How to play PS3 games on PC with RPCS3

Previously, PS3 emulation on PC was impossible due to the complex architecture of the console. But thanks to RPCS3, you can now easily play PS3 games on your PC. Here's how to play PS3 games on PC.

System requirements

Before starting, make sure your PC can run RPCS3.

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While it is possible to run RPCS3 with minimal hardware requirements, users should run it according to the requirements recommended by the development team for the best experience:

Download and install RPCS3

Visit the official website of RPCS3 and download the emulator for the operating system. This guide shows how to set up RPCS3 in Windows, but the process is similar for all supported operating systems.

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The Windows version is available as a ZIP archive. Extract the downloaded archive and run the RPCS3.exe file.

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Download PlayStation 3 firmware

RPCS3 emulates PlayStation 3 hardware, but will require downloading Sony's official PS3 firmware from the official PlayStation site to run games or applications.

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On the Sony PlayStation home page, click Support , then select the Support button from the drop-down menu.

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On the PlayStation support page, click the Hardware & Repairs button .

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Click the PlayStation 3 button .

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Click System software update > PS3 System update .

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Right-click the Download PS3 Update button and select Save As .

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In the dialog box, select the location to download the PS3 system update file. Return to the RPCS3 emulator. Click File in the menu bar at the top and select Install Firmware .

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Point RPCS3 to the downloaded PlayStation 3 firmware file to download the necessary files.

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RPCS3 will notify you when the process is complete.

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RPCS3 will precompile modules to help the game load faster.

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Now that RPCS3 is properly configured, you are ready to start gaming.

How to download PS3 games

RPCS3 supports digitally downloaded games in PKG file format and disc-based games in ISO or uncompressed folder format. The easiest and arguably only legal way to be able to use PlayStation 3 games in RPCS3 is to rip (dump) existing games to your PlayStation 3 console or PC.

Render PS3 games via PS3 console

Using a PlayStation 3 console is considered the best way to render disc-based games and the only way to render digitally downloaded games. However, the PS3 console will need to run custom firmware, which would violate the user terms set by Sony.

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To render disc-based games, it is necessary to use the multiMAN homebrew software. Transfer dump files to PC via external hard drive or FTP connection between PlayStation 3 and computer.

Render PS3 games via PC

You can also dump your PlayStation 3 using a Blu-ray drive. However, not all Blu-ray drives recognize PS3 discs. Luckily, the RPCS3 website has a list of compatible Blu-ray drives that can read PS3 discs.

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A software called Disc Dumper is the easiest way to decrypt PS3 game discs, as it automates the process. However, you can also use the Linux command line or dump the disk manually. Find more detailed instructions in the RPCS3 Quickstart Guide.

Game compatibility

Not all PS3 games will work, but you can review the full list of compatible PS3 software. Currently, this list has 3,694 games and applications, of which about 69% (2,555) are playable. This list is constantly updated, so be sure to check back often.

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Launch PS3 games

Once you have some games, you'll need to tell RPCS3 where it can find them. To do so, install the game by selecting File > install.pkg , then launch the game by double-clicking.

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Alternatively, boot disc-based games directly by selecting Boot Game , then selecting its ISO or folder. Disc-based games may also require installation through the PlayStation 3 emulator interface.

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Note that when starting the game for the first time, RPCS3 will compile additional files needed to run. RPCS3 only needs to do this once, so be patient.

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Configure control functions

Now you are ready to play the game and configure the controls. Luckily, RPCS3 supports a variety of control options, including keyboard and mouse. You can even choose a console-specific controller for nostalgia's sake. To set things up to your personal preferences, click Pads in the menu bar at the top of the RPCS3 screen.

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Use an actual PlayStation controller connected to your PC by selecting DualShock 3 or DualShock 4 from the Handlers menu at the top left. Furthermore, Xbox and other Xinput controllers are also supported.

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Verify that the controller is detected by moving the analog sticks while directly viewing their inputs in the two circles at the bottom right of the window. Feel free to remap any button.

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Additional configuration

While RPCS3 is an impressive technological achievement, it is still a work in progress, which means there may be some issues. Thankfully, the RCPS3 emulator allows custom tweaks to be applied to each game. These configurations can help resolve issues with graphics, sound, etc.

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Use a custom configuration by right-clicking a title in the game list and selecting Create Custom Configuration . Luckily, RPCS3 maintains a database of recommended configurations for each game. This takes the guesswork out of adjusting game settings for optimal performance.

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After applying the custom configuration, relaunch RPCS3 and start the game. If the custom configuration is compatible, there should not be any further hiccups.

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Anti-aliased

The PS3 was a performance monster, but today's PCs are much more powerful. Therefore, Anisotropic Filtering and Anti-Aliasing can be enabled in the GPU settings of RPCS3. This can smooth out graphics and increase detail. You can even increase the Resolution Scale to upgrade the graphics of the emulator game.

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Note that some games may 'crash' when the emulator's settings are pushed beyond the capabilities of the PlayStation 3's original hardware, so don't expect too much.

Upgrade the game with patches

RPCS3 allows downloading patches for the game. These patches adjust the game's code to provide many benefits. Patches can help increase compatibility and take advantage of your PC's extra power. Some patches even fix annoyances, such as allowing previously unskippable videos to be skipped.

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To apply these patches, launch RPCS3 and open the patch management window from Manage > Game Patches . Finding available patches for the game is detailed on the RPCS3 Wiki.

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RPCS3 has moved past the stage of trying to emulate most of the actual hardware, and now the development team is ironing out bugs, increasing compatibility, and optimizing performance with new releases almost every month. Therefore, even if the game does not work today, it is still worth trying again when newer versions of RPCS3 are released.

Samuel Daniel

Update 27 April 2024