Sony used to insist that playing PS5 games on PC required a bespoke port from publishers. Now emulators are catching up fast.
SharpEmu, the PS5 emulator that started in May as a “very early alpha,” can now load real game files, run native CPU instructions, and handle GPU-related work. The latest release lists ten tested games reaching a “playable” state, with six of them described as “fully playable at 60 fps.” That includes simple 2D games like Tetris Forever and 3D titles like Astro Bot and the PS5 Demon’s Souls remaster.
CursedIfElse, the developer behind SharpEmu, posted about the milestone on social media. “SharpEmu has prioritized hardware accuracy from the very beginning, and we’re finally starting to see that investment pay off,” he wrote. “It was built completely from scratch, and this is how far we’ve come.”
KytyPS5 Joins the Effort
KytyPS5 is a new version of the Kyty emulator, which originally focused on PS4. Its first public release arrived last week and can boot 2D games and a selection of 3D titles, including those built with Unreal Engine 4/5, Unity, and custom engines, according to its GitHub page.
The two emulators take different paths. SharpEmu built everything from scratch for PS5 hardware. KytyPS5 extends an existing PS4-focused emulator into PS5 territory.
What SharpEmu Can Run Now
| Game | Status |
|---|---|
| Tetris Forever | Fully playable at 60 fps |
| Astro Bot | Fully playable at 60 fps |
| PS5 Demon’s Souls | Fully playable at 60 fps |
| Ten tested games total | Playable |
The list covers a mix of 2D and 3D titles, showing the emulator works across genres rather than just one kind of game.
Why This Matters for PC Gamers
For years, PC players could only play PS5 games if publishers spent the time and money on a separate build. Sony has recently said it will scale back that work. Emulators remove the need for that middleman entirely.
The practical result is that recent PlayStation titles are becoming playable on generic PCs. That changes the calculus for players who want the latest games without buying a console.
The Road Ahead
Both projects are moving fast. SharpEmu’s developer has made clear the focus on hardware accuracy will continue. KytyPS5’s first public release is a marker that another team is in the race.
The comparison is simple: SharpEmu built from scratch for PS5, while KytyPS5 extended an existing PS4 emulator. Both are now running real games.
See the video the story is built around at Ars Technica.
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