How to set up a PS1 emulator on Xbox Series X|S
With a few tricks, your Xbox Series X|S can play PlayStation classics with ease.
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We really like ourXbox Series XandS. The hardware under the hood of these consoles are impressive, and even if thelaunch lineup is lackluster, the backward compatibility options are excellent. On an Xbox Series X|S, you can play four generations of Xbox games right out of the box. But what if I told you that there’s a way to expand that list even further? With $20, an external hard drive or USB, and a couple of downloads, you can install Retroarch onto your Xbox and play tons of classic consoles, including the PlayStation.
The premiere gaming subscription
If emulation is not your thing, you can always try Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate unlocks over 100 games to play on your Xbox One, PC, or Android device.
How to install a PS1 emulator on your Xbox Series X|S
A few things before we get started: First, you won’t be violating your Xbox’s warranty at all by doing this, as you’ll be operating the emulator in Dev Mode, a space Microsoft created for developers to work in. Second, due to the gray legality of emulators, we won’t be able to link to any emulator or ROM downloads directly, and third, because they’re not running on native hardware, the games you’re emulating may be littered with glitches or may not run at all — your mileage may vary. With all of that out of the way, let’s get started.
The sign-up process
The first step to getting an emulator installed on your Xbox is to become an Xbox Developer. It’s much easier than you think.
Congratulations, you’re now a registered Xbox Developer with total access to the Xbox Dev Mode. This will be the place where you will run your emulator.
Installing Retroarch onto your Xbox Series X|S
The emulator of choice here is called Retroarch. We’ll need to upload a compatible version of Retroarch onto your Xbox Series X|S.
Running Retroarch
At this point, Retroarch is operational, but there are a few changes worth making to get things running as smooth as possible.
Before we finish, there are two quick QoL changes you should make to your emulator.
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You’re done! Retroarch is installed and ready to go.
Playing PS1 games on your Xbox Series X|S
Now that Xbox Dev Mode is activated, and Retroarch is fully installed, you’ll need to find some PS1 games. This involves downloading PlayStation bios and finding PlayStation ROMs. Once you find those, you’ll be able to get PlayStation games running.
A backdoor to many possibilities
The Xbox Series X|S makes a surprisingly excellent emulator. The Xbox Series S, in particular, is an excellent entry point if you’re interested in emulation on a budget. While it’s nice to revisit classics from your childhood, remember that because they’re not on native hardware, you will most definitely experience tons of glitches ranging from minor to game-breaking. When you’re switching back to normal view, you’ll be asked if you want to clear the sideloaded games and apps. Make sure you uncheck the box, or you’ll have to do this whole process again.
Emulation isn’t for everybody. If it’s not for you, there are still tons of excellent Xbox games to play on your new console. If you don’t know what to play, you can start by signing up forXbox Gamepass Ultimate, Microsoft’s premiere subscription service that offers more than 100 titles across your Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Android device.
The premiere gaming subscription
If emulation is not your thing, you can always try Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate unlocks over 100 games to play on your Xbox One, PC, or Android device.
The full next-generation experience.
Xbox Series X is Microsoft’s new flagship, as its most powerful console with over 12TF GPU performance and a custom SSD. It boasts up to 4K resolution and 120 FPS, full backward compatibility across four generations, and ray-tracing support.
Experience next-gen gaming for less.
Microsoft serves the next-generation for less with its budget-friendly Xbox Series S. The console packs the same high-performance CPU and SSD technology as Xbox Series X, while scaling back the GPU and removing the disc drive.
Zackery Cuevas is a writer for Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore. I like playing video games, talking about video games, writing about video games, and most importantly, complaining about video games. If you’re cool, you can follow me on Twitter @Zackzackzackery.
