Tag: RPCS3

  • RPCS3 Adds Blu-Ray Support & Major Effects Fixes

    Key Takeaway

    – RPCS3 can now boot games directly from supported Blu-Ray drives and use disc dumping tools for decryption.
    – Automatic application of recommended database settings at boot simplifies game setup while preserving user preferences.
    – New UI features allow reordering of game list columns for easier sorting.
    – Major graphical fixes across dozens of games, including reflections, shadows, skyboxes, and lighting.
    – Support for decrypted and encrypted ISOs improves game preservation and disc-based emulation.


    New Features Hit RPCS3 Emulator

    The talented developers behind cross-platform PlayStation 3 emulator RPCS3 continue to impress with new features and fixes for the emulator, now including the ability to boot games from supported Blu-Ray drives. The same drives can now also be used to decrypt PlayStation 3 games with 13xforever’s disc dumping tool—but more on that below. For now, lets focus on the other new RPCS3 features and fixes.

    Boot improvements and UI changes

    One major improvement is in game booting itself. Now, RPCS3 will automatically apply recommended RPCS3 database configuration settings on boot, barring game patches, resolution scaling, anisotropic filtering, and debug configurations. Since those are typically unneccessary for getting a game to work properly (and may also boil down to personal preference,) they are left untouched by this update while still making it easier to get games up and running before opening up an RPCS3 Wiki page.

    Game list columns and visual fixes

    Another major feature addition is the game booting UI, which allows you to reorder game list columns (such as playtime, compatibility, etc), making it easier to sort games within the RPCS3 UI. By far the most important updates are to game effects themselves, though. Reflections, shadows, skyboxes, lighting, and various other effects have been fixed across dozens of games in the RPCS3 library, further improving accuracy and fidelity for the emulator. Weve listed known-impacted titles below.

    Preservation and drive support

    The full breadth of games with improved emulation is unknown even by the RPCS3 team, but what they’ve shown is fairly impressive for fans of emulation and game preservation alike. On the note of preservation, RPCS3 now supports both decrypted and encrypted ISOs alongside Blu-Ray drives, and the RPCS3 Quickstart page now includes a full list of compatible Blu-Ray drives at the bottom.

    Alongside the recent (unrelated) release of OmniDrive firmware, we’re seeing an impressive push on part of developers in the emulation scene to improve support for booting and backing up games from real media without the need for a jailbroken console. Hopefully, these efforts continue making emulation easier without the need to resort to piracy or bloating a perfectly-good SSD with a game you already have on a disc.

    Sources
  • RPCS3 Team Urges AI Vibe Coders to Stop Pushing AI-Generated Code

    RPCS3 Team Urges AI Vibe Coders to Stop Pushing AI-Generated Code

    Key Takeaway

    1. The RPCS3 team is frustrated with low-effort, AI-generated code submissions that lack testing and verification.
    2. New rules have been implemented requiring contributors to fully understand and own their code, discouraging AI-only contributions.
    3. The team emphasizes quality and genuine effort over quantity, warning against the use of AI to generate untested or incomplete code.

    Development Team’s Frustration with AI-Generated Code

    The folks who work on the open-source PS3 emulator called RPCS3 are really annoyed lately with people just submitting AI-generated junk code. Recently, their Github has been flooded with low-quality, untested code that’s mostly churned out by big language models, with users who don’t really know much about coding, just pushing whatever the AI hands them. It’s kinda messing up their workflow and taking away their time from actual useful development.

    History and Achievements of RPCS3

    The developers behind RPCS3 have been working on this project by hand since way before AI became a big thing in coding. The project started back in 2011, and over the years, it’s grown a lot. Now, gamers can enjoy most PS3 games on modern computers—but not all, of course. They’ve managed to support nearly all titles, with just a few exceptions. Yet, the rise of AI-generated contributions has really tested their patience, and it’s a real problem for the community.

    Official Warning and New Rules

    The team didn’t hold back and came out straight with a message. They posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Please stop submitting AI slop code pull requests to RPCS3. We will start banning those who do so without disclosing it. There are plenty of resources online to learn how to debug and code instead of generating slop that you don’t understand, and that doesn’t work.” It’s a clear warning telling folks that they need to put in real effort and learn if they want to contribute.

