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RPCS3 is a Sony Playstation 3 Emulator.

Website: https://rpcs3.net/

Quickstart Guide: https://rpcs3.net/quickstart

Github: https://github.com/RPCS3/rpcs3

Compatibility List: https://rpcs3.net/compatibility

RPCS3 Wiki: https://wiki.rpcs3.net/index.php?title=Main_Page

RPCS3 Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started with RPCS3

  2. RPCS3 Tips and Tricks

Getting Started with RPCS3

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In order to play a game on RPCS3, you need to install the firmware through the RPCS3 UI. In desktop mode, open RPCS3, either in the application menu or through its shortcut in Emulation/tools/launchers/rpcs3.sh. In RPCS3, click File, click Install Firmware. Firmware is provided legally by Sony.

Follow RPCS3's Quickstart Guide for a step by step process on setting up RPCS3: https://rpcs3.net/quickstart

Read the Configuration section to learn more about RPCS3 and its folder locations.

To launch your ROMs in game mode, use Steam ROM Manager and use one of the following parsers to play your Playstation 3 ROMs:

RPCS3 Configuration

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  • Type of Emulator: Flatpak
  • Config Location: /home/deck/.var/app/net.rpcs3.RPCS3
  • Storage Location: Emulation/storage/rpcs3
  • Contains: dev_hdd0
    • Contains the following folders:
      • disc
      • game
      • home
      • photo
      • savedata
  • ROM Location: Emulation/roms/ps3
  • Firmware: Install the firmware through RPCS3's GUI. Read the Quickstart Guide for a tutorial
  • Saves:
    • Symlink: Emulation/saves/rpcs3/saves
    • Target: Emulation/storage/rpcs3/dev_hdd0/home/00000001/savedata

Note: ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders. * Your game will not show in the RPCS3 UI until you add it manually through the Add Game option under File in the top left.

Works With

RPCS3 Folder Locations

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These file locations apply regardless of where you chose to install EmuDeck (to your internal SSD, to your SD Card, or elsewhere). Some emulator configuration files will be located on the internal SSD as listed below.

$HOME refers to your home folder. If you are on a Steam Deck, this folder will be named /home/deck (you will likely not see deck in the file path when navigating using the file manager).

Paths beginning with Emulation/.. correspond to your EmuDeck install location. If you installed on an SD Card, your path may be /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/roms/... If you installed on your internal SSD, your path may be /home/deck/Emulation/roms/..

Note: Folders with a . (.var, .local, .config, etc.) at the beginning are hidden by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.

$HOME/.var/app/net.rpcs3.RPCS3

net.rpcs3.RPCS3
├── cache
│   ├── fontconfig
│   ├── mesa_shader_cache
│   │   ├── 17
│   │   ├── 9b
│   │   ├── d6
│   │   └── ea
│   ├── rpcs3
│   │   ├── savestates
│   │   ├── shaderlog
│   │   └── spu_progs
│   └── tmp
├── config
│   ├── kdeglobals
│   ├── pulse
│   │   └── cookie
│   ├── QtProject.conf
│   ├── rpcs3
│   │   ├── captures
│   │   ├── config.yml
│   │   ├── dev_bdvd
│   │   ├── dev_flash
│   │   ├── dev_flash2
│   │   ├── dev_flash3
│   │   ├── dev_hdd1
│   │   │   └── caches
│   │   ├── dev_usb000
│   │   ├── games.yml
│   │   ├── GuiConfigs
│   │   │   └── CurrentSettings.ini
│   │   ├── Icons
│   │   ├── patches
│   │   ├── sounds
│   │   └── uuid
│   └── user-dirs.dirs
└── data

Emulation/storage/rpcs3

rpcs3/
└── dev_hdd0
    ├── disc
    ├── game
    ├── home
    ├── photo
    └── savedata

How to Update RPCS3

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How to Update RPCS3

  • Update through Discover (Shopping bag icon)
  • Through the Update your Emulators & Tools section on the Manage Emulators page in the EmuDeck application

How to Launch RPCS3 in Desktop Mode

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How to Launch RPCS3 in Desktop Mode

  • Launch RPCS3 from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
  • Launch the script from Emulation/tools/launchers, rpcs3.sh
  • Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam ROM Manager

