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PCSX2 is a popular open source emulation for the Sony PlayStation 2 (PS2) and PCSX2 version 2.0 is now officially available with a great many changes and improvements.

There's so many changes in fact, that it's pretty difficult to give you a summary of what's new. Quite literally every part of the emulator has been improved.

For starters they've moved away from wxWidgets for the interface to the much more modern and cross-platform Qt. The developers said Qt brings with it a "slick appearance, more efficient UI backend, and provided the perfect opportunity to redo all our menus and widgets" with the addition of themes to personalise it to your liking.

Along with Qt also comes SDL2 now integrated, which gives vast improvements to controller mapping and works across different platforms. Thanks to that PCSX2 now has automatic controller mapping, so you're only a few button clicks away from being set up with your favourite gamepads.

Plugins were removed, but they've now added in Automatic Game Fixes. Using their own database of all the games, they ship pre-configured fixes to ensure games will run smoothly so you shouldn't need to go in and change various settings for different games. However, the UI also now has a section for per-game settings for any personalized changes and tweaks you do wish to make.

The list just keeps going on and on. PCSX2 even has its own Big Picture Mode now too:

There's also now support for RetroAchievements!

So many other additions like Vulkan API support, an upgraded patches system, various performance improvements, FFMPEG for video capture support, improved game compatibility, sound system improvements and much more.

See their lengthy blog post for all the details.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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16 comments
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tfk Jul 14
I still play on og hardware connected via an OSSC upscaler. Phat model with hdd, network and fastmcboot. But I do use PCSX2 on my Steam Decks. I just love what the open source community has achieved for us retro game enthusiasts.
Pengling Jul 14
There isn't a whole ton on the PS2 that suits me (it was never aimed at me, and I'm still struggling to find anything I enjoy on the system), but for the couple of games I've tried on my Steam Deck, PCSX2 was already excellent - more improvements are only icing on an already-delicious cake!

Quoting: MezronHey all! I've seen some FPS on PS2 that may appeal to me. Can someone let me know if I can map the controls to play on PC FPS (Wasd + mouse) without issue?
I'd imagine it'd be easy to map the WASD part, but, not being an FPS person, I have no idea about using a mouse. This might be one of those cases where it'd be quicker to just dive in and check!
mickski56 Jul 14
QuoteHey all! I've seen some FPS on PS2 that may appeal to me. Can someone let me know if I can map the controls to play on PC FPS (Wasd + mouse) without issue?

Unfortunately unless the game was originally intended for use with a mouse the results are not ideal relative vs absolute movement. Key remap is easy and works well tho. It's easy to map the mouse though so give it a go and see what you think. It didn't feel right to me but you may be able to live with it.
PCSX2 is excellent though plays anything I've thrown at it without a hitch, apart from some minor graphical glitches in Ridge Racer 2 I think it was.
Ive been using the 2.0.3 version most of the afternoon...... Have to say its really good..... PCSX2 has come a long way since the last stable version which was 1.6.0 back in 2020.....

I would still like to see some things added..... Like the ability to import save files from GamwFAQs would be a really handy feature.......

Quoting: 14PS2 games... Mmm... Driver, Tony Hawk, Harvest Moon, The Sims. Those were fun.
Also sports games..... The 6th gen was the golden age of sports games..... Madden, 2Ks EPSN games, NHL, MLB even NBA Live were all great games in the 6th gen...... Add in the Soccer games of PES and FIFA were all really good..... Wrestling games were fantastic with the WWE Smackdown! vs RAW series and even the ultra sexy fan service game of Rumble Roses......

Racing games were great too with the NASCAR Thunder games and NASCAR Dirt to Daytona...... Along with the best Need For Speed games and Test Drive Unlimited...... Colin McRae Rally and the WRC games were fantastic on the PS2 as well as TOCA Race Driver 3, Gran Turismo and Forza......

Then you have the amazing Tiger Woods golf games..... Even very fringe sports like Cricket, Rugby Union and Rugby League all had good and even great games on the PS2...... Hell even Boxing had great games with the Knockout Kings and Fight Night games on the 6th gen......

And of course we cant forget Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball on the OG Xbox........

Quoting: officerniceI'm so damn tired of modern gaming... Setting up emulation station has been a blessing, playing so many FINISHED games and discovering tons of gold nuggets.
Im the same..... I get very few "modern games" and even the ones I do get are either Boomer Shooters, Boomer Rally or Boomer Sports games......
bonkmaykr Jul 14
PCSX2 is up there with the elite league of golden quality emulators, it already was for a while but I applaud the continued dedication.

Now all I wish for is a Cell PowerPC port so my PS3 can play wipEout fusion...
rambo919 Jul 15
On one hand a lot of the improvement has been in terms of modern hardware getting better, on the other hand I remember how janky this project was a decade ago. Now it's right proper matured (it seems) and its PS3 emulation that's kinda janky.

That said though.... I can't think of anything I still would play on PCSX2 that I would not rather play on Dolphin.... There was a time (oddly exiting looking back) where you had to try the same game on both to see which was the more stable experience.
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