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RetroBIOS

RPCS3

RPCS3 emulates Sony PlayStation 3. It reads 1 file, 1 of them required: without a required file it does not start games.

About this profile
Detail Value
Type standalone
Classification Official port
Source https://github.com/RPCS3/rpcs3
Version 0.0.43, stated in rpcs3/rpcs3_version.cpp
Revision RPCS3/rpcs3@c365ea76a552
Profiled 2026-03-30
Profile YAML, JSON
Cores rpcs3, rpcs3-sa
Systems Sony PlayStation 3
Install this emulator's files

With Batocera, RetroBat, EmuDeck, RetroDECK, ROCKNIX or KNULLI: the installer finds Batocera, RetroBat, EmuDeck, RetroDECK, ROCKNIX or KNULLI and its BIOS folder, then downloads only the files RPCS3 reads there and checks each one.

Open the Start menu. Type PowerShell and open it. Paste the line. Press Enter.

PowerShell
&([scriptblock]::Create((irm https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i.ps1))) --emulator rpcs3
Technical notes

RPCS3 requires the official PS3 firmware (PS3UPDAT.PUP) from Sony. The PUP file is a signed update package containing multiple TAR archives prefixed with "dev_flash_". During installation, RPCS3 extracts these TARs into the dev_flash/ directory structure.

The most critical component is dev_flash/sys/external/liblv2.sprx - without it, no PS3 game can boot. RPCS3 checks for its presence and shows a firmware install prompt if missing.

Most sys/external modules can run in either LLE (real firmware code) or HLE (RPCS3 reimplementation) mode. By default, liblv2.sprx loads libsysmodule.sprx which chains all other modules. Users can toggle individual modules between LLE/HLE.

The dev_flash/ structure mirrors the real PS3 NAND layout:

  • sys/external/ : Loadable firmware PRX modules
  • sys/internal/ : Internal system modules
  • vsh/ : Visual Shell (XMB interface)
  • data/font/ : System TTF fonts (16+ files)
  • data/cert/ : SSL certificates
  • ps1emu/ : PS1 backward compat emulator
  • ps2emu/ : PS2 backward compat emulator (fat models only)
  • pspemu/ : PSP emulator
  • bdplayer/ : Blu-ray disc player

Firmware versions follow the X.XX format (e.g. 4.90). RPCS3 reads the version from dev_flash/vsh/etc/version.txt at startup.

Files

Section titled “Files”

1 file: 1 required, 0 optional.

In this collection: 1 in repo and 0 missing.

Required

Section titled “Required”

PS3UPDAT.PUP required in repo large_file

  • PUP firmware package. Validated via SCEUF magic + HMAC-SHA1 per entry. Extracted to dev_flash/ at install time.
Source

Profile data

Section titled “Profile data”
dev_flash

  • sys external:

    • path: dev_flash/sys/external/

    • source ref: rpcs3/Emu/Cell/PPUModule.cpp:2674

    • note: Primary firmware module directory. Contains decrypted .sprx modules loaded by liblv2.sprx at boot. RPCS3 can run these via LLE (low-level emulation) or fall back to HLE (high-level emulation) per module. liblv2.sprx is the kernel loader.

    • critical file: liblv2.sprx

    • modules:

