Hacked PS5 Can Now Run Original PS2 Discs in 4K

The homebrew community around PlayStation 5 continues to expand the console’s capabilities rapidly. After recent jailbreaks for newer firmware versions, a developer known as Sword has now got the native PS2 emulator PS5SX2 running on PS5, including support for physical PlayStation 2 discs. Sword has also confirmed that similar support for PlayStation 3 is in the works.

The PS2 emulator is already working

PS5SX2 is a port of the well-known PCSX2 emulator and, unlike streaming, runs directly on the console’s hardware. Recompilers use the PS5’s processor, while the Vulkan renderer communicates with its GPU through the modified ps5vk driver. This makes it possible to run PS2 games at up to six times their internal resolution, with 4K output.

The emulator also offers FSR, widescreen patches, 60 fps patches, and other graphics filters. Frame generation has also been added experimentally. With a stable game running at 60 fps, it can produce a 120 fps image on a 120 Hz TV, or display a 30 fps game at 60 fps.

The most interesting new feature, however, is support for original PS2 discs. Insert a DVD into the PS5’s disc drive and PS5SX2 can load and run the game. Initially, the disc’s contents had to be copied to the console’s internal storage first, but a newer version has added experimental direct reading and gameplay from the disc.

DVD discs only

There is one important limitation: the PS5’s disc drive cannot read standard CDs, so PS2 games released on CD do not work this way. DVD titles are supported, however, and external USB disc drives can also be used. PS5SX2 also brings features that were not available on the original PS2, including virtual memory cards, local multiplayer, keyboard and mouse support, network adapter emulation for community-run online servers, and settings that can be changed on a phone while playing.

Development is progressing very quickly. Several new versions with compatibility fixes, support for multidisc games, and experimental frame generation have been released in just a few days. The titles being tested include Gran Turismo 4, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, God of War, Burnout 3, and Shadow of the Colossus. Not every game works without issues, however, and more demanding titles may require lowering the resolution or changing the settings.

It also emulates other platforms

PlayStation 3 is another target. Sword has confirmed that work is also underway on RPCS3 support for PS5, with plans to enable the use of physical PS3 discs. The feature is not ready yet, but experimental PS3 emulation has already appeared on PS5.

We can also see in a video that the CEMU emulator for Nintendo titles and XPSemu, an emulator for the original Xbox, are running on PS5.

The homebrew community’s results show that the PS5 has enough power and technical capability to support a much wider range of older games. In other words, it can directly emulate previous PlayStation platforms—a feature Sony never added to the console.

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