It seems unbelievable, but PlayStation 5 emulation on Android has already begun to move beyond the realm of ideas. CapyPS5, a new experimental project based on KytyPS5, can already boot and even run some PS5 games directly on Android phones and handhelds.
Of course, we are talking about a project in an extremely early stage. Don’t expect to open heavy titles like GTA 6, Spider-Man 2, or other major games from the current generation on a phone. However, some 2D games and lighter titles can already deliver surprising results.
In tests carried out with high-end Android hardware, games such as Dead Cells, Blasphemous, and Marvel Cosmic Invasion manage to run close to or even locked at 60 FPS.
CapyPS5 is a PS5 emulator for Android
The project is called CapyPS5 and is based on the work developed by KytyPS5, an open-source project created to run PlayStation 5 software on computers.
On Android, there is an additional challenge: PS5 games use x86-64 code, while practically all current phones use ARM64 processors.
To work around this difference, CapyPS5 uses FEX, a dynamic translation layer capable of running x86-64 code on ARM64 processors.
It is a similar approach to what already happens in several emulation and compatibility projects on Android: part of the program’s instructions is translated in real time into something the phone’s processor can execute.
Video from the Bruno Sousa F channel:
Dead Cells already runs at 60 FPS
One of the best results presented so far is Dead Cells.
In a test carried out on a high-performance Android device, the game managed to maintain approximately 60 FPS during much of the gameplay.
The performance draws attention precisely because the game is being run from the version intended for PlayStation 5.
Of course, Dead Cells also has an official version for Android and is a relatively light title. Still, the goal here is not to replace the official port, but to demonstrate that the PS5 compatibility layer can already run a complete commercial game.
Some minor graphical glitches may still appear, which is expected for an emulator in the alpha stage.
Blasphemous also works very well
Another game that delivers excellent results is Blasphemous.
During testing, the title manages to enter gameplay and maintain rates close to 60 FPS in several situations.
Like Dead Cells, it is a relatively light 2D game when compared with the major PlayStation 5 releases.
Even so, being able to boot, render graphics, play audio, recognize controls, and correctly execute the game logic already represents an important advance for such a recent project.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion also appears running at 60 FPS
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is another title that delivers good performance on CapyPS5.
The game manages to reach 60 FPS and presents apparently quite stable gameplay on compatible hardware.
As in the other examples, we are talking about a visually much simpler title than the major three-dimensional games of the PS5 generation.
For now, this is exactly the type of game in which the emulator delivers its best results.
Other 2D games already appear as playable
The project’s compatibility list is starting to grow quickly.
Among the games that already show quite promising results are titles such as Animal Well, Greak: Memories of Azur, The Binding of Isaac: Repentance, and Monster Boy.
On compatible hardware, some of these games manage to reach approximately 60 FPS.
This does not mean they are necessarily perfect from start to finish. As the project is still in development, graphical bugs, audio problems, crashes, and incompatibilities may appear during the campaign.
And what about 3D PS5 games?
It is precisely in the heavier three-dimensional games that the enormous distance still separating CapyPS5 from an emulator truly usable for the console’s entire library becomes apparent.
Some games can even enter gameplay, but with very low performance.
In initial tests, more demanding 3D titles may present rates below 20 FPS or even drop to just a few frames per second.
In other words, the fact that a game opens does not necessarily mean it is playable.
There are also titles that simply close during startup or present errors before even reaching the menus.
God of War III Remastered still does not work
One example is God of War III Remastered, a version originally released for PlayStation 4.
During the Android test, the game was recognized by the application, but it presented an error and closed before starting correctly.
This shows how compatibility still varies considerably from game to game.
Even titles that theoretically require less hardware may depend on graphical functions, APIs, and system behaviors that have not yet been implemented by the emulator.
Touch controls still need improvement
CapyPS5 already has an interface designed for phones, including virtual on-screen controls.
There are also different layouts inspired by PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo controllers.
However, the touch controls still present some problems. In certain games, for example, pressing two commands simultaneously may not work correctly.
Therefore, in current tests, using a Bluetooth or USB controller still offers a much better experience.
When a gamepad is connected, the virtual controls can be removed from the screen and the game starts using the physical commands.
Emulator allows switching Vulkan drivers
Another interesting feature is the possibility of selecting different Vulkan graphics drivers.
On devices with an Adreno GPU, the user can use versions of the Mesa Turnip driver, while Mali GPUs can try compatible alternatives such as PanVK.
The application also allows configuring internal resolution, an FPS monitor, shader compilation, and other performance-related options.
These settings will be especially important because emulating such a recent system requires an enormous amount of processing.
Requirements are high
No one should expect to run PlayStation 5 games on a basic phone at this moment.
CapyPS5 requires a device with ARM64, Android 12 or higher, and a GPU compatible with Vulkan 1.3.
The project also recommends around 12 GB of RAM or more.
The first tests are being
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