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|release = November 2013

 {{for|other emulators that run on PS4 hardware|Emulators on PS4}}   The '''PlayStation 4''' (PS4) is an eighth-generation console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment on November 15, 2013 and retailed for {{Inflation|USD|399.99|2013}}. It has is the first PlayStation console to use the [[wikipedia:x86|x86]] architecture, a semi-custom 8-core AMD x86-64 Jaguar CPU at 1.6 GHz, whereas one . One of the cores is utilised utilized separately only for low-power, background tasks. The CPU is shared shares its place on an APU chip with alongside a semi-custom AMD GCN Radeon GPU. They are supported by 8 GB of GDDR5 RAM at 2.75 GHz, while 256 MB 256MB of DDR3 RAM is used only for background tasks. Notably, it is  Emulation of the first PlayStation console 4 will prove to be a monumental task owing to use the [[wikipedia:x86|x86]] architecture, making it easier to program for than complexity of x86_64 and the Radeon-based GPU. Most projects will inevitably end up going the route of [[PlayStation 3 emulators|PlayStation 3Wine]] while also having the same architecture as PCs.

! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulatorsemulators|Recommended]]

|[https://github.com/devofspine/spinedemo [Spine]]|align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}|[https://twittergithub.com/notzecoxao/status/1435224231172784137 2021devofspine/09spine/01releases 2022-05-17]|{{✗}}|{{✓}}|{{✗}}

|[[Orbital]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux}}|[https://github.com/AlexAltea/orbital git] |{{✓}}|{{✓✗}}|{{✗}}

|GPCS4[[fpPS4]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/Inorired-prig/GPCS4 gitfpPS4/releases 30062022]|{{✓}}|{{✗✓}}|{{✗}}

|PS4Delta[[GPCS4]]|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}|[https://github.com/Force67Inori/ps4delta GPCS4 git]|{{✓}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}

|RPCS4[[Kyty]]| align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}| [https://github.com/InoriRus/Kyty/releases/tag/v0.2.0 git]| {{✓}}| {{✓}}| {{✗}}|-| PS4Delta|align=left|{{Icon|LinuxWindows}}|[https://github.com/RPCS4Force67/rpcs4 ps4delta git]| {{✓}}|{{✗}}|{{✗}}|-| RPCS4| align=left|{{Icon|Linux}}| {{na}}| {{✗}}| {{✓}}|{{✗}}

|PlayStation 5|align=left|{{Icon|PS5}}|Patch based|{{✗}}|{{✓}}|{{✓}}

;[[Spine]] <small class="plainlinks" style="font-weight:normal;">([https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vebgZawcNhdZnGPaSuWrC6wo9OpR1miz/edit#gid=438411959 compatibility])</small>:A high level emulator compatibility layer that can run 345 360 games ingame; of the lot, but no game is "only 4 are considered playable"according to the compatibility list.<ref>[https://filesdocs.catboxgoogle.moecom/spreadsheets/d/1vebgZawcNhdZnGPaSuWrC6wo9OpR1miz/7nrsdr.pdf edit#gid=438411959 Community Maintained Spine Compatibility List] from latest Spine release</ref> In a stark contrast from other closed -source emulators, Spine is Linux-exclusive;<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/byohyx/spinedemo_20190609/eqoruje devofspine] on Reddit. "No source code at the moment though I plan to make it open source at some point."</ref> the creator has opted not to release the source code out of cautionfor a Windows-exclusive variant emerging out of his work, although he plans to release it eventually.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/pkc8oe/spine_ps4_emulator_v20210901_released_with/hc3coog/ devofspine] on Reddit. "I wouldn't mind open sourcing it at some point in time but there are several things that stop me from doing this in the near future: a) there are some parts in the code that are a mess and I wouldn't feel comfortable releasing them for public consumption, b) I enjoy the freedom to develop it in the way I want to, c) I would be a bit afraid of losing control, open source brings with it a risk of forks for example and I wouldn't like to see my work used to do for example a Windows exclusive variant, and d) PS4 is still a current gen console." (Edited)</ref> It uses a despite the fact that there is already interest in getting it working through WSLg.<ref>[[Winehttps://github.com/microsoft/wslg/issues/445#issuecomment-921119545 Spine PlayStation 4 emulator does not work in WSLg with GPU enabled]]-like approachissue at the WSLg repository (#445). GitHub. "no need to close the issue, we will use this to track the GPU acceleration issue. Unfortunately, I don't have access to PlayStation firmware thus not able to repro, but we will see what we can do to investigate this, and its thanks!"</ref> Its authenticity was verified by lead Orbital developer AlexAltea.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/bz4ikp/orbital_a_playstation_4_emulator_that_is/eqq6lxt/ AlexAltea] on Reddit. "I've analyzed the Spine demo in IDA Pro (reverse engineering tool), and everything checks out. It's obviously a very early release, with lots of unimplemented parts, but it's real. More importantly, we have tested it locally and it works." Spine is still in active development and as of 2021, the developer claims that Spine is able to launch around 181 games, and around 30 are playable.</ref>

