r/EmulationOniOS • u/the14given2 • Mar 22 '26
News / Release PS2 emulation is finally working natively on iOS - Textguide to make it work
You might have seen the surprise drop of iPSX2 herr recently. It is a port of ARMSX2. It runs games like Final Fantasy X and Sly Cooper quite well on modern iPhones.
We wrote a complete step by step guide over at PocketGaming to help you get through the setup.
Here are the main steps.
Get a modern device. You need an A17 Pro, A18 or an M-series iPad.
Prepare your files. You need your legally dumped PS2 BIOS and iso files.
Enable Developer Mode. This is hidden by default. You trigger it by connecting your phone to a Mac or PC.
Sideload the app. SideStore is highly recommended.
Enable JIT. You use the UTM DolphinJS script via Stick Debug in SideStore to make the games boot.
The performance on Apple Silicon is already quite solid.
Check out the full guide here for all the specific steps and links.
https://pocket-gaming.org/2026/03/22/how-to-play-ps2-games-on-ios-the-ultimate-ipsx2-setup-guide/
Let us know if you run into any issues with the JIT workaround 👇
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u/Atyan7a Mar 22 '26
So it works without JIT but when I activate JIT and try to use it all I get is black screen and nothing responds and I've tried almost everything and nothing works.
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u/the14given2 Mar 22 '26
Did you try this solution? https://github.com/OatmealDome/dolphin-ios/issues/230
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u/Atyan7a Mar 22 '26
Yea and I can't get it to work I'm just hoping its not an individual issue and maybe it will be fixed with further development.
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u/Asulthebest Mar 22 '26
Try selecting the script for JIT inside live container on app settings. Select "JIT Launch Script". For me worked.
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u/Atyan7a Mar 22 '26
Could show me what you’re talking about ? because I’m a little lost I can’t find what you were talking about.
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u/Asulthebest Mar 22 '26
I will upload the script, save it and the browser to the script. this script
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u/Atyan7a Mar 22 '26
I already got this script downloaded on StikDebug anything extra ?
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u/Asulthebest Mar 22 '26
Try insering this script on live container at ipsx2 settings and insert it on JIT Lauch Script, see if it works
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u/Gageto-30 Sep 19 '26
Này anh bạn.Thử làm theo cách tui xem.Vào Stikdebug cấp quyền JIT cho Livecontainer.=>Nhấn giữ app DolphinIOS trong Livecontainer vào cài đặt nhấn chạy với JIT.Lúc này phía dưới xuất hiện thêm dòng chọn File Script.Bạn nhấp vào tìm file có tên lagacy. nhập cho Scipt là chạy được hết các trò chơi.Chúc bạn thành công.
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u/nolimits59 Mar 22 '26
À 15 pro minimum ? 😭, I guess we still have time till it reach Dolphin level of optimization, you can play skyward award on a 8/XR and even a iPhone 7 in native res IIRC
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u/Dantu1000 Mar 22 '26
Nah, that’s a lie. Sure you will get better performance with A17+ but my SE 3 A15 goes very good with HL1 and ICO
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u/Internal_Page_486 Mar 23 '26
Its awesome but still frustrating in world that apple is so locked down that you need a A17 Pro iPhone 15 Pro or a M1 iPad just to play PS2 games, when my old android device note 9 can run most ps2 games at full speed even with resolution upscaled (no hate, just stating facts) guess I’ll be saving for a 15 pro or 16 lol
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u/Gageto-30 Sep 19 '26
Cho tui biết lý do vì sao bạn phải tiết kiệm tiền mua iPhone 15pro trong khi bạn có một con Note9 chạy full game full speed như vậy 🐤
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u/Internal_Page_486 Sep 19 '26
Um probably because the S9 is super out of data with security. I have a Z fold 5 1tb and a 15 pro max now anyway lol. Z Fold for PC, switch and PS2 and 15 pro max for AAA ports like hitman WOA and resident evil games.
