A Deep Dive into PlayStation 4 Emulators in 2025
Video game emulators aim to recreate the operating environment of consoles like PlayStation 4 on platforms such as PCs, macOS, or Linux. This allows users to experience games originally only available on specific consoles on non-native platforms.
However, the complexity and maturity of emulators vary significantly depending on the console generation. This article will focus on the current development status of PlayStation 4 (PS4) emulators.
Can I play PS4 games on an emulator right now?
Technically possible, but the experience is far from mature.
Compared to well-established PlayStation 2 (PS2) or PlayStation 3 (PS3) emulators, emulators for PS4 is still in its early development stages. At present, no PS4 emulator provides a universally stable or high-performance experience for all games, especially demanding AAA titles.
For most users looking to experience PS4 games, the most reliable and superior option is to take advantage of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) backward compatibility feature. PS5 natively supports running most PS4 games, often offering better performance than current emulators.
4 Best PS4 Emulators You Can Try
Despite their limited maturity, efforts in the community have not stopped. Several projects are under active development, including ShadPS4, fpPS4, Kyty, GPCS4, RPCSX, psOff, Obliteration, Orbital, psuv, and PS4Delta. These efforts reflect the community's ongoing enthusiasm for PS4 emulator, though the development is relatively dispersed.
Below are a few notable and legitimate PS4 Emulators:
| Emulator Name | CPU (Minimum/Recommended) | GPU (Minimum/Recommended) | RAM (Minimum/Recommended) | Supported OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShadPS4 | 4-core 6-thread, >2.5 GHz, AVX2 recommended (e.g., AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D) | 1GB VRAM, Vulkan 1.3 required (e.g., NVIDIA RTX 4070) | 8GB / 16GB+ | Windows 10, Ubuntu 22.04, macOS |
| Kyty | Undetailed (User report: Ryzen 5 3600X) | Undetailed (User report: GTX 1070 Ti) | 16GB+ | Windows 10 x64 |
| fpPS4 | x64 CPU, AVX2 required (e.g., AMD Ryzen 3 3200G) | Vulkan API required (e.g., GTX 1050Ti) | 8GB+ | Windows 7 SP1 x64 or higher |
| GPCS4 | AVX instruction set required | Vulkan 1.3 required | Undetailed (high-end required) | Windows, Linux, macOS |
1ShadPS4: The Community Leader
This free, open-source emulator is actively maintained with rapid updates. It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS, with a large user base. Development began in 2022, and significant progress was made in 2024, with version 0.9.0 released in May 2025. ShadPS4 is often referred to as “the best PS4 emulator on PC so far.”
Compatibility & Performance:
Extremely limited. As of early 2025, only around 44 games are marked as “fully playable,” mostly low-demand 2D games. Complex 3D games (e.g., Bloodborne) still face texture glitches, crashes, stuttering, and low frame rates, requiring specific tricks and being unstable.
System Requirements (High):
- CPU:At least 4 cores, 6 threads, >2.5 GHz, AVX2 support recommended (e.g., AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D for testing).
- GPU: At least 1GB VRAM, must support Vulkan 1.3 (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 for testing).
- RAM: Minimum 8GB, 16GB or 32GB recommended for smoother experience.
- OS: Windows 10, Ubuntu 22.04, macOS.
The emulator has an official Discord server as the main communication hub (note: old links may be inactive), with active discussions on Reddit (e.g., r/shadps4), focusing on performance, troubleshooting, and resource sharing. If you have other issues when using, just go to the community to find some official help.
2Kyty: Aiming for PS4/PS5 Dual Support
Kyty is an open-source PS4 emulator, clearly in the “early development” stage. It primarily supports Windows 10 x64 and aims to emulate both PS4 and PS5 games.
Compatibility & Performance:
Very basic. Currently, it can run only “a few simple PS4 games and PS5 homebrew.” Major functionality is lacking: no audio input/output, no MP4 video playback, no network connectivity, no multi-user support, severely limiting usability.
The official compatibility list only shows “2 playable games” (e.g., We Are Doomed, Sonic Mania). Overall, performance is described as “not ideal” or “unusable.” Don’t expect AAA games like The Last of Us Remake to run smoothly. The latest public release, v0.2.0, came in August 2022.
System Requirements:
Specific details are few, but high-end configurations are required. Users report it runs basic games on a system with Ryzen 5 3600X, GTX 1070 Ti, and 16GB RAM.
It has an active GitHub repository hosts the source code. Discussions can be found on YouTube and Reddit, focusing on its potential. A Discord channel may be used for developer communication.
3fpPS4: Lightweight with Controller Compatibility
This is also an open-source emulator for PlayStation 4 games written in Free Pascal, with active but sometimes “sporadic” development. Officially supports Windows 7 SP1 x64 or higher.
Its highlight is full compatibility with common game controllers (with remapping support) and keyboard/mouse inputs, making it one of the “big four major PS4 emulators on PC.”
