Modder releases PS5SX2, enabling native PS2 disc support and 4K upscaling on jailbroken PS5s

Native PS2 Emulation on PS5

Modder Sword has released PS5SX2, a new software for jailbroken PlayStation 5 consoles. This application is a native port of PCSX2, a PlayStation 2 emulator for PC, adapted to run on the PS5's custom Zen 2 chip. Unlike previous methods that streamed emulation from a host system, PS5SX2 performs recompiling and rendering directly on the PlayStation 5.

Physical Disc and Digital Format Support

PS5SX2 supports physical PlayStation 2 game discs (DVD-based) through both built-in and external USB optical drives, working across all regions. It also embraces popular disc image formats such as ISO, CHD, CSO, and ZSO. The software cannot read CD-based PS2 games due to a hardware limitation in the PS5's optical drive.

Enhanced Graphics and Features

The emulator offers high-resolution upscaling, allowing for 6X scaling over the PS2's native resolution, reaching up to 4K on modern displays. It includes support for various upscaling and post-processing filters, including AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). PS5SX2 is compatible with PCSX2 patch files (.pnach) for features like widescreen and 60 FPS support in certain titles.

Additional features include fine-tuning graphics, audio, and gameplay settings via a smartphone or tablet, with instant application of changes. PS5SX2 also supports online play by emulating the PlayStation 2's network adapter.

Technical Implementation

PS5SX2 utilizes Vulkan as its backend renderer. Since the PlayStation 5 lacks official Vulkan driver support in its operating system, the software employs a modified version of ps5vk, a custom translation layer developed by Mihawk-99, known for projects like RetroArch.