:An open-source low-level emulator based on [[QEMU]], Orbital uses existing hypervisors like Intel HAXM to speed up performance. A surprising amount of progress has been made for an emulator of its kind, having to emulate the kernel used by the PS4; It's currently stuck at the console's Safe Mode<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBBHisNM74o</ref> and, thus, can't boot any games yet.

:A compatibility layer for the PlayStation 4. Currently, it It can show the logos in Nier: Automata and ran its first commercial game called games, ''We are Doomed'' and ''Sonic Mania'' in February 2020. It can only run homebrew tests as of June 2022. Appears to be only a side project to test 3D graphics and may or may not become anything serious. Reasons to follow this As of June 2022, GPCS4 is now a one-man project are . ; Kyty: A compatibility layer for the PS4 and PS5 made by InoriRus, the creator of Short Waves. It's in the growing pool early stages of contributorsdevelopment. It can boot commercial games such as ''Blackhole'', ''Worms W.M.D'', and some PS5 homebrews with 0.2.0. This is also the first-ever PlayStation 4 emulator with a GUI, and like GPCS4, the emulator is Windows-exclusive. ; PS4Delta: A compatibility layer for the PlayStation 4. It's unable to boot any commercial games. Development has stopped and the project is currently archived on Github. ; RPCS4: A private project being worked on by one of the original developers of [[RPCS3]], DH. Little is known about the project at this time, but what we do know is that it works 's expected to run on WindowsUnix-likes, unlike Spineand can boot PS4 games without graphics.<ref>[https://www. reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/cxx5h3/we_are_team_rpcs3_the_playstation_3_emulator_we/eyoqzes/ DH] on Reddit. "If you have unix-like OS, I can send you binary and you will able to run any game for PS4 and see many different errors for each (without graphics of course)"</ref> The GitHub repo hasn't been updated since 2016, and it appears to only exist as a placeholder until the project shows no signs is released. It is still being worked on although it is in early stages.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/emulation/comments/ppffdy/rpcs4_ps4_emulation_preview_of_current_progress/ RPCS4 progress update] on Reddit. "DH, RPCS3's founder, has permitted to share this quick progress update of his PlayStation 4 emulator."</ref> ==Emulation issues=====Potential roadblocks===Due to the PS4's x86 architecture and FreeBSD-based operating system, emulators for the device will by and large be very unconventional. Despite the x86's instruction set being huge<ref>{{cite web | url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/x86_instruction_listings | title= x86 instruction listings | Wikipedia}}</ref>, a trait that would typically lead to years of development time by emulators, it opens the ability for pre-existing hypervisors to do the heavy lifting, eliminating the need for at least a yearrecompiler. There is also, and as of writing this, little to no real progress has occurred thus fardocumentation on the GPU (a modified Radeon 7970M with disabled stream processors) used in the PS4's APU, unfortunatelyand it will require a complete re-implementation by emulator developers. End-users may wish to perform a preliminary dump of the required files from their PS4 using the [https://phi.nz/orbital/tools/dumper/ Orbital Dumper].

