shadPS4
Early open source PlayStation 4 emulator
- Open SourceGitHub
- shadPS4 Emulator ProjectDeveloper
- 14 Oct 2026Page Updated
Details
- Developers
- shadPS4 Emulator Project
- Source Code
- GitHub
- Page Updated
Supported Systems
Platform Support
- Windows
- Linux
- macOS
Screenshots
Overview
shadPS4 is an open source PlayStation 4 emulator for Windows, Linux and macOS, written in C++ and released under the GPL 2.0 licence. The project started as a hobby and is still early in development, but it can already run games such as Bloodborne, Dark Souls Remastered and Red Dead Redemption.
The main shadPS4 builds are the emulator core, which has no graphical interface of its own. The team recommends that most people use QtLauncher, the official graphical launcher, which is developed separately; both are available below. The stable releases are the numbered versions of the core, and the QtLauncher builds are its latest development builds.
On macOS, shadPS4 needs macOS 26 or later and does not support Intel Macs. Compatibility varies a lot between games, so check the project’s compatibility list before you start. shadPS4 is under active development with regular releases.
Key Features
Runs Big Games
Can run Bloodborne, Dark Souls Remastered and Red Dead Redemption.
Open Source
Written in C++ and released under the GPL 2.0 licence.
QtLauncher
An official graphical launcher, QtLauncher, is developed alongside.
Cross Platform
Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS.
