that simulates a worldwide LAN.

• PlayStation 2 LAN titles can be played online using the XLink Kai service. Some games only had LAN play available in specific regions.
• XLink Kai: PlayStation 2 supported games

Accessories

Name		PCSX2	Play!	AetherSX2 XBSX2.0	Official Sony emulators
Multitap		✓	TBD	TBD	✓
Network Adapter		✓	TBD	~	✓*
Hard Drive		~	TBD	TBD	TBD
USB Keyboard & Mouse		✓	TBD	TBD	✓
Audio	USB Headset	✓	TBD	TBD	✓
	SingStar Microphone	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
	Rock Band / Guitar Hero Konami USB Microphone	✗	✗	✗	TBD
WebCam	Konami Capture Eye	✓	TBD	TBD	TBD
	Sony EyeToy	✓	TBD	TBD	✓
LightGun	Konami Justifier/Hyper Blaster	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
	GunCon	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
	GunCon 2	✓*	TBD	TBD	✓
Controller	DJ Hero Turntable	✓*	TBD	TBD	TBD
	Buzz! Controller	✓*	TBD	TBD	TBD
	Densha de GO! (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
	Guitar	✓*	TBD	TBD	TBD
Motion	Gametrak	~*	TBD	TBD	TBD
	RealPlay	~*	TBD	TBD	TBD
Printer	GamePrint①	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
	GamePrint②	✗	✗	✗	TBD
	Epson printer	✗*	✗	✗	TBD
HMD	Sony PUD-J5A	✗	✗	✗	TBD
Storage	Generic Mass Storage	✓	✗	✗	TBD
	PictureParadise	✗	✗	✗	TBD

Network Adapter

The Network Adapter is a peripheral that is used to play PS2 games online (Network Play) via ethernet broadband or analog modem. Many games have been brought back due to servers run and operated by fans such as PS2Online and the SOCOM Community server;

• Private servers for PS2 online play
• List of games that supported the online functionality of the Sony PlayStation 2

  MAWK3: Most Active PlayStation 2 Online Games in 2023, How to Connect and Play Online on PlayStation 2 in 2023

For more information about other revive projects use this link.

EyeToy

The EyeToy is a device similar to a camera or a webcam. It's an accessory developed by Sony and manufactured by Logitech. It is used in some PS2 games to interact physically through motion detection. The EyeToy can be used on PC with unofficial drivers. It also works natively with the PS3.

PCSX2 is the only emulator that can emulate EyeToy mechanics in games.

USB plugin

Some PS2 games use a USB adapter with a module/dongle consisting of two jack ports for microphones. Installments from the SingStar series on the PS2 could use microphones (Sometimes bundled with these game discs) with this method.

These adapters could either formally or informally be called:

• SingStar USB Converter (Official)
• SingStar USB Converter Box (Official)
• SingStar USB Microphone Converter
• SingStar Microphone USB Adapter/Converter
• SingStar USB Converter Microphone Adapter

Steering wheels are also supported for many racing games via a USB adapter.

While PCSX2 isn't benefiting from a working USB plugin in its original release, Jackun, a PCSX2 plugin author, made a USB plugin that supports a microphone in most games and even a steering wheel for racing games. The plugin is still updated nowadays. A compatibility list of the working titles with this plugin can be found here.

Arcade variations

Konami Python 1/Konami Benami Python 1/Konami Python Satellite Terminal

There is no emulator for these systems at the moment.

Konami Python 2/Konami Benami Python 2

Konami Python 2 is a Konami arcade system based on PlayStation 2 hardware.

A fork of PCSX2 supports the emulation of the Konami Python 2 (Guide). This fork requires MagicGate key files into the bios folder (civ.bin, cks.bin, eks.bin, and kek.bin) and you must use "ps2-0190j-20030822.bin" BIOS.

MAME romsets of Python 2 games won't work on this fork as they are missing ILINK_ID files.

PCSX2's fork for Konami Python 2 does not and will never support Python 1 or system 246/256 games as those would require much more work than a simple USB device to make work. The MagicGate code being used in this fork also does not support memory card MagicGate encryption stuff properly (the memory card dongles used for Python 1 and System 246/256) so those platforms aren't really any closer to working compared to before.

Namco System 246 #1/Namco System 246 #2/Namco System 246 #3

Namco 246 is a series of Namco arcade system based on PlayStation 2 hardware, Featuring a MIPS II R3000A IOP Sub-CPU.

Play! supports the emulation of this hardware. Security dongle images and disc images have to be placed inside the arcaderoms subdirectory of Play! Data Files directory.

Notice that Play! is still in relatively early stages so the gaming experience might not be perfect. Feature request page for PCSX2.

