psxe

C
C tier on PlayStation EmulatorsScore 6.6 · #11 of 25
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
No
Runs on
Linux, Mac, Windows
github.com
The psxe homepage

Summary

psxe is a portable Sony PlayStation emulator and emulation library written in C. The project lists CPU, DMA, GPU, SPU, MDEC, GTE, timers, and CDROM among its implemented components. Running it requires a BIOS file, configured with the -b or --bios setting; the README says most BIOS versions are confirmed to work. GitHub Releases provides automated builds, and the README includes instructions for compiling on Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS if a suitable build is unavailable. SDL2 is required: Windows standalone use also needs the SDL2 DLL beside the executable, Ubuntu setup requires libsdl2-dev, and macOS setup requires SDL2 and dylibbundler. The project is free and open source under the MIT license. Memory card support is temporarily disabled. The latest listed release is PSXE 0.10.5-alpha; its note says the version number was updated after a long period of inactivity.

Who it is for

psxe may suit people looking for a free PlayStation emulator on Windows, Ubuntu, or macOS who can provide a BIOS file. Building from source is an option for users whose systems lack an automated build.

What is good

  • Free and open source under the MIT license.
  • Automated builds are available through GitHub Releases.
  • Build instructions cover Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS.
  • Implements listed PlayStation components including GPU and CDROM.

What to know first

  • A BIOS file is required to run the emulator.
  • SDL2 is required.
  • Memory card support is temporarily disabled.
  • Latest listed release is 0.10.5-alpha.

Verdict

psxe offers a free, open-source PlayStation emulator for several desktop systems, with build instructions and automated releases. Before choosing it, account for the required BIOS and SDL2 dependency, and note that memory card support is disabled.

Compared on PlayStation emulators

Free plan
Yesgithub.com
Supported platforms
Windows, Ubuntu, macOSgithub.com
BIOS required
Yesgithub.com
License model
open-sourcegithub.com

Facts

Purpose
psxe is a portable Sony PlayStation emulator and emulation library written in C.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Downloads
The README directs users to GitHub Releases for automated builds and says users can build from source if their system is unsupported.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Supported systems
The README provides build instructions for Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Required BIOS
Running the emulator requires a BIOS file, which can be configured with the -b or --bios setting.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Emulated components
The project lists CPU, DMA, GPU, SPU, MDEC, GTE, timers, and CDROM among its implemented components.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Memory cards
The README says memory card support is temporarily disabled.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Build dependency
The build instructions require SDL2, with platform-specific setup steps for Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
License
The repository identifies its license as MIT.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Support
The README asks Windows users whose build scripts fail to open an issue with information about their system.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Release status
The releases page lists PSXE 0.10.5-alpha as the latest release.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Maker profile
The GitHub profile identifies allkern as Lisandro Alarcón, an Argentine computer science student.github.com · 2 Oct 2026
Product
psxe is a portable Sony PlayStation emulator and emulation library written in C.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
Build from source
The README includes build instructions for Windows, Ubuntu, and macOS.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
BIOS requirement
Running the emulator requires a BIOS file, which is configured with the -b or --bios setting.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
BIOS compatibility
The README says most BIOS versions are confirmed to work.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
Emulation components
The README lists CPU, DMA, GPU, SPU, MDEC, GTE, timers, CDROM, and memory cards as implemented components.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
Windows dependency
The Windows build uses SDL2, and standalone use requires placing the SDL2 DLL beside the executable.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
Ubuntu dependency
The Ubuntu build instructions require the libsdl2-dev package.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
macOS dependencies
The macOS build instructions require SDL2 and dylibbundler, which the README says can be installed with Homebrew.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
Release note
The 0.10.5-alpha release note says it bumps the version number after a long period of inactivity.github.com · 3 Oct 2026

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