Compatibility & Performance:
Officially, it has a “wide compatibility list,” but real-world data shows a low compatibility rate (about 5.39%, with only 111 out of 2061 reports being playable). Many games are marked as “won’t run” or “just start.”
It excels at running lightweight 2D indie games (e.g., Sonic Mania can achieve 50-60 FPS on mid-range hardware like Ryzen 3 3200G with no discrete GPU). It’s clear that AAA 3D games won’t be reliably emulated in the foreseeable future.
System Requirements (Relatively Low, but Still Important):
- System: Windows 7 SP1 x64 or higher.
- CPU: x64 CPU with AVX2 instruction set support.
- GPU: Must support Vulkan API.
- RAM: 8GB+.
Users report success on systems like GTX 1050Ti, i5 7400, and 8GB RAM.
For community, it has an active GitHub and Discord channel that provide essential support for open-source development. Discussions about progress and limitations are available on Reddit.
4GPCS4: Pioneer, but Stagnant
This open-source PS4 emulator initially aimed at “technical research/learning 3D graphics.” Its development is now classified as “stagnant.” It supports Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Historically, it was the first PS4 emulator to successfully run a PS4 game (We Are Doomed) on PC in early 2020. Its core technology is converting PS4 graphics API (Gnm) calls to Vulkan.
Compatibility & Performance:
Extremely limited with many issues. Only We Are Doomed and Sonic Mania are listed as barely playable, with very low frame rates and graphical glitches. Its achievement of displaying the NieR: Automata logo was another milestone.
System Requirements:
Requires a CPU that supports the AVX instruction set, a GPU that supports Vulkan 1.3, and high-end hardware for even minimal smoothness. Supports a wide range of operating systems.
The source code is hosted on GitHub. There used to be a Discord server for developer communication, but the invite link is no longer active.
Important Warning: Beware of Fraudulent Emulators (e.g., PCSX4)
- When exploring PS4 emulators, the biggest risk comes from fraudulent software, with PCSX4 being the most notorious example. It is explicitly identified as a “fraudulent emulator” and a “scam.”
- These fake emulators promote a false list of playable games and redirect you to surveys, with downloads often containing harmful software like adware or cryptocurrency miners.
- Beaware of such emulators!
Key Tip:
There is currently no legitimate PS4 emulator that can flawlessly run the latest, high-demand PS4 AAA games. Always be highly skeptical of software claiming to do so, especially those requiring surveys or coming from unofficial/suspicious channels.
Major Limitations & Challenges of Existing PS4 Emulators
1. Inherent Instability and Imperfection:
- Bugs and Crashes: Even for “playable” games, users often encounter graphical glitches, crashes, stuttering, and low frame rates. Performance can vary greatly depending on the game and hardware, with stuttering even when frame counters appear stable.
- Early Development Stage: Users must manage expectations. Current PS4 emulators are far from the level of mature emulators like Dolphin (GameCube/Wii) or PCSX2 (PS2), and achieving widespread compatibility and stability will likely take “several years.”
2. Limited Online Features:
- No Online Multiplayer: Emulating PS4’s complex network infrastructure is extremely difficult, and no PS4 emulator currently supports any form of online multiplayer.
- No Official Updates/Patches: Emulators cannot access PlayStation Network to download game updates or patches. Users can only play the original versions of game images, which significantly impacts games that rely on post-launch updates.
The Future of PS4 Emulators
The future of PS4 emulator development is ongoing but long-term. The dedication of open-source developers and community contributions will continue to drive progress. However:
- Achieving a truly “perfect” and widely compatible AAA game experience with stable performance will undoubtedly take years of continuous development, similar to the early days of console emulators.
- Development efforts may focus on optimizing specific “benchmark” games (e.g., *Bloodborne*), with breakthroughs likely to benefit other titles.
- Legal challenges will remain and may affect the open-source nature and distribution of the software.
Play PS4 Games On Big Screen With AirDroid Cast
To enjoy your ps4 Gameplay on big screen like TV, we recommend you a free screen mirroring app called AirDroid Cast. Whether you play it from phone or PC, you can always cast to TVs. It's easy to use and with no cost when you cast screen in a same Wifi network.
- Step 1. Download and Install AirDroid Cast on the device you want to cast from, like phone or PC.
- Step 2. Go to your TV's or target devices' browser and enter webcast.airdroid.com.
- Step 3. Enter the cast code or scan the QR code. Accept the request and you can cast.
- Step 4. Lastly, open the PS4 Games you wanna play on your emulator and it will be mirrored on big screen.
Conclusion
Currently, PS4 emulators are an area of technical exploration and community enthusiasm but are far from being a practical solution to replace a PS4 console or leverage PS5 backward compatibility. They are mostly used for technical research, running a small number of adapted, simple games, or for developers to learn.
We users must have powerful hardware, great patience, and be prepared for many imperfections and limitations. Most importantly, remain cautious and avoid fraudulent software like PCSX4, only obtaining legitimate emulators from official channels like GitHub.
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