# PCSX2

> video game console emulator

**Wikidata**: [Q1140432](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1140432)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCSX2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pcsx2

## Summary
PCSX2 is a free software video game console emulator that allows users to play PlayStation 2 games on computers running Linux, Microsoft Windows, or macOS. It has been in development since 2002 and is released under the GNU General Public License version 3.0.

## Key Facts
- PCSX2 was created on March 23, 2002, and is a successor to the PCSX and PCSX-Reloaded emulators
- It is a free software emulator for PlayStation 2 games, running on Linux, Microsoft Windows, and macOS operating systems
- The current stable version as of November 4, 2024, is 2.2.0, with version 2.6.1 planned for January 5, 2026
- The emulator is developed using primarily C++ and C programming languages with Qt as the GUI framework
- PCSX2 is licensed under GNU General Public License version 3.0, with source code available on GitHub
- The project maintains an official website at https://pcsx2.net/ and an official wiki at https://wiki.pcsx2.net/
- PCSX2 is distributed through various package managers including Ubuntu's apt, Arch Linux, Debian, Gentoo, and others
- As of February 7, 2023, PCSX2 has over 17,500 followers on social media platforms

## FAQs
### Q: What platforms can PCSX2 run on?
A: PCSX2 is compatible with Linux, Microsoft Windows, and macOS operating systems, allowing users to play PlayStation 2 games on these different computer systems.

### Q: How much does PCSX2 cost?
A: PCSX2 is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0, meaning it is completely free to use, modify, and distribute.

### Q: What PlayStation games can PCSX2 emulate?
A: PCSX2 is specifically designed to emulate PlayStation 2 games, allowing users to play their PS2 game library on a computer rather than the original console hardware.

### Q: Is using PCSX2 legal?
A: As a software emulator itself, PCSX2 is legal and open-source. However, users must own the original PlayStation 2 games they play using the emulator to comply with copyright laws.

### Q: How is PCSX2 developed and maintained?
A: PCSX2 is developed collaboratively through GitHub, with source code available to the public. The project maintains regular updates, with new versions released as they become stable.

## Why It Matters
PCSX2 holds significant importance in the emulation community as one of the most widely used PlayStation 2 emulators available. It preserves access to PlayStation 2 gaming for modern users whose original hardware may no longer function or who prefer the convenience of playing on a computer. The emulator's continued development and improvement over more than two decades demonstrates its enduring relevance and value to gaming preservation. Additionally, PCSX2 serves as an important case study in software emulation, showcasing how reverse engineering and community collaboration can bring legacy gaming experiences to new platforms, keeping classic games accessible to future generations of players.

## Notable For
- Being one of the most mature and widely adopted PlayStation 2 emulators, with over 20 years of continuous development since its inception in 2002
- Supporting a wide range of operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, making it accessible to a broad user base
- Maintaining an active development cycle with regular updates and new versions, with planned releases extending into 2026
- Having a strong social media presence with thousands of followers, indicating a dedicated user community
- Being distributed through numerous package management systems, making installation straightforward across different Linux distributions and platforms

## Body
### Overview
PCSX2 is a free software video game console emulator that allows users to play PlayStation 2 games on their computers. The project was initiated on March 23, 2002, and has been in continuous development since then, following the earlier PCSX and PCSX-Reloaded emulators. The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0, ensuring it remains open-source and freely available.

### Technical Details
The emulator is primarily developed using C++ and C programming languages, with Qt serving as the graphical user interface toolkit. It is designed to run on multiple platforms including Linux, Microsoft Windows, and macOS, making it accessible to users across different operating systems. The project maintains its source code on GitHub at https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2, allowing for community contributions and transparency.

### Version History
PCSX2 has undergone numerous version releases throughout its history:
- Version 0.9.6 (stable, released December 5, 2021)
- Version 1.2.1 (stable, released December 5, 2021)
- Version 1.4.0 (stable, released December 5, 2021)
- Version 1.6.0 (stable, released May 7, 2020)
- Version 2.0.0 (stable, released July 13, 2024)
- Version 2.0.2 (stable, released July 13, 2024)
- Version 2.2.0 (current, released November 4, 2024)
- Version 2.4.0 (stable, planned for June 29, 2025)
- Version 2.6.0 (stable, planned for January 4, 2026)
- Version 2.6.1 (stable, planned for January 5, 2026)

### Distribution and Installation
PCSX2 is available through various package management systems to facilitate easy installation:
- Ubuntu: pcsx2 package
- Arch Linux: pcsx2 package
- Debian: pcsx2 package
- Gentoo: games-emulation/pcsx2
- OpenSUSE: pcsx2
- Arch Linux User Repository (AUR): pcsx2-git
- Flatpak: net.pcsx2.PCSX2
- Chocolatey Community: pcsx2
- SlackBuilds: games/pcsx2

### Official Presence
The project maintains several official online presences:
- Official website: https://pcsx2.net/
- Official wiki: https://wiki.pcsx2.net/
- GitHub repository: https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2
- Twitter: PCSX2 (account created in June 2010)
- Mastodon: PCSX2@mastodon.social (joined June 2024)

The project has grown a substantial following on social media, with 17,541 followers as of February 7, 2023. The official Twitter account was active until at least May 10, 2018, and the Mastodon account has been active since June 24, 2024.

### Community and Recognition
PCSX2 is recognized in various online databases and platforms:
- Wikipedia article available in multiple languages (Arabic, Catalan, German, English, Spanish, Persian, French, Italian, Japanese)
- Freebase ID: /m/09wk3p
- Open Hub ID: Pcsx2
- Wine AppDB ID: 4348
- PCGamingWiki ID: PCSX2
- SteamGridDB ID: 35439
- Alternativeto software ID: pcsx2

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "PCSX2",
  "description": "A free software video game console emulator that allows users to play PlayStation 2 games on computers running Linux, Microsoft Windows, or macOS.",
  "url": "https://pcsx2.net/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10680",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCSX2"
  ],
  "additionalType": "video game console emulator"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/blob/master/COPYING.GPLv2)
2. [The Pcsx2 Open Source Project on Open Hub: Languages Page. Open Hub](https://www.openhub.net/p/Pcsx2/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
3. [Source](https://pcsx2.net/download/releases.html)
4. [Release 0.9.6. 2021](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v0.9.6)
5. [Release 1.2.1. 2021](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v1.2.1)
6. [Release 1.4.0. 2021](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v1.4.0)
7. [Release 1.6.0. 2020](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v1.6.0)
8. [Release 2.0.0. 2024](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v2.0.0)
9. [Release 2.0.2. 2024](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v2.0.2)
10. [Release 2.4.0. 2025](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v2.4.0)
11. [Release 2.6.0. 2026](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v2.6.0)
12. [Release 2.6.1. 2026](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v2.6.1)
13. [Release 2.6.2. 2026](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v2.6.2)
14. [Release 2.6.3. 2026](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/releases/tag/v2.6.3)
15. [Source](https://github.com/PCSX2/pcsx2/discussions/4102)
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. Quora
18. [PCSX2 (Emulator) - SteamGridDB](https://www.steamgriddb.com/game/35439)