RPCS3 is a multi-platform open-source Sony Play Station 3 emulator and debugger written in C++ for Windows, Linux, macOS and FreeBSD.
This guide explains how to install RPCS3 emulator on Mac compatibles with macOS.
Index
- Software requirements
- System requirements
- Install emulator
- Install firmware
- Install games
- Emulator update
- Games update
- License
- FAQ
Software requirements
You can find all required data for your device from the link buttons below:
The software requirements for running this application must be met in order for the software to function at all.
System requirements
The hardware requirements for running the application vary depending on your current configuration.
Recommended requirements
| OS | macOS Monterey 12.0 (or later) |
| CPU | AMD/Intel 4 cores x64 (or higher) |
| RAM | 8 GB (or more) |
| GPU | OpenGL 4.3 (or newer) |
| Storage | SSD or HDD 5 GB (or more) |
For the best experience, users should be running within the recommended requirements.
Minimum requirements
| OS | macOS Big Sur 11.6 (or later) |
| CPU | AMD/Intel 2 cores x64 (or higher) |
| RAM | 4 GB (or more) |
| GPU | OpenGL 4.3 (or newer) |
| Storage | SSD or HDD 5 GB (or more) |
We cannot guarantee the performance of system specifications lower the recommended requirements but you’re always welcome to experiment.
Install emulator
- Download the .dmg file on the download section
- Download the official PS3 firmware on the download section
- Select the folder containing the downloaded archives
- Install the emulator by double-clicking the dmg file
- Drag and drop the RPCS3 emulator icon directly into the application folder
- On your desktop, right-click on the disk image and eject it as you no longer need it
- Go to your finder and search for the big 3 icon representing PS3 and open it
- Do the normal initializing process by agreeing to the checkboxes
- As the app starts, click on ‘file’ then click ‘install firmware’
- Go to downloads -> PS3UPDAT.pup (the system will take from a few seconds to a minute for uploading PPU modules)
- Connect a Bluetooth controller if you wish by enable it from the ‘Pads’ section in RPCS3
- Download .ISO files to the games you want and install it by follow the Games install guide
Install firmware
Due to legal reasons, we cannot distribute official Play Station 3 firmware files; you must download the latest Play Station 3 firmware update file from the link above for use with RPCS3 emulator.
Once downloaded, you must install the firmware using the built in firmware installer found under File > Install Firmware.
Install games
.pkg files must be extracted using RPCS3’s built-in package installer found under File > Install .pkg (or simply drag and drop .pkg to the main emulator window)
.pkg files will be automatically installed to \dev_hdd0\game\
Blu-ray disc title data can be placed in \dev_hdd0\disc\ or anywhere else except for \dev_hdd0\game\ and can be booted from File > Boot Game if not present on the game list.
PSN title data must be placed in \dev_hdd0\game\
PSN .rap files must be placed in \dev_hdd0\home\00000001\exdata\ (or simply drag and drop them to the main emulator window)
Save data files can be managed in ~/Library/Application Support/rpcs3/dev_hdd0/home/00000001/savedata/
RPCS3 emulator is capable of running most commercial games at full speed, provided you meet the necessary hardware requirements.
Emulator update
RPCS3 features an auto-updater which will prompt you if you want to update after loading the emulator.
You can either accept, deny or disable updates all together if you wish, though it is not recommended due to the volume of fixes that roll out each day.
In the instance that you need to update RPCS3 manually, you can follow the following instructions:
- Download the latest build of RPCS3
- Open the downloaded .DMG file
- Drag and drop the RPCS3 app into your applications folder when prompted
Games update
Title updates are handled the same as PSN .pkg files.
The. pkg update file must be installed using RPCS3’s built-in package installer found under File > Install .pkg
The update will be placed in the title folder that corresponds to the correct region ID.
Please note that title updates must be the same region in order to work.
Cross-mixing title regions may create irreversible damage to the title.
License
- Play Station is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment
- macOS is a trademark of Apple Inc.
This project is not meant for illegal activities, and we have a strict policy about piracy.
All resources are obtained via reverse engineering of legally owned devices, games, and information present on the internet.
The main objective of this project is to enhance the gaming experience, research, and provide education about the core concepts of device emulation.
FAQ
This guide/tutorial answers the following questions:
- How to install RPCS3 emulator on Mac?
- Is there a PS3 emulator for Mac?
- How do I run RPCS3 emulator on Mac?
- How do I download RPCS3 emulator on Mac?
- How can I play PS3 games on Mac?