RPCS3 File Formats

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  • Folder Format: /PS3_GAME/USRDIR/eboot.bin
    • Place the folder in Emulation/roms/ps3
    • Visual Reference:
    • For more information on the Folder Format, read RPCS3's Quickstart Guide
      • Note: Read the Dumping Step-by-step section specifically
  • Install .pkg files directly through the RPCS3 UI
    • Note: You can drag and drop .pkg files to the RPCS3 UI
    • .pkg files are installed to: Emulation/storage/rpcs3/dev_hdd0/game/
  • Install .rap files directly through the RPCS3 UI
    • Note: You can drag and drop .rap files to the RPCS3 UI
    • .rap files are installed to: Emulation/storage/rpcs3/dev_hdd0/game/

Note: .iso is not supported. You cannot extract PS3 ISOs into a folder (without decrypting it) and expect a working ROM. Read the Dumping Step-by-step section specifically of the RPCS3 Quickstart Guide to learn how to extract .iso files into a decrypted folder. A ROM ending with the file extension .iso is not supported.

Steam ROM Manager Parsers

  • Folder Format: Use the Sony PlayStation 3 - RPCS3 (Extracted ISO/PSN) parser
  • PKG Format: Use the Sony PlayStation 3 - RPCS3(Flatpak) (Installed PKG) parser

RPCS3 Hotkeys

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N/A

How to Manage Updates

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Read https://wiki.rpcs3.net/index.php?title=Help:Installing_Game_Updates for a tutorial on how to download and manage PS3 updates.

The Linux version of the software mentioned in the above article can be found here: https://github.com/RainbowCookie32/rusty-psn/releases/.

RPCS3 Tips and Tricks

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How to Configure RPCS3 to Work With EmulationStation-DE

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  1. In Desktop Mode, open RPCS3
  2. Skip this step if you have already added your games to RPCS3:
    • Either:
      • In the top left click, File, click Add Games, locate your game
      • In the top left click, File, click Install Packages/Raps/Edats, and install your PKG
      • For more information, read the File Formats section
  3. Right click your game, click Create Shortcut, click Create Desktop Shortcut
  4. On your desktop, you should see an icon for your game. Move this icon to Emulation/roms/ps3
  5. Right click the shortcut, click Open with Kate or a text editor of your choice
  6. Edit the beginning of the Exec= line using the following template:
    • Original Line: `Exec="/app/bin/rpcs3" --no-gui
    • Updated Line: Exec="/usr/bin/flatpak" run net.rpcs3.RPCS3 --no-gui
      • Replace "/app/bin/rpcs3" --no-gui with "/usr/bin/flatpak" run net.rpcs3.RPCS3 --no-gui
    • Do not edit anything on the line after --no-gui
  7. Example, using Demon Souls:
    • Original Line: Exec="/app/bin/rpcs3" --no-gui "%%RPCS3_GAMEID%%:BLUS30443"
      • Original Line
    • Updated Line: Exec="/usr/bin/flatpak" run net.rpcs3.RPCS3 --no-gui "%RPCS3_GAMEID%:BLUS30443"
  8. Save and close out of the desktop file
  9. (Optional) If the desktop file is opening RPCS3 instead of the game:
    • In Desktop Mode, right click the desktop file
    • Click Properties
    • On the General tab, click Change to the right of the Open With line
    • Under Application Preference Order, click RPCS3
    • Click Remove on the right
    • Click Apply in the bottom left and click OK
    • The desktop file will not work in Desktop Mode, but will launch the game directly either through a terminal or through EmulationStation-DE
  10. Your game should now show up in and launch directly from EmulationStation-DE

If you get an Invalid file or folder error message, you will need to change the Alternative Emulator in EmulationStation-DE for PlayStation 3 to RPCS3 Shortcut [Standalone].

You may also do this on a per-game basis if you are using a mix of folders and PKGs. On a game, press the select button, scroll down and select EDIT THIS GAME'S METADATA, scroll down and select ALTERNATIVE EMULATOR, select PS3 and select the corresponding format.

Refer to https://gitlab.com/es-de/emulationstation-de/-/blob/master/USERGUIDE.md#sony-playstation-3, for additional information.

How to Configure Multiplayer

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RPCS3 comes with a nifty auto-map feature that makes setting up multiplayer a breeze. To set up multiplayer, you simply need to enable the additional ports.