      • liblv2.sprx
      • libsysmodule.sprx
      • libfs_utility_init.sprx
      • libadec.sprx
      • libatrac3plus.sprx
      • libcelp8dec.sprx
      • libcelpdec.sprx
      • libcelpenc.sprx
      • libddpdec.sprx
      • libdtslbrdec.sprx
      • libdtsdec.sprx
      • libdtshdcoredec.sprx
      • libdtshddec.sprx
      • libm2aac.sprx
      • libm2bc.sprx
      • libm4aac.sprx
      • libm4aac2ch.sprx
      • libm4aac2chmod.sprx
      • libmp3dec.sprx
      • libmp3sdec.sprx
      • libmpl1dec.sprx
      • libtrhddec.sprx
      • libwmadec.sprx
      • libwmaprodec.sprx
      • libwmalslbrdec.sprx
      • libac3dec.sprx
      • libvdec.sprx
      • libdmux.sprx
      • libdmuxpamf.sprx
      • libpamf.sprx
      • libvpost.sprx
      • libsail.sprx
      • libsailrec.sprx
      • libgcm_sys.sprx
      • libresc.sprx
      • libio.sprx
      • libcamera.sprx
      • libgem.sprx
      • libmic.sprx
      • libusbpspcm.sprx
      • libusbd.sprx
      • libnetctl.sprx
      • librudp.sprx
      • libssl.sprx
      • libhttp.sprx
      • libhttps.sprx
      • libhttputil.sprx
      • libsysnet.sprx
      • libsysutil.sprx
      • libsysutil_ap.sprx
      • libsysutil_avc2.sprx
      • libsysutil_avc_ext.sprx
      • libsysutil_np_eula.sprx
      • libaudio.sprx
      • libvoice.sprx
      • libavconfext.sprx
      • libsavedata.sprx
      • libgame.sprx
      • libgameexec.sprx
      • libuserinfo.sprx
      • libosklialog.sprx
      • libsysconf.sprx
      • libgifdec.sprx
      • libjpgdec.sprx
      • libjpgenc.sprx
      • libpngdec.sprx
      • libpngenc.sprx
      • libsceNp.sprx
      • libsceNp2.sprx
      • libsceNpBasicLimited.sprx
      • libsceNpClans.sprx
      • libsceNpCommerce2.sprx
      • libsceNpMatchingInt.sprx
      • libsceNpPlus.sprx
      • libsceNpSns.sprx
      • libsceNpTrophy.sprx
      • libsceNpTus.sprx
      • libsceNpUtil.sprx
      • libfont.sprx
      • libfontFT.sprx
      • libfreetype2.sprx
      • librtc.sprx
      • librtcalarm.sprx
      • libl10n.sprx
      • libkey2char.sprx
      • libimejp.sprx
      • libcrosscontroller.sprx
      • libfiber.sprx
      • libspurs_jq.sprx
      • libspudll.sprx
      • libmixer.sprx
      • libsnd3.sprx
      • libsynth2.sprx
      • libovis.sprx
      • libprint.sprx
      • librec.sprx
      • libremoteplay.sprx
      • libscreenshot.sprx
      • libsearch.sprx
      • libmusic.sprx
      • libmusicdecode.sprx
      • libmusicexport.sprx
      • libphoto.sprx
      • libphotoexport.sprx
      • libphotoimportutil.sprx
      • libvideo.sprx
      • libvideoplayer.sprx
      • libvideoupload.sprx
      • libnetaoi.sprx
      • libpesmutility.sprx
      • libbgdl.sprx
      • libsubdisplay.sprx
      • libdtcpiputility.sprx
      • libsheap.sprx
      • libsync2.sprx
      • libminisSavedata.sprx
      • libauthdialogutility.sprx
      • libcrashdump.sprx
      • liblv2dbg.sprx

  • sys internal:

  • vsh:

    • path: dev_flash/vsh/

    • source ref: rpcs3/rpcs3qt/main_window.cpp:277, rpcs3/rpcs3qt/main_window.cpp:676

    • note: PS3 XMB interface. vsh.self is the main executable, booted via 'Boot VSH' menu.

    • files:

      • path: vsh/module/vsh.self, purpose: XMB main executable, required for: Boot VSH / XrossMediaBar
      • path: vsh/etc/version.txt, purpose: Firmware version string
      • path: vsh/module/eseibrd.sprx, purpose: System module (precompiled at boot)
      • path: vsh/module/msmw2.sprx, purpose: Media streaming
      • path: vsh/resource/explore/user/*.png, purpose: User avatar icons (000.png - 025.png)
      • path: vsh/resource/explore/icon/icon_home.png, purpose: Home icon for game list

  • fonts:

    • path: dev_flash/data/font/

    • source ref: rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellFont.cpp:226-281

    • note: PS3 system fonts used by cellFont API. Loaded from dev_flash/data/font/ and dev_flash/data/font/SONY-CC/ subdirectory. Games using cellFont will fail to render text without these.