;PS4Delta===PCSX4 & fake emulators===:A compatibility layer Because most people don't understand how emulation works, scammers try and take advantage of this by making [[Emulator scams|their fake emulator]] for malicious purposes. The PS4 has seen its fair share of scams, the PlayStation 4most notable and persistent of which being '''PCSX4'''. ItThe scheme is very elaborate and clever, with a website designed to mimic [[RPCS3]]'s currently unable to boot any commercial gameswhile using a similar naming scheme as [[PCSX-Reloaded|PCSX]] and [[PCSX2]] (both of which are legitimate). Development has stopped and The site makes use of aggressive search engine optimization (SEO), meaning it's one of the project is currently archived top results for "PS4 emulator" on GithubGoogle.Two things invalidate PCSX4's legitimacy:

;RPCS4:RPCS4 is a private project being worked on by one * The obstruction of the original developers of download behind endless surveys. Emulator development nowadays gets its funding from [[RPCS3Emulators on Patreon|Patreon]], DHor Google Play. Work is being done in private, so there is little public information about it. Accordingly to DH, it currently runs on unix-like OS, and * It is able fairly easy to run fake a PS4 games (without graphicsand even [[PlayStation 5|PS5]]) and display errors. <ref>emulator by taking the open-source [https://wwwgit.redditsr.comht/r~thestr4ng3r/pcgaming/comments/cxx5h3/we_are_team_rpcs3_the_playstation_3_emulator_we/eyoqzes/</ref> The Github page hasn't been updated chiaki Chiaki] Remote Play client, which works by streaming games from a real PS4, and appears modifying the GUI to only display fake hardware usage stats alongside the game. If its claims of running any PS4 game in 4K at 60FPS with little to no issues were true, there would certainly be news articles about it, just like there as a placeholder until an actual release (if ever releases)were for [[Cemu]].

==OverviewArcade variations=====Potential RoadblocksDissidia Final Fantasy Arcade===Due to Taito's Dissidia Final Fantasy Arcade is the only arcade game that runs on PS4's x86 architecture and FreeBSD-based operating system, emulators for the device will by and large be very unconventionalhardware. Despite the x86's instruction set being '''huge'''<ref>{{cite web | url= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/x86_instruction_listings | title= x86 instruction listings | Wikipedia}}</ref>, This game runs on a trait that would typically lead to years of development time by emulators, it opens the ability for pre-existing hypervisors to do the heavy lifting, eliminating PS4 kiosk demo unit which the need for a recompiler. There hardware is also, as of writing this, little identical to no documentation on the GPU (a modified Radeon 7970M with disabled stream processors) used in the regular retail PS4's APU, and it will require a complete re-implementation by emulator developerscould be converted to regular retail mode. End-users may wish An extra I/O board is attached to preform a preliminary dump of the required files from their PS4 using the [https://phi.nz/orbital/tools/dumper/ Orbital Dumper]via a USB port.

===PCSX4 & Fake Emulators===Because most people don't understand how emulation really works, people try and take advantage by making [[Emulator scams|their own fake emulator]] for malicious purposes. The PS4 has been Despite the subject of arcade game program itself could run on a lot of these scams mainly since it was the "newest" console at the timeregular PS4 without any issue, the most notable one however was one called '''PCSX4'''. It's a really clever cover up, the name USB I/O board is similar yet to "PCSX" be reverse-engineered, and "PCSX2" (both judging from the current status of which are well-known PlayStation emulators) and has a nice looking website similar to other recent PS4 emulation, emulation projects with the same elements. What makes it worse support for this arcade game is it's one of very likely the first results last item on Google when searching for "PS4 emulator". If there was really an emulator this early that could play PS4 games in 4K resolution at 60 FPS with little to no issues it would have made a ''huge'' deal. It's also important to remember that the PS4 supports remote play for PC and mobile so it's ''very'' easy to fake a recording and claim it's an "emulator" running it-do list.