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PlayStation 4

PlayStation 4 icon PlayStation 4 logo

Overview

Introduced in 2013 by Sony, the PlayStation 4 was a console system. ShadPS4 is the experimental PlayStation 4 emulator included in REG-Linux. It demands a 64-bit CPU with AVX2 and a Vulkan 1.3+ GPU, and it only works on systems that can provide the decrypted firmware modules from a jailbroken PS4.

Technical specifications

  • CPU: Custom AMD “Jaguar” 8-core x86-64 CPU running up to 1.6 GHz (later revisions 1.84 GHz).
  • Memory: 8 GB of unified GDDR5 with 176 GB/s bandwidth shared between CPU and GPU.
  • Display: Custom AMD Radeon-based GPU delivering 1.84 TFLOPS with support for 1080p/4K rendering and hardware geometry/tessellation.
  • Sound: Custom AMD audio engine with 64-channel PCM mixing and support for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X formats.

Quick reference

  • ROM folder: /userdata/roms/ps4
  • Accepted formats: .ps4 (folder or placeholder file)
  • Emulator: ShadPS4
  • System group: ps4

ROMs

  1. Install the .pkg packages via rpcs3-config–style tools inside the ShadPS4 interface; the extracted data lands in /userdata/system/configs/shadps4/.
  2. Create an empty .ps4 launcher (e.g., /userdata/roms/ps4/CUSA03173/Bloodborne.ps4). The filename is what EmulationStation uses to display the entry.
  3. Copy DLC into /userdata/roms/ps4/DLC.

RPCS4 reads the .ps4 placeholder and redirects to the installed files; the game folder needs only the metadata filename.

System modules

ShadPS4 requires decrypted system module files extracted from a jailbroken PS4. Place them in /userdata/system/configs/shadps4/user/sys_modules. The emulator log reports any missing modules when a game refuses to boot.

Emulators

ShadPS4

ShadPS4 is the lone option for PS4 content. It runs only on x86_64 machines with Vulkan drivers. Check the compatibility list before loading a title because the emulator is still in early development.

Controls

The emulator mimics the DualShock 4 layout, so the REG-Linux PSX/PS2 overlay (../images/controller-overlays/psx-1.png) already applies.

Troubleshooting

  • Expect early-stage behaviour: missing audio, crashes, or incomplete features are common.
  • Make sure the .ps4 launcher points to an installed game and that the system modules folder contains the decrypted binaries.
  • Visit the generic support pages for help if the emulator keeps crashing.