Summary
- A new PS3 emulator is available on the Google Play Store called aPS3e.
- aPS3e is a free download, but a $5 version is available if you want to support the developer. The $5 version comes with no extra features.
- aPSEe requires at least Android 10 or newer and 6GB of RAM. Users on Reddit report mixed experiences with the app.
Recently, there's been a lot of nostalgia for the PS3 era. Some of its games are now available in the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog, making it easier than ever to play them on the PS4 and PS5. Additionally, earlier this year, Sony even released a new update for the PS3 that updated the console's Blu-ray encryption key, allowing users to continue using the near 20-year-old console as a Blu-ray player.
If you're looking to scratch the nostalgic itch for the PS3 era but don't own an old PS3 or have a PlayStation Plus subscription, there's a new way to enjoy your favorite PS3 games again -- conveniently, right in the palm of your hand: an Android phone. Recently, a new ad-free PS3 emulator called aPS3e launched on the Google Play Store. It is based on RPCS3, the popular open-source PS3 emulator for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
aPS3e is free, but a paid version is also available for $5, which supports the developer and comes with no additional features. However, to run the emulator on your Android device, you'll need some capable hardware.
aPS3e
- Developer
- aenu
- Ads
- No
aPS3e is a PS3 emulator for Android that is in active development.
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aPS3e requires Android 10 or newer
You'll need to supply your own PS3 games
If you're interested in trying out the aPS3e emulator yourself, you'll need a relatively new Android phone, since it only supports Android 10 or newer. You also need a device with fairly capable hardware, as the developer of aPS3e recommends at least 6GB of RAM, with 8GB being preferable (via PCMag).
Additionally, you'll require a capable CPU/GPU combination on your phone to achieve the best performance when emulating games with aPS3e. The Snapdragon 8 Elite found in the latest Android phones, such as the Galaxy S25 series or the OnePlus 13, will do the job. Still, older chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Gen 2, or Gen 3 should work too, but your experience might vary depending on the games you try.
Speaking of games, it's important to note that this app is solely just the emulator itself. It doesn't include any PS3 games; you'll need to supply those yourself. The app's Google Play Store page states: "This download does not contain any games, dump your own real PS3 games and convert them to PKG files [to] use them."
Since launching on June 2, the app has already accumulated over 100,000 downloads...
Users on Reddit have reported mixed experiences with the app so far. One Redditor said they tried it, but as soon as they launched any games, it would crash. Another announced a similar issue despite running a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with 12GB of RAM. The app description on the Google Play Store says it's "still under active development and may not work with all your favorite games." Since launching on June 2, the app has already accumulated over 100,000 downloads, so it seems a lot of people are interested in trying it out.
While aPS3e is among one of the first PS3 emulators to pop up on the Google Play Store, it isn't the only PS3 emulator for Android out there. Earlier this year, RPCS3's co-founder released an alpha build of the emulator ported to Android. It's only available on GitHub, so you'll need to sideload the APK onto your device to try it.
If emulation isn't your thing, your best bet is to check out the PlayStation Plus Classics Catalog on PS4 and PS5 to revisit older titles. If you still have an old PS3 kicking around, you can always update it and give it a new lease of life with a USB stick as well.
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