    • files:

      • name: SCE-PS3-RD-R-LATIN.TTF, type: Rodin Sans Serif Regular Latin, required: yes
      • name: SCE-PS3-RD-L-LATIN.TTF, type: Rodin Sans Serif Light Latin
      • name: SCE-PS3-RD-B-LATIN.TTF, type: Rodin Sans Serif Bold Latin
      • name: SCE-PS3-RD-R-LATIN2.TTF, type: Rodin Sans Serif Regular Latin2
      • name: SCE-PS3-RD-L-LATIN2.TTF, type: Rodin Sans Serif Light Latin2
      • name: SCE-PS3-RD-B-LATIN2.TTF, type: Rodin Sans Serif Bold Latin2
      • name: SCE-PS3-MT-R-LATIN.TTF, type: Matisse Serif Regular Latin
      • name: SCE-PS3-NR-R-JPN.TTF, type: NewRodin Gothic Regular Japanese
      • name: SCE-PS3-NR-L-JPN.TTF, type: NewRodin Gothic Light Japanese
      • name: SCE-PS3-NR-B-JPN.TTF, type: NewRodin Gothic Bold Japanese
      • name: SCE-PS3-YG-R-KOR.TTF, type: YD Gothic Regular Korean
      • name: SCE-PS3-SR-R-LATIN.TTF, type: Seurat Maru Gothic Regular Latin
      • name: SCE-PS3-SR-R-LATIN2.TTF, type: Seurat Maru Gothic Regular Latin2
      • name: SCE-PS3-SR-R-JPN.TTF, type: Seurat Maru Gothic Regular Japanese
      • name: SCE-PS3-VR-R-LATIN.TTF, type: VAGR Sans Serif Round Latin
      • name: SCE-PS3-VR-R-LATIN2.TTF, type: VAGR Sans Serif Round Latin2
      • name: SCE-PS3-DH-R-CGB.TTF, type: Chinese GB font, subdir: SONY-CC/

  • certs:

  • ps1emu:

    • path: dev_flash/ps1emu/

    • source ref: rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp:2252

    • note: PS1 Classics emulator. Booted when running PS1 game via ps1_newemu.self

    • files:

      • name: ps1_newemu.self, purpose: PS1 emulator binary

  • ps2emu:

    • path: dev_flash/ps2emu/
    • source ref: rpcs3/Crypto/key_vault.h:219
    • note: PS2 emulator components. Only present on fat PS3 models (CECHA/B/C/E). Includes me_iso_for_ps2emu.self and sv_iso_for_ps2emu.self (since FW 3.70).

  • pspemu:

    • path: dev_flash/pspemu/

    • source ref: rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp:2280, rpcs3/Crypto/key_vault.h:285-290

    • note: PSP emulator for PS3. Contains psp_emulator.self, psp_translator.self, and release/*.sprx

    • files:

      • name: psp_emulator.self, purpose: PSP emulator main binary
      • name: psp_translator.self, purpose: PSP translator
      • name: release/emulator_api.sprx, purpose: Emulator API
      • name: release/emulator_drm.sprx, purpose: DRM handling

  • bdplayer:

    • path: dev_flash/bdplayer/

    • source ref: rpcs3/Crypto/key_vault.h:257-258

    • note: Blu-ray disc player modules

    • files:

      • name: bdp_bdmv.self, purpose: BD-MV player
      • name: bdj.self, purpose: BD-J (Java) player
dev_flash2
  • path: dev_flash2/
  • filesystem: CELL_FS_FAT
  • device: CELL_FS_IOS:BUILTIN_FLSH2
  • source ref: rpcs3/Emu/Cell/lv2/sys_fs.cpp:30
  • note: Second flash partition, used for additional system data
dev_flash3

Next steps

Section titled “Next steps”
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Maintained by Abdess on GitHub. Report a problem.

Packs from release v2026.10.10, .

MIT for the tooling and metadata. BIOS and firmware files are third-party system software, preserved for personal backup, archival and interoperability.