Homebrew developer Sword has released PS5SX2, a software modification that enables native PlayStation 2 disc support on jailbroken PlayStation 5 consoles. The tool allows users to insert original PS2 game discs and play them directly on the newer hardware, bypassing Sony’s official backward compatibility limitations.
PS5SX2 is a native port of PCSX2, the widely used PC emulator for the PlayStation 2. Sword adapted the emulator’s CPU recompilers to run on the PS5’s custom AMD Zen 2 processor. Unlike previous methods that relied on streaming from a host computer, this solution performs all recompiling and rendering directly on the console.
Native Rendering and Disc Compatibility
The emulator utilizes Vulkan as its backend renderer. Because the PS5 lacks a standard operating system with official Vulkan driver support, Sword implemented a custom translation layer using a modified version of ps5vk, originally developed by coder Mihawk-99. This approach allows the console to handle the heavy lifting of emulation without external hardware.
PS5SX2 supports a wide range of disc image formats, including ISO, CHD, CSO, and ZSO. More importantly, it fully supports physical PlayStation 2 game discs. The software works with both the console’s built-in optical drive and external USB drives. It is compatible with discs from all regions, though it can only read PS2 games released on DVD media. This limitation stems from the PS5’s optical drive hardware, which lacks the laser required to read standard CDs.
4K Upscaling and Enhanced Features
Beyond basic compatibility, the tool offers significant graphical improvements. It features high-resolution upscaling that can scale the original PS2 resolution by up to 6x, delivering 4K output on modern displays. Users can apply various upscaling and post-processing filters, including AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).
The emulator also supports patch files (.pnach), which can unlock widescreen modes or 60 FPS performance for certain titles. Additional features include remote configuration via smartphone or tablet, online play through emulated network adapters, and support for keyboard and mouse inputs. It also allows for couch co-op play with up to four players and supports the creation of virtual memory cards up to 64MB per game.
Sword confirmed that PlayStation 3 disc support is the next target for development. When asked about porting RPCS3, the PS3 emulator, to the PS5, the developer stated, “Yes, it’s coming with it :).” This development highlights the growing capability of the homebrew community to preserve disc-based gaming on modern hardware, especially as Sony has discontinued physical media production for its latest consoles.
Source: Tom’s Hardware
