DuckStation
7.3#2 in playstation emulatorsFree planFree planAndroidLinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitDuckStation vs Vita3K
What both publish
| Fact | DuckStation | Vita3K |
|---|---|---|
| Android requirements | Android supports ARMv7, ARM64 or x86_64 devices; 64-bit is preferred and 32-bit devices are advised to have at least a 1.5 GHz CPU. | The FAQ lists an AArch64 processor, Vulkan 1.0 graphics and Android 7 or newer for Android. |
| Developer documentation | The repository documents cloning, dependency installation and CMake or Visual Studio builds for Windows, Linux and macOS. | The project wiki separates user material from developer topics such as code structure, coding style, bridging and roadmap information. |
| Graphics | Its hardware renderer supports D3D11, D3D12, OpenGL, Vulkan, and Metal, with upscaling, texture filtering, and 24-bit color. | Vulkan is recommended when supported, while OpenGL remains available for older hardware. |
| Input support | It supports digital and analog controllers, rumble forwarding, GunCon and Justifier emulation, NeGcon and multitap configurations for up to eight devices. | Keyboard, mouse and SDL3-compatible controllers work, with DualShock 4 and DualSense specifically recommended. |
| License | The maker describes the project as distributed under CC-BY-NC-ND terms and says modified versions may not be published. | The main Vita3K repository is distributed under GPL-2.0. |
| Purpose | DuckStation emulates the Sony PlayStation console, focusing on playability, speed, and long-term maintainability. | Vita3K is an experimental open-source PlayStation Vita emulator. |
DuckStation plans
- DuckStationFree
- FreeFree
Vita3K plans
- FreeFree
- Vita3KFree
Pick DuckStation if…
DuckStation suits people who want to play their own PlayStation games on a supported desktop or Android device. Users need to provide a compatible BIOS image and game files themselves.
Pick Vita3K if…
Vita3K suits users interested in emulating PlayStation Vita games who can work within game-specific compatibility and setup limits. It may also suit people looking for an open-source project with builds across desktop platforms and Android.