How Tos

How to run PlayStation games on Android

If you're fed up of waiting for the PlayStation phone...

How to run PlayStation games on Android
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If, like me, you like the idea of ROM emulators that allow you to play games from defunct platforms, but lack the patience to learn how to do it, you’ll have greeted news of the psx4droid PS1 emulator release with mixed feelings.

On the one hand, it’s great that someone’s come up with a way to play all those long-lost classics on your Android. On the other, you really can’t be bothered to learn how to get them working.

Well, now you don’t have to.

Before we begin, the usual warnings apply. It’s still a bit of a grey area, this, with the process of downloading ROMS not entirely legal (though you’re perfectly entitled to make your own, if you have the means). It’s a licensing issue.

As such, we’re not going to link to any ROM sites or anywhere you can download the PlayStation BIOS. This is simply an informative guide as to how to use the perfectly legitimate psx4droid app on Android.

(Note: Readers assume full legal responsibility for their actions and any consequences of following these instructions)

First things first – download psx4droid from the Android Market. You’ll need a 'high-end Android' to run the games properly, which means the likes of the Nexus One, HTC Desire, or Samsung Galaxy S. It’s worth noting, though, that the app is a work in progress, and you won’t get perfect performance on any Android device.
Download the PS1 BIOS file 'scph1001.bin' from any number of sites – none of which we’ll name here. All we’ll say is that it’s not hard to find, and that Google and YouTube are your friends in all things.
Ready your PlayStation ROM files. Once again, we’re not going to go into specifics here. We’ll assume that you own the original game and have made a ROM file as back-up. Bear in mind when making your ROM that psx4droid doesn’t recognise MDF files, so stick with the likes of BIN, ISO, IMG, and Eboot.
Plug your Android device into your computer and create a file. Call it anything you like: PSX, PlayStation, PooperScooper. Anything. Put the BIOS file and ROM files into said file, and alongside it create another file called ROMS.
Boot up psx4droid and touch the PSX BIOS file option, then search for the ‘PSX’ file you just created. Select the .bin BIOS file. Now back up a step into the default ‘Select ROM’ section, navigate to the same PSX folder you created and select your ROM.
Hey presto – PlayStation gaming on your Android. Have fun!

Jon Mundy
Jon Mundy
Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.