Is ArmSX2 better than AetherSX2?

No, AetherSX2 is much more stable and has many features at the moment. This is because armsx2 is a new project and is still in early development, but aethersx2 is no longer actively developed. armsx2 has a great potential to become the best emulator on ARM in the future because its development is still active.

Is the ArmSX2 emulator currently stable for playing PS2 games?

Not yet, when playing PS2 games, it sometimes hangs and exits the application itself and some features are very minimal and need a lot of additional features and bug fixes for this emulator.

Who founded the ArmSX2 Emulator

ArmSX2 was founded by stern, POLO, and Moonpower, the original developers of the project.

What is the current development status of the ArmSX2 emulator?

Currently the development status is still active and the v1.0 release is an unstable version, but it can be used as a preliminary design for the ArmSX2 emulator.

To use ArmSX2 which BIOS version do I need to use?

ArmSX2 supports all PS2 BIOS versions, such as USA NTSC, Japan NTSC, Europe PAL, and other BIOS versions. So you can use any PS2 BIOS version that suits your region.

How to report a problem, for example a crash in the application?

If you encounter any issues or bugs while using ArmSX2 Emulator, you can report them on github.

ArmSX2 Emulator Download

The ArmSX2 APK is a free, open-source emulator for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) that runs on the Arm64 architecture. It is based on the PCSX2 project and has a lot of features and works very well, so you can play PS2 games smoothly.

Download ARMSX2 Get ARMSX2 BIOS

What is ArmSX2?

ArmSX2 is a very exciting new open-source emulator for the PlayStation 2 (PS2). This was made only for devices that use the Arm64 architecture. This project is based on the famous PCSX2 project. Its goal is to bring high-quality PS2 gaming to modern Android phones, tablets, and other devices that use ARM processors.

The developers are still working on the project, even though it is still in the early stages of development. The PS2 emulation community on ARM has a new hope and future in ArmSX2, especially since development on other emulators like AetherSX2 has stopped. It has a lot of potential to be the best, most stable way to play PS2 games on the go.

ARMSX2 Core Advantages

Built on PCSX2

ArmSX2 is based on the famous PCSX2 codebase, which has been modified to work with the ARM architecture. This strong base gives you a big head start in terms of compatibility and accuracy.

Optimized for Arm64

ARMSX2 supports a wide range of ARM architecture devices, including Snapdragon, MediaTek, Exynos, and Apple Bionic chipsets. It offers performance optimizations for ARM devices.

Multiple Graphics Renderers

You can use a fast, near-Vulkan API-like graphics rendering, highly compatible OpenGL, and a software renderer for accuracy. With this graphics rendering support, you can customize it to achieve the best possible graphical experience.

Gamepad & Controller Ready

Have a real console experience. The emulator works with modern gamepads right out of the box, whether you connect them via Bluetooth or USB.

Built for High Speed

The goal of ArmSX2 is to provide high, stable framerates. It has a number of optimization settings that you can change to get the best performance out of your device.

Community-Driven & Open

The code for this project is 100% open source and can be found on GitHub. This lets you report bugs, ask for new features, or even help make the emulator better yourself.

Recommended Device Hardware

For the best experience with ArmSX2, we recommend that your hardware meets these minimum and recommended requirements for smooth gameplay.

Processor (CPU)

A good CPU is very important. We recommend at least a *Snapdragon 732G* or *Helio G99*. A newer, more powerful chipset is highly recommended for stable framerates in demanding games.

System RAM

ArmSX2 works well, but you need at least 3GB of memory. We strongly suggest having at least 6GB of RAM so that the OS doesn't close the app while you're playing or doing other things.

Storage Space

Some PS2 games are big. We suggest that you have at least 5GB of free space. If you want to build a good game library, you should aim for at least 10GB of free space.

Operating System (OS)

You will need an up-to-date version of Android. ArmSX2 works with Android 8.0 (Oreo) and all newer versions, up to Android 16. Make sure your operating system is up to date.

Graphics (GPU)

The GPU on your phone does the rendering. For good performance, we suggest a Adreno 618, Mali G57, PowerVR GM9446, Apple A14 Bionic, or any other graphics processor that is equal to or better than these.

