# Play!

> Play! is an open source PlayStation 2 emulator that doesn't need a PS2 BIOS, with builds for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and the web.

Web page: https://emulationking.com/sony/ps2/emulator/play/
Page updated: 2026-09-27

- Developer: Play! Development Team
- Source code: https://github.com/jpd002/Play-
- Supported systems: PS2
- Runs on: Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS

Play! is an open source PlayStation 2 emulator developed mainly by Jean-Philip Desjardins. Its main difference from other PS2 emulators is that it recreates the PS2's BIOS itself (high-level emulation), so you don't need a BIOS file from a real console to use it.

Play! is built to be portable. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, and there is even a version that runs in a web browser.

Compatibility is lower than PCSX2's, but a growing number of games are playable, and Play! is often the easiest way to try PS2 games on phones and tablets.

### Which download to pick

All the buttons are the same **Stable** release, built for different systems.

- **Windows (64-bit)** suits any current Windows PC; the 32-bit build is only for old 32-bit Windows installs. Both need Microsoft's latest Visual C++ redistributable.
- **Linux** is an AppImage: make it executable and run it.
- **Mac OS X** is a disk image for macOS.
- **Android** is an APK.
- **iPhone** is an IPA, which has to be sideloaded. Play! relies on JIT code generation, which iOS blocks by default: the developers say games crash on launch unless JIT is enabled, for example through AltServer or a jailbroken device.

### System requirements

The developers do not publish minimum specifications. PS2 emulation is demanding, so a fast CPU helps most, and on phones and tablets performance varies a lot between devices.

### Getting started

No BIOS is needed. Play! uses its own built-in BIOS and cannot load one from a real console. Games must be dumped from your own discs. On desktop, start one with File > Boot Disc Image; Play! reads ISO, CSO, CHD, ISZ, MDS and CUE images.

Controllers are mapped with Options > Controller Manager. Under Options > Settings you can choose the graphics backend (Vulkan or OpenGL) and raise the internal resolution from 1x up to 16x.

If a game does not run, check the Play! compatibility tracker on GitHub. For wider game support on a PC, [PCSX2](/sony/ps2/emulator/pcsx2/) is the more compatible option.

## Latest builds

Download these from the web page: https://emulationking.com/sony/ps2/emulator/play/#download

### Stable

- for Windows (32-bit): 0.72 (2026-01-23)
- for Windows (64-bit): 0.72 (2026-01-23)
- for Linux: 0.72 (2026-01-23)
- for Mac OS X: 0.72 (2026-01-23)
- for Android: 0.72 (2026-01-23)
- for iPhone: 0.72 (2026-01-23)