    Strict Guidelines for Contributions

    Following this, the RPCS3 team quickly made some rules for anyone wanting to add to the project. They explained that many recent submissions are untested and unverified, mostly AI-created, which just wastes their time and can even break the emulator for everyone. They warned that nobody could fake their way through this by just relying on AI, and said they would just block those who show up with pointless submissions. The message was loud and clear: learn how to code properly, or don’t bother at all.

    Allowing AI in Certain Situations

    That said, the rules aren’t against AI use entirely. They said researchers or people reverse-engineering can still use AI if they understand exactly what each line of their code means and take full responsibility for it. The key rule is, all communication and code must be written and owned by the contributor, not just generated by a bot or AI tool. They’re really fed up with people hiding behind AI in their pull requests.

    Final Message and Philosophy

    The bottom line from RPCS3’s team is pretty tough but fair—they believe that quality beats quantity, and that making something useful takes real effort, critical thinking, and dedication. They’re not gonna let a flood of AI-made junk drown out the good work. It’s a reminder that creating meaningful software or emulation is about passion and blood, sweat, tears—stuff AI just can’t replace.

    Sources
  • RPCS3 PS3 Emulator Enhances Handheld UI and Adds Steam Games

    RPCS3 PS3 Emulator Enhances Handheld UI and Adds Steam Games

    Key Takeaways

    1. RPCS3 PS3 emulator is working on updates for handheld devices and the Steam Deck, focusing on user interface improvements.
    2. Over 70% of PS3 games are now classified as “playable,” but setting up ROMs on handhelds can be tedious.
    3. Upcoming changes will allow direct addition of games to Steam through the RPCS3 interface, benefiting various handheld devices.
    4. Enhancements to gameplay include a redesigned home menu and options for remapping buttons, aiming for uninterrupted performance.
    5. Community feedback is being considered, with a focus on automatic configurations for game settings, though Android support has been discontinued.


    PlayStation fans who love to play classic games while on the move might see improvements soon. The well-known RPCS3 PS3 emulator is working on updates designed for handheld Windows devices and the Steam Deck. The focus is on enhancing the user interface and making it easier to add games to Steam.

    Feedback Requested

    Currently, there isn’t a new public version of the emulator available for testing, but the developers are looking for feedback through social media. Recently, the emulator reached a significant achievement, with more than 70% of PS3 games now classified as “playable.” Nevertheless, setting up and launching ROMs on handheld devices can be a bit tedious and frustrating.

    Handheld Compatibility

    Various handheld gaming devices will gain from the upcoming changes, including the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and ROG Xbox Ally. Owners of the Steam Deck will likely welcome the ability to avoid frequent switches to desktop mode. As part of these updates, users might soon find it possible to directly add new games to Steam through the RPCS3 interface.

    Gameplay Enhancements

    Many enhancements will be noticeable while playing games. The important home menu, which mimics the layout of the original Sony console, is going to be redesigned. Gamers will have the option to remap the button that brings up this interface. For titles that need tuning to improve performance, another aim is to ensure that gameplay remains uninterrupted.

    Community Suggestions

    Fans have shared additional ideas on how the emulator could progress. One of the most frequent desires is for automatic configurations. Often, players turn to a wiki to discover the best settings for specific games. However, there currently isn’t an easy way to implement these adjustments, especially on handheld consoles. The emulator’s social media has indicated that they are working on a fix for this problem.

    Sadly, retro gamers looking for Android support will need to find other options, as the developers have stopped supporting RPCS3 for that platform. At present, the experimental RPCSX‑UI might be the leading alternative, though it has compatibility with fewer PS3 games.

    Even though many smartphones and tablets aren’t supported, the PS3 emulator has strong backing from the community. Given that the PlayStation Classics Catalog on the PS5 is missing many beloved titles from that time, it seems unlikely that this support will fade anytime soon.

    Source:
    Link


     

  • RPCS3 PS3 Emulator Reaches Milestone: Most Games Now ‘Ingame’

    RPCS3 PS3 Emulator Reaches Milestone: Most Games Now ‘Ingame’

    Key Takeaways

    1. RPCS3 emulator is continually updated, improving stability for running PS3 games, but not all titles are fully playable yet.
    2. The recent compatibility update has increased the number of PS3 games reaching “Ingame” status, which allows loading and navigating menus but not fully playing.
    3. Currently, 73.06% of the PlayStation 3 library is listed as “Playable,” while 25.12% have achieved “Ingame” status.
    4. RPCS3 has successfully managed to get 98.18% of PS3 games past the menus, showcasing its impressive capabilities.
    5. The integration of motion controls remains a challenge, with 46 out of 62 “Intro” titles being PlayStation Move games, impacting overall compatibility.