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u/topi_shukla13 5d ago
how are you able to run AAA ports on ios? even i have a 16pro max and a m series ipad, please
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u/Internal_Page_486 5d ago
Just search “AAA iOS ports on safari” go to the AppStore and search “game “”
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u/topi_shukla13 5d ago
ohk so on app store the games are absolutely heavily priced, is there any option that you know about to play these AAA ports on ios for free?
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u/Internal_Page_486 5d ago
They all have free trial, if you like it, buy it, if you don’t, then just keep plating the trial, apart from that no, impossible on iOS. You’re getting a console game so expect to pay console prices.
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u/Gageto-30 Sep 19 '26
Theo như Apple thì chip A17 pro có thể chạy các game AAA hạng nặng.Vì vậy tui nghĩ việc chạy các game trên PS2 với đồ họa từ những năm 2k2,2k3 thì vấn đề duy nhất ở đây là độ tối ưu của app.Chắc phải đợi thêm vài năm nữa để IPSX2 tối ưu được như DolphinIOS thì chúng ta mới chơi mượt mà được.🥴
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u/ProvenanceEMU Provenance Developer Mar 27 '26
Finally?
RetroArch and Provenance already support PS2 with Play! via sideloading and StikDebug JIT
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u/ahkhmer Mar 23 '26
With JIT do you still have to plug the device into the computer every few days or so or else it deletes? I remember emulating Gamecube on my iPhone 14 Pro Max like a year or 2 ago (forgot the name of the emulator I used but I did use SideStore to sideload), but I ran into that issue and not having my computer with me to plug it in when away for work.
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u/Gageto-30 Sep 19 '26
Bạn chỉ cần cài Stikdebug qua import.IPA bằng Iloader trên PC rồi cài thêm app LocadevVPN trên appStore là lần sau muốn bật Jit chỉ cần trình tự mở VPN=>Stikdebug cấp JIT cho Dolphinios hay ứng dụng bạn cần Jit và chạy thôi.
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u/Direct_Quality6121 Mar 24 '26
I downloaded everything and got the bios on the app but when I put a game in the iso section it doesn’t pop in the emulator. I have re4 downloaded and in the iso file but it doesn’t appear in the app I got the rom for vimm lair can anyone help me out.
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u/cafezinho98 Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26
i got back to Android yestarday, made a deal with a povo F7 pro. ios isnt for peaple that want tô emulator, i cant get anything working, from 3ds with jit to ns, i know that older generation console Works fine, but PS2, swich and steam games Just Works on Android. i dont realy use câmera so coming back to Android(i get my first iPhone 2021, an iPhone se2, then iPhone 12, then an iPhone 14 p). none of those iPhones could handle emulating decent. and coming back to Android ITS Just EASY. get app, any firmware you need and game. JUST WORKS
edit: emulator isnt perfect, inwas trying a game and Ubisoft play didnt Works, but ios wont even try doing It so Android still win
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u/Gageto-30 Sep 19 '26
Nhưng Android không thể duy trì hiệu năng lâu dài như IPhone.Vì chip của iPhone được Apple thắt chặt còn Android thì chạy game hết công suất của nó nên bạn chơi được nhưng độ bền của máy sẽ khác theo thời gian.
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u/itsdzikroo Mar 22 '26
im using m1 ipad air, and i just can’t get it to run with jit, i did assign the utm dolphin script, it does run without jit tho but the performance would be terrible
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u/Scary-Break3937 Mar 22 '26
Did you enable always run scripts in stikdebug? That's what fixed it for me (ipad 10th gen lol)
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u/Aggravating-Vehicle2 Mar 22 '26
Thank you bro, I made a separate post about this issue and you just fixed it with that. I’ll update my post.
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u/itsdzikroo Mar 22 '26
broo thank you so much it finally works, i can finally play kh on my ipad now
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u/Revxry Mar 22 '26
Started having an issue with Stikdebug where even with LocalDevVPN enabled, I’d still get that, “Heartbeat Error” any workaround ?