  1. Open RPCS3
  2. Open the Pads menu in the Settings
  3. For each controller you are using for Player 2, 3, 4, etc, click the respective tab
    • You do not need to adjust any settings for Player 1
  4. Under Handlers, select SDL for each player you are enabling
  5. Under Devices
    • Player 2: Steam Virtual Gamepad 2
    • Player 3: Steam Virtual Gamepad 3
    • Player 4: Steam Virtual Gamepad 4
    • Player 5: Steam Virtual Gamepad 5
    • Player 6: Steam Virtual Gamepad 6
    • Player 7: Steam Virtual Gamepad 7
  6. Using Player 2 as an example:
    • On the Player 2 configuration screen, after you have selected the appropriate Device and Handler, click Refresh to the right of Handler
  7. After you are finished enabling any additional players, click Save and you may open your game either directly as a shortcut in Steam or through EmulationStation-DE
  8. (Optional) You may need to re-arrange the controller order in Game Mode for your controllers to function as expected. See How to Re-Arrange the Controller Order to learn how

Special Game Configurations

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Some games will take additional setup, requiring mods or an extensive alteration of settings. The EmuDeck Community Creations page collects these configurations in one centralized location.

You can submit or view special game configurations here: Special Game Configurations

How to Set up the Motion Sensor with External Controllers

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The PlayStation 3 controller, or the DualShock 3 notably had "Sixaxis". Sixaxis refers to the motion sensor used in a handful of games. One of the more popular games that utilized Sixaxis was Folklore. For a full list of games, see https://www.giantbomb.com/sixaxis-support/3015-5310/games/.

Recently, RPCS3 implemented support to allow emulating the Sixaxis through evdev, which exposes the gyro in a large variety of modern controllers (including the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, 8BitDo Ultimate Controller, and the DualSense).

At this time, the Steam Deck gyro cannot be used. But if you own one of these controllers, you may emulate the Sixaxis through RPCS3.

Here's How

Desktop Mode

  1. Switch to Desktop Mode
  2. Exit out of Steam
    • You may exit out of Steam a couple of different ways:
      • Right click the Steam icon in your taskbar and click Exit Steam
      • Open Steam, click the Steam button in the top left, click Exit
      • Open a terminal (Konsole) and enter killall -9 steam
      • Do note that clicking the the X button in the top right of the Steam window will not exit out of Steam
    • Your controls will switch to Lizard Mode. Use L2 to right click, R2 to left click, and the Right Trackpad to move the mouse
    • You may also connect an external keyboard and mouse
  3. Click the bluetooth icon in the bottom right of your taskbar and connect your controller
  4. Click the Steam icon in the bottom left of the taskbar and open RPCS3
  5. Click Pads at the top
  6. Under the Player 1 tab, click the Dropdown box below Devices and select your controller
    • To switch back to the default controller layout, make sure Steam is open and select Steam Virtual Gamepad 1
  7. Click Save, and exit out of RPCS3

Game Mode

  1. In Game Mode, connect your controller
  2. Select your PlayStation 3 game
  3. On the Play screen, select the Controller icon to the right of the screen
  4. Select your controller tab at the top
  5. Click Reorder Controllers and move your external controller to the top
  6. Click the Gear icon to the right, and click Disable Steam Input
    • You may need to restart first for this setting to properly apply
  7. Your controller's gyro will now work for this selected game, repeat as needed for your other games

For a video, see below:

Post-Configuration

To restore the default Steam Deck controls:

  1. Open RPCS3
  2. Click Pads at the top
  3. Under the Player 1 tab, click the Dropdown box below Devices and select Steam Virtual Gamepad 1
  4. Select SDL under Handlers
  5. Click Save, and exit out of RPCS3

(Optional) To restore Steam Input:

  1. Select your PlayStation 3 game
  2. On the Play screen, select the Controller icon to the right of the screen
  3. Select your controller tab at the top
  4. Click the Gear icon to the right, and click Enable Steam Input
    • You may need to restart first for this setting to properly apply
  5. The controls will be reverted to Steam Input and the Steam Deck controls will be restored

How to Roll Back RPCS3 to an Older Version

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  1. In Desktop Mode, open Konsole
  2. To see a list of prior versions of the emulator, type:
    • flatpak remote-info --log flathub net.rpcs3.RPCS3
    • Each version will have a long accompanying alphanumeric string (the “commit” code). Copy the string for the version you want to downgrade to.
  3. To downgrade to the version you want:
    • flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here net.rpcs3.RPCS3
    • Replace put_commit_code_here with the actual code you located in Step 2.
    • If this line does not work, you may need to type:
      • sudo flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here net.rpcs3.RPCS3