Sony PlayStation 3 Emulator RPCS3 Gains Native Arm64 Support, Compatible with Raspberry Pi 5

This week brought exciting news for the gaming community as the developers of the PS3 emulator, RPCS3, revealed that it now boasts robust support for the Arm64 architecture across Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. This remarkable update means even devices like the Raspberry Pi 5 can handle PS3 emulation, pushing the boundaries of what was thought achievable with this mini-computer. Historically, the Raspberry Pi 5 has managed to emulate GameCube and somewhat less effectively, Wii games. However, with fine-tuned settings, it seems it can now tackle PS3 games on today’s basic Arm hardware.

In what’s truly a testament to emulation progress, running PS3 games on the Raspberry Pi 5 significantly challenges the limits of what’s possible. By tweaking settings, these games, which are originally designed for a 720p output, are scaled down to a much lower PSP resolution of 273p. This downscaling makes running 3D games like God of War, God of War II HD, Catherine, and Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm actually feasible. It may not be the full HD experience, but it’s more than most would expect from a Raspberry Pi. 2D games, unsurprisingly, perform even better, a delightful breakthrough for fans convincing a humble board to deliver a taste of PS3 glory.

When shifting focus to macOS, the native Arm architecture support heralds dramatic performance improvements on Apple Silicon. Unlike earlier setups that relied on emulating x86, native Arm support significantly boosts framerates—sometimes by as much as 50-100%. This shift from x86 translation to direct Arm processing, layered over intensive PS3 hardware emulation, transforms Arm-powered PlayStation 3 emulation from a pie-in-the-sky notion to tangible reality.

While the Raspberry Pi 5’s performance might equate to a souped-up PSP, Apple Silicon demonstrates its might by handling demanding true PS3 titles like God of War III and Skate 3 with ease. These games, notorious for their heavy consumption of resources, are far more complex to emulate compared to PS2-to-PS3 HD remasters. Yet, thanks to Arm architecture’s prowess, even these challenging titles run smoothly, assuming the hardware has sufficient oomph to support the experience.

As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, the capability to emulate ancient platforms on modern hardware remains an exhilarating frontier, continually delighting emulation enthusiasts and tech aficionados alike.