    PlayStation 3 emulator RPCS3 is continuely getting updates, and with each one, the tool seems to be getting more stable in running PS3 games. However, not every title is fully playable at this point. Some games may boot up but show a blank screen, while others can enter the menus but can’t move beyond them.

    Exciting Compatibility News

    The recent compatibility update has brought some positive news. According to the developers, the emulator is getting much closer to having all PS3 games at least reach the “Ingame” status. For context, RPCS3 uses a compatibility chart that breaks down games into five main categories.

    The “Ingame” category includes those titles that can load, get through the menus, but can’t be finished or played properly due to glitches or performance problems. After the latest update, RPCS3 now lists 73.06% of the PlayStation 3 library as “Playable,” while 25.12% have achieved the “Ingame” status.

    Achievements in Emulation

    This means RPCS3 can manage to get 98.18% of PS3 games past the menus, which is quite impressive. The developers pointed out that only 62 PlayStation 3 titles are currently tagged as “Intro.” This tag is for games that can start but can’t be played since they don’t move past the menus.

    Among these 62 titles, 46 are PlayStation Move games, indicating that the implementation of motion controls is a significant hurdle for full compatibility (PlayStation-compatible Nacon Revolution 5 Pro controller currently priced at $140.98 on Amazon). Once these games are addressed, RPCS3 could be nearing what the community refers to as “Project Complete” status. If you want to try out the emulator, it’s available for download on the official website.

    Source:
    Link


     

  • 70% of PS3 Games Playable on RPCS3, PS5 Support Delayed

    70% of PS3 Games Playable on RPCS3, PS5 Support Delayed

    Key Takeaways

    1. Retro gamers without a PS3 console have limited options, mainly relying on cloud streaming via PS5 or the RPCS3 emulator.
    2. The RPCS3 emulator has made significant progress, with 70.94% of PS3 titles now marked as “Playable.”
    3. Around 26.19% of titles are “Ingame” but face glitches, while the number of games with no functionality is decreasing.
    4. Technical challenges due to the PS3’s unique cell processor affect performance on modern PCs, with Sony exploring solutions alongside retro gaming specialists.
    5. The RPCS3 emulator is set to improve graphics for more PS3 games in 2026 and has achieved support for ARM64 devices.


    Retro gamers looking for a taste of the PlayStation 3 experience have limited choices. If they don’t have the original console, they must depend on cloud streaming games available on the PS5. Unfortunately, the selection is quite small, which makes the RPCS3 PS3 emulator a tempting choice. The software has reached a new compatibility milestone on systems like Windows and Linux.

    Ongoing Improvements

    As an open-source project, the emulator is continuously being enhanced by contributors. In a recap video from 2025, it was shared that 70.94% of PS3 titles are now “Playable.” Among the games that have seen significant progress is Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, which is featured in the latest updates.

    Challenges Ahead

    Another 26.19% of titles are marked as “Ingame,” but they suffer from glitches that prevent complete gameplay. The rest of the library either gets stuck on the starting screens or fails to launch entirely. Still, the number of games that have no functionality at all is gradually decreasing.

    Developers have introduced steering wheel support and custom servers for games that lack online multiplayer options. For PS5 users, Sony’s approach to PS3 emulation feels incomplete in comparison. To access the Classics Catalog, players need to sign up for PlayStation Plus Premium. Even then, the cloud experience often doesn’t truly capture the original feel.

    Technical Hurdles

    The unique cell processor in the PlayStation 3 has created challenges when revisiting its games. Even on today’s PCs, using RPCS3 can be demanding on the CPU, which can limit framerates. Sony is still looking for an official fix but doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to address the issue. Reports suggest they have teamed up with retro gaming specialists Implicit Conversions, which might yield results in the future.

    RedoEngine has also made strides with its own PS3 emulator on the PS5. This is not a community-run project and focuses on a narrower range of titles, such as Cloudberry Kingdom. Players can try out the RedoApps method by buying the game from the PlayStation Store.

    In 2026, RPCS3 is set to enhance the graphics for more PS3 games across various platforms. Recently, support for ARM64 was achieved, enabling the app to run on devices equipped with Snapdragon X chips.

    Source:
    Link