Namco System 256 #1/Namco System 256 #2

Namco 256 is a series of Namco arcade system based on PlayStation 2 hardware, Featuring a MIPS II R3000A IOP Sub-CPU. System 256 comes with larger VRAM and overclocked CPU compared to System 246.

Play! supports the emulation of this hardware. Security dongle images and disc images have to be placed inside the arcaderoms subdirectory of Play! Data Files directory.

Notice that Play! is still in relatively early stages so the gaming experience might not be perfect. Feature request page for PCSX2.

Namco System Super 256

Play! supports the emulation of this hardware. Security dongle images and disc images have to be placed inside the arcaderoms subdirectory of Play! Data Files directory.

Notice that Play! is still in relatively early stages so the gaming experience might not be perfect. Feature request page for PCSX2.

Namco System 147

Currently, there is no emulator that supports this variation, however it is being worked on in Play! at the moment.

PSX

Not to be confused with the original PlayStation.

The PSX is a Sony digital video recorder with a fully integrated PS2 console. It was also the first device to use Sony's XrossMediaBar (XMB) graphical user interface, which was later used on the PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation 3, some Blu-ray Disc players, and 2008-era BRAVIA TVs.

None of the PSX features have been emulated yet.

Twitter user @DiscoStarslayer claims to be working on bypassing the HDD encryption of the PSX, which could result in this hardware being emulated, and it would allow for replacing the HDD in those consoles. This user also encourages dumping the content of the HDD of your PSX using a guide made by a PCSX2 contributor called 987123879113

Emulation issues

Despite a large interest in PlayStation 2 emulation due to its sizable collection of games, it is still one of the harder consoles to emulate for several reasons.

First of all, many people believe that since the main CPU (Emotion Engine) runs at a clock speed of 294 Mhz (299 Mhz on later revisions), it would make emulation easy on recent hardware. But this isn't the case because the clock speed of the emulated CPU is not necessarily indicative of the ease of emulation (e.g. Sega Saturn emulation). Specifically, the PlayStation 2's CPU contains a multitude of custom sub-components and chips such as the FPU co-processor, 2 Vector Units, IOP, SPU2, Graphics Synthesizer, and SIF which together work asynchronously to comprise the 128-bit Emotion Engine. Emulating them perfectly with correct timing requires an enormous amount of power. Moreover, the PlayStation 2, just like PlayStation 1, uses the MIPS architecture instead of standard x86 code, thus making emulation slower.

Another big problem is the emulation of PlayStation 2’s floating-point unit (FPU) because it doesn’t follow the IEEE standard. To keep it simple, just changing a couple of numbers will cause glitches to occur to the game’s graphic (VU) and logic (EE), resulting in things like broken AI, odd behaviors, and/or graphical bugs. While PCSX2 allows for either clamping/rounding on both VU and EE as a solution to fix these glitches, it remains by far not the most accurate way to emulate the PlayStation 2's FPU.

To conclude the problems with PlayStation 2 emulation, we come to hardware rendering. The PlayStation 2’s graphics pipeline acts very differently from modern GPU cards, and emulating it in HW mode with any degree of accuracy is difficult. This is due in part to the versatility of the PlayStation 2, the fact that it doesn’t use fixed shaders, or that even the games themselves do not use a consistent formula to achieve different graphical effects. Various emulation enhancements like display resolution scaling lead to the typical “black lines glitch” because of the use of a non-integer resolution. While the Vulkan and OpenGL renderer backends on PCSX2 greatly improved on many of these issues (nobody should be using D3D backends except for old Intel GPUs, because it's wrong by design until ROV PR merge), lots of games still require “software rendering” to fix many common glitches, which is significantly increases CPU ST performance requirement for the emulation and eliminating visual enhancement options.

In summary, The PlayStation 2 is a very complex machine that even game developers struggled to work with. It is difficult to achieve close-to-perfection PlayStation 2 emulation with actual PC hardware but thanks to PCSX2 team it's now possible.

For more information about PlayStation 2 hardware and reverse engineering;

• The PlayStation 2: From Emotion to Emulation - Celebrating 20 Years of Reverse Engineering
• MVG: Why was the Sony PlayStation 2 so hard to develop games for?, How the Sony Playstation 2 Security Was Defeated
• Rodrigo Copetti's PlayStation 2 Architecture Practical Analysis
• ps2tek: Documentation on PS2 internals
• PSDevWiki: PlayStation 2
• (Reddit Thread) ELI5: Why do PS2 emulation be like that?
• PCSX2 Discord server (For general and development discussions on PlayStation 2 emulation, especially for PCSX2)

External links

• PlayStation 2 DataCenter - Tons of PS2-related things. Emulator files like plugins, game manuals, game configurations, and many tutorials are just some of the things you'll find here.