Getting Started: Your First ArmSX2 Setup

New to ArmSX2? This 12-step guide will walk you through the entire setup process, from installation to loading your first game.

1. Gather Your Essentials

Check to see if you have the ArmSX2 APK, the PS2 BIOS file, and at least one game ISO you want to test before you begin. Put them in a folder that's easy to find.

Step 1 of setting up ArmSX2: Getting the APK, BIOS, and game ISO files

2. Install the Emulator

Find the ArmSX2 APK file you downloaded in your file manager. After that, tap it. When the system tells you to, pick "Install."

3. Launch ArmSX2

When the installation is done, click the "Open" button to start the emulator for the first time.

Step 3 of setting up ArmSX2: Opening the app after it has been installed

4. Begin the First-Time Setup

You will see the ARMSX2 welcome page. Tap Continue.

Step 4 of setting up ArmSX2: Welcome page

5. Select Your BIOS File

You need a PS2 BIOS to run ArmSX2. To open the file selector, click the "Choose BIOS" button.

Step 5 of setting up ArmSX2: Import the PS2 BIOS file

6. Navigate to the BIOS

Open the folder where you saved the BIOS file and tap to select it from the list.

Step 6 of setting up ArmSX2: Use the file browser to find a BIOS.

7. BIOS Import Successful

The app will check the file and let you know that the BIOS is ready to use. To move on to the next step, tap "Continue."

Step 7 of setting up ArmSX2: A message saying that the BIOS is ready

8. Choose Data Storage

This step asks you where you want to save your data, such as on memory cards. We suggest keeping this on Keep the default location. Hit Finish.

Step 8 of setting up ArmSX2: Choosing the default location for data

9. Select Your Game Directory

Let's add your games now. To tell the emulator where your ISOs are, tap the Choose games folder button.

Step 9 of setting up ArmSX2: Click the Choose games folder button.

10. Point to Your ISO Folder

Find the exact folder where all of your PS2 game ISOs are stored. When you're in that folder, tap the button that says "Use this folder" at the bottom.

Step 10 of setting up ArmSX2: Confirming the 'Use this folder' action

11. Allow File Access

Android will ask you if ArmSX2 can read that folder. To let the emulator see your games, tap "Allow."

Step 11 of setting up ArmSX2: Giving the app permission to access files

12. Setup Complete!

That's all! Now your library of games will load. To start playing, just tap on the cover of any game.

Step 12 of setting up ArmSX2: The game library is full and ready

Frequently Asked Questions ARMSX2

Check your Graphics Settings first to see if you can improve performance. Changing the Renderer from OpenGL to Vulkan can speed things up a lot on newer devices. You could also try lowering the "Internal Resolution" (for example, to 1x Native) and making sure that any "Hardware Readbacks" options are turned off unless a certain game needs them.

ArmSX2 is a fork of PCSX2 and works with most PS2 game formats. This includes formats like .ISO, .BIN/.CUE, .MDF, and compressed formats like .GZ. We strongly suggest using the .CHD (MAME Compressed Hunks of Data) format because it has the best balance of compatibility and storage space.

Yes. ArmSX2 works with the standard .ps2 virtual memory card format. Simply find your current memory card file (like Mcd001.ps2) in your AetherSX2 or PC-based PCSX2 folder and copy it to the /memcards/ directory that ArmSX2 uses.

Yes. One of the best things about emulation is that it lets you change the resolution. You can change the "Internal Resolution" in the Graphics Settings to 2x (720p), 3x (1080p), 4x (1440p), or even higher. This will make the games look like they are in modern HD, but you will need a powerful GPU, like a high-end Snapdragon chip, to do this.

When you find a save point in the game, a Memory Card Save is the normal way to save. This save is permanent and can be moved between emulators, as was said above. A "Save State" is a feature of an emulator that lets you take a picture of where you are in the game at any time. It works faster, but it might not always work or break between emulator updates.

As an open-source project, the emulator software itself is perfectly legal. The PS2 BIOS file is, however, copyrighted by Sony. You have to legally dump the BIOS from your own PlayStation 2. It is against the law to download the BIOS or any game ROMs from the internet that you don't own.

Supported Platforms

Android

Community Rating

4.5/5 (5300 Votes)

ArmSX2 Emulator Download

What is ArmSX2?