This week marks a significant milestone for the team behind the PlayStation 3 emulator, RPCS3. They announced that RPCS3 now boasts stable support for the Arm64 architecture across Windows, macOS, and Linux. This support is so robust that it even extends to the Raspberry Pi 5, which is truly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for this small device. Previously, the Raspberry Pi 5 had demonstrated its ability to emulate systems like the GameCube and, less successfully, the Wii. However, with the right tweaks, it appears that even PS3 emulation is within reach on today’s basic Arm hardware.
Running a PS3 emulator on the Raspberry Pi 5 is certainly about testing the limits. To achieve this, you need to scale down to a resolution reminiscent of the PlayStation Portable (PSP), specifically 273p, which is quite a stretch from the PS3’s native 720p. Despite this downgrade, it’s incredible that the Pi 5 can handle some 3D games like God of War (and God of War II) HD, Catherine, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, and more. While 2D games naturally perform better, even getting playable framerates from PS3-era 3D titles on a Raspberry Pi 5 is impressive and goes beyond what most people would expect.
On the macOS front, the transition to native Arm architecture, as opposed to just emulating x86, has delivered substantial performance improvements for Apple Silicon users emulating PS3 games. By running natively, instead of going through an x86 translation layer, users are seeing framerates potentially double. This shift transforms what seemed like a distant hope for smooth Arm-powered PS3 emulation into a tangible reality.
In contrast to the Raspberry Pi 5, which gives off a PSP-like performance, Apple Silicon demonstrates its prowess by handling genuine PS3 heavyweights like God of War III and Skate 3. These games demand much more in terms of emulation power than the PS2-to-PS3 HD ports such as God of War HD. Yet, with sufficient Arm-based hardware, they run smoothly, showcasing the remarkable capabilities now achievable with this technology.
