RetroArch
RetroArch on the PS3
RetroArch is the most popular way to emulate older consoles on a homebrew PlayStation 3. Rather than being a single emulator, it is a frontend that loads interchangeable modules called cores, each of which emulates a particular system. This gives you one unified menu, one controller mapping scheme, and one set of shared features across every platform you play.
What you get
- Many cores covering systems such as the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, PC Engine, Master System, and more.
- Save states, fast-forward, and rewind on supported cores.
- Shader effects, including scanline and CRT-style filters, to recreate the look of older displays.
- Per-core and per-game configuration overrides so each system behaves the way you prefer.
Getting started
- Install the PS3 build and any cores you want as homebrew packages.
- Add content by placing your legally owned game files on the console's storage.
- Load a core, then load content, and configure controls to taste.
Performance is not uniform across cores. Lightweight systems run at full speed, but more demanding cores may stutter because of the Cell CPU's architecture. Try the official core for a system first, then experiment with alternatives if speed is poor.
Because RetroArch keeps its interface consistent regardless of the system loaded, it is usually the friendliest place for newcomers to begin building a retro library on the PS3.