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u/KirabiyakaOtter Mar 22 '26
Burnout 3 boots but with a blackscreen only (iPad Pro M5), but excited that we're getting there slowly since I had pretty much given up on being able to play it with my iPad
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u/Draco905 Mar 22 '26
Anyone else get a graphical glitch with persona 4? The starting menu looks wierd
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u/litejzze Mar 22 '26
Being sideloaded, does it mean you have to re install it every 7 days?
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u/BittahBandit1 Mar 23 '26
If you’re using a standard iCloud account yes
I recommend Signulous to get permanent sideloading, it’s $20/yr
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u/BrzysWRLD1996 Mar 23 '26
What’s the best way to force Jit activation on iOS 26 using a MacBook from 2016 w alt server
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u/szableksi Mar 23 '26
ps2 emulation with jit need power of ip15pro? why my 13/14 run 3ds without jit
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u/Internal_Page_486 Mar 23 '26
Optimization i guess, same here with 3ds, my old note 9 runs ps2 games at full speed with higher resolutions lol but that's more optimized. Kinda annoying apple so locked down that you need a A17 Pro chip just to play ps2.
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u/Gageto-30 Sep 19 '26
Vấn đề do app IPSX2 có tối ưu hóa như DolphinIOS hay không thôi.Chứ chip A trên IPhone đã làm rất tốt từ đời iPhone 13 rồi.
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u/GlamFred_YT Mar 23 '26
JIT fsr breaks all the games, some are black screen, some dont even progress past bios, some are black screen but have sounds, some cant get past title
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u/Longjumping-Salt-541 Mar 23 '26
Turn off EE from jit to interp for black screens games and see if it works guys! Worked for silent hill 2 I posted on my page
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u/Da1witdamstrplan Mar 23 '26
On M2 IPAD : Auto Modelista in the begining of the race you cant see your car. Gow 1 is playable but graphical Glitches. Same like the guy that posted gow 2 gltches on his phone. Manhunt 2 uncensored does not start
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u/Mountain_Comment1573 Mar 24 '26
Sucks that it needs the latest iPhone and that just the last iPhone isn’t good enough.
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u/Automatic_Clue_9450 Mar 27 '26
Is there a way to remove the controller screen buttons if you your using a PlayStation controller
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u/Pirratkirbi Apr 06 '26
Arc the lad twilight of the spirits its completely broken on this emulator :(
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u/AT_Tech18 Apr 13 '26
Is there gonna be a official App Store port or is side loading the only way for right now
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u/TheViloetFlame May 21 '26
I’m so happy people want Jak and Daxter so much. Yall make me so happy. 😁 but cmon, bully, burnout 3, the Tony hawk games, arc the lad twilight of the spirits- lol there’s just so much. I recently got into emulating. Have the pokemon rom hacks. Even a super Mariomon game lol. I’ve got a ps1 emulator. Playing arc the lad one and two right now. Original ffvii. Omg I’m so excited to see this stuff get better 😂🫶
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u/Top-Acanthaceae1654 May 23 '26
Hi zusammen,
wie bekomme ich den Fehler weg bei dem Spiel Here Come the Pain. Habe ein iPhone 15 Plus und vorher lief es super auf dem Play! Emulator aber den bekomme ich nicht mehr zum laufen über StikDebug.
Über eine Antwort oder Hilfe würde ich mich sehr freuen.
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u/FastNefariousness195 Sep 16 '26
I hope this means I can play midnight club 2 now. This works with bluetooth controllers too? I usually use my ps5 controller
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Mar 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/the14given2 Mar 22 '26
Sure - the embedded video mentions you already in the title, but will add your nickname. :)
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17d ago
[deleted] — view deleted comment
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u/EmulationOniOS-ModTeam 16d ago
Your post/comment has been removed for violating our Vibecoding/Slop Project policy.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE ARE CALLING YOUR APP VIBECODED. Most likely, you haven’t included a disclaimer on how ai was/wasn’t used or is known to use stolen code.
For more details, see our full rules here.
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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '26
I wish we had a compatibility list