Even in 2025, the PlayStation 2 (PS2) still holds the record as the best-selling video game console of all time, with over 160 million units sold worldwide. Many people, including myself, have a special place in their hearts for the PS2, and I’ll never forget unwrapping one on Christmas morning and the sheer joy it brought me for many years afterward.
Fortunately, even 25 years after the PS2’s 2000 release, there are many ways to play PS2 games on modern hardware, including on the PS4 and PS5 through the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog and, more commonly, via emulation.
PS2 emulation on PC has been straightforward for many years thanks to PCSX2, an open-source PS2 emulator available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. However, on Android, emulating the PS2 has not always been as simple. Many PS2 emulators have appeared and disappeared on Android, with AetherSX2 being the most notable one. It was developing a PS2 emulator for Android based on PCSX2, but unfortunately, development stopped years ago. However, now there is a new hope.
Recently, a new PS2 emulator for Android has emerged, with the potential to significantly change the future of PS2 emulation on Android. The emulator is called ARMSX2, and what’s exciting about it is that it is based on a newer version of PCSX2, meaning it can incorporate the latest improvements from the PC PS2 emulation scene for Android. Better yet, ARMSX2 has just launched on the Google Play Store, which means you don’t need to worry about sideloading it either, and you can start playing games much faster.
“ARMSX2 is a new open source emulator for the PS2, it is based on the PCSX2 emulator and aims to be the next step in PS2 emulation on Android, as well as cross-platform support for iOS and other ARM Platforms,” the development team behind ARMSX2 states on its website.
- Developer
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MoonPower
- Subscription cost
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No
- Ads
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No
ARMSX2 is a new PlayStatiion 2 (PS2) emulator for Android.
ARMSX2 is a work in progress
You’ll need to supply your own PS2 BIOS and games to play it
While ARMSX2 has launched on the Google Play Store, it’s important to note that it’s still a work in progress, and its performance may not yet match that of AetherSX2. This is mostly because ARMSX2 utilizes an x86-to-ARM64 translation layer to emulate PS2 games, which means it’s more demanding on your phone’s hardware than using native ARM to emulate the games due to its two-step process.
According to Android Authority, the development team behind ARMSX2 is exploring ways to implement native ARM as development continues. On its website, the developers of ARMSX2 say that “Performance continues to improve with each and every update” and that “things are subject to change as development goes on.”
If you want to try out playing ARMSX2 on your Android device, it’s easier than ever, as it’s available for free on the Google Play Store. Just visit the app’s Play Store listing, download it, and you’re already halfway there. The gaming part is trickier, as you’ll need to supply your own legally acquired PS2 BIOS and ROM files for games. I won’t delve into the complexities of that here, but there are lots of guides online that explain how to do that.
…there are many positive signs that this emulator could eventually match the performance and compatibility of the PCSX2 PS2 emulator on PC.
When you open ARMSX2 on your phone, it will automatically start a setup process that allows you to add your legally obtained PS2 BIOS to the app. You can then choose a location on your phone where the emulator can store save files, textures, shaders, and other data. Once that’s all set up, you can then choose to find game files and import any of your PS2 games to play. From there, you’ll just be a single tap away from playing your PS2 games on your Android anywhere. Additionally, since the app is downloaded from the Play Store, it will automatically get updates whenever they are available.
ARMSX2 has started tracking compatible games on its website, with several notable titles tested and rated as “Perfect” regarding compatibility, including Batman Begins, God of War, and Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
Overall, I’m excited to see ARMSX2 revive PS2 emulation on Android, and the fact that it’s on the Play Store makes it much more accessible. This is still just the beginning of ARMSX2’s development, and so far, there are many positive signs that this emulator could eventually match the performance and compatibility of the PCSX2 PS2 emulator on PC.
