One of the original developers behind RPCS3 has started development on a version meant for Android.
Hot off the heels of the aPS3e release and subsequent removal, one of the former developers behind the mainline RPCS3 has started working on an Android version.
RPCS3 for Android
Details about the app’s development are scarce, but the GitHub repository is currently open and public for all to view and potentially build based on the source shared.
However, seeing as development has just begun, the app itself may be quite a way away from seeing a public or even beta release. When it comes to new apps and especially experimental emulators, the testing phases typically follow after a bare minimum build can be compiled.
As we’ve discussed at length in a handful of our articles over the last few months talking about PS3 emulation, it’s still a difficult console to emulate that takes a massive amount of additional development to run properly.
We have only recently seen improvements in the overall PS3 emulation scene for even the strongest of PCs, but with Android development now taking place at the same time, it’s possible we may see parallels between what one emulator can do versus the next.
How Did We Get Here?
DH was one of the founders of the original RPCS3 but took a break from the project in 2016 to focus on the newly growing PS4 emulation scene. RPCS3 has otherwise been developed by a dedicated team, and as seen through their various breakthroughs, one that is fully capable of carrying the torch forward.
Over the past few months, we’ve talked extensively about the many advancements made with PS3 emulation while still highlighting its difficulty. RPCS3 was eventually released with arm64 support, making it possible for many retro handhelds to run the software should they have Linux installed on them. Without Linux, there was no way to utilize the new update.
However, aPS3e was released a short few days ago but was removed from GitHub and any associated download pages just as quickly. A few days later, it resurfaced, albeit with builds being hosted elsewhere. Meanwhile, the developer states that “aPS3e will enter a closed testing phase.”
The controversy involved in the release of aPS3e was largely due to it being a version of RPCS3 cheaply compiled in order to run on Android, but all while the main developer was asking for $2000 USD to view the app’s source code.
Shortly after everything blew up surrounding aPS3e, the developer of Sudachi confirmed they would be taking a stab at bringing PS3 to Android. However, don’t get your hopes up for any major strides to be made anytime soon.
PS3 emulation is the next horizon for retro handhelds. Emulating the console at all is a feat that requires tons of time, work, and dedication, and seeing the same carry over to Android is just the beginning.
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