RPCS3 Emulator for Android Reaches Alpha in Just 7 Days

Only seven days after development kicked off, the RPCS3 project for Android has entered its alpha phase, marking a surprising breakthrough in mobile emulation. Leading the initiative is DH, one of the original RPCS3 creators, whose deep understanding of the codebase has significantly accelerated the porting process to the Arm architecture. While stable gameplay is still distant, this progress opens the door to PS3 games running on smartphones by 2025.

The alpha build, published on GitHub, showcases an astonishing development speed—similar projects usually take months to reach this stage. However, DH, who hadn’t been involved in the main RPCS3 project since 2011, leveraged his unique expertise to optimize the emulator for mobile devices.

Interest in PS3 emulation on Android surged following the controversy surrounding aPS3e, an app that violated licensing agreements and was removed from GitHub. Unlike aPS3e, RPCS3 is being developed legally, earning the trust of the community. Enthusiasts believe that aPS3e’s downfall inspired DH to return to emulator development, offering a transparent and legitimate alternative.

The current version is merely a technical showcase—most games won’t run, controller support is missing, and performance is far from ideal. However, there is hope: Vulkan integration and core optimizations could drastically improve compatibility. Experts note that RPCS3 for Android is already surpassing expectations, given the complexity of emulating the PS3’s processor.

While developers aren’t promising rapid releases, DH’s dedication suggests the project is a high priority. The community is closely following updates on GitHub, where early builds are being tested. If development continues at this pace, by late 2025, the emulator might be capable of running simpler titles like Puzzle Fighter HD. For now, RPCS3 remains a tool for researchers rather than everyday users.