Emulation Archives

BetaBeacon

October 18, 2026

AYN Thor Setup Guide: 13 Steps, 90 Minutes [2026]

- AYN's Thor is a clamshell Android handheld with two AMOLED panels: a 6-inch top display and a 3.92-inch touchscreen on the bottom. - It comes in four configurations: Lite, Base, Pro, and Max, with varying specs including RAM, storage, and GPU. - Setup of the AYN Thor takes longer than expected as it does not come with bundled games, preinstalled emulators, or a third-party launcher. - The setup process includes steps such as unboxing and inspecting the model, charging fully before the first boot, updating firmware, configuring the dual-screen display, setting up the microSD card, installing RetroArch, Winlator, and Moonlight, mapping controls, calibrating sticks, setting up cloud and PC game streaming, optimizing battery and thermal behavior, organizing storage, launchers, and backups, and running a final full-system pass.

AppWizard

October 18, 2026

Demon’s Souls runs on PC at 60 FPS, while God of War Ragnarok still blinds players – PlayStation games tested on KyTyPS5 emulator

The KytyPS5 emulator, version v20261017, demonstrated impressive performance by achieving over 60 frames per second (FPS) on a setup with an MD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card while testing the Demon's Souls remake. With frame generation activated, the FPS increased to 120. The emulator currently supports a maximum resolution of 1440p, but stutters are still present. In contrast, God of War Ragnarok experienced performance issues, running at 10 to 25 FPS with graphical glitches. However, Astro Bot successfully runs on PC at approximately 60 FPS.

AppWizard

October 17, 2026

Is native PS5 game launch on PC a month away? Enthusiasts are close to completing decryption

The AnyPS5 project aims to enable the native launch of PlayStation 5 games on PC, with developers expecting to complete their decryption work in 24 days. They have successfully decrypted 100% of the PlayStation 5 graphics shader instructions, and the exploration of the console's system libraries is 89.44% complete. Advancements in artificial intelligence are aiding the decompilation of console games, facilitating the transition of exclusives to PC. The first native port, God of War: Sons of Sparta, is already operational on PC without an emulator. The completion of the decryption process is expected to lead to more fan-made ports for PC users.

BetaBeacon

October 17, 2026

Afterplay Brings Cloud-Synced Retro Gaming to Android and iOS

Afterplay allows users to play retro games in their browser without needing to download an app. It supports almost 40 different systems and has a growing catalogue of games from indie developers. Cloud Sync keeps progress stored, and Afterplay+ offers additional features. The app is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for free.

BetaBeacon

October 16, 2026

DroidDeck Setup: Play Steam Games on Android [2026]

DroidDeck is a project that allows users to run a real Steam client on their Android device, enabling them to access and play their existing Steam library without the need for a strong, low-latency network connection or a gaming PC. The latest version, 0.4.0, includes multi-storefront logins, four-controller local co-op support, and a KDE Plasma-style desktop interface. Users need to ensure their device meets specific hardware requirements, including having an Adreno GPU, sufficient RAM, and free storage space.

BetaBeacon

October 12, 2026

Steam and Windows PC game emulation on Android becomes easy with DroidDeck, now up to v0.3.2

DroidDeck is an open-source project that brings the Steam client to Android devices, allowing users to download and run games locally on their devices. It supports Steam Input, performance monitoring, GPU driver management, upscaling, and frame generation. Early testing has shown promising results with games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Skyrim Special Edition running smoothly at high settings. The latest version, 0.3.2, includes new features and improvements, but requires Android 9 or newer and Adreno 730 or newer GPUs.

AppWizard

October 11, 2026

Technical difficulties will prevent Grand Theft Auto VI from running on PC using emulators.

The gaming community is discussing the potential emulation of Grand Theft Auto VI on PCs, with its release scheduled for November 19th. Users are considering emulators like KytyPS5, SharpEmu, and RPCSX, but experts warn against downloading unreliable software such as PCSX5. The main challenge for emulation is the console's multi-layered security system, requiring developers to find vulnerabilities in the console's kernel and hypervisor. Current emulators can only handle basic games, and significant code optimization may take months to years. Legal challenges from Rockstar Games and Sony complicate efforts to distribute unauthorized game dumps. A stable PC port is seen as a distant goal, with the best experience expected on official consoles at launch.

BetaBeacon

October 10, 2026

LDPlayer vs MuMu vs NoxPlayer: 8-Year Android Gap

LDPlayer, MuMu Player, and NoxPlayer are BlueStacks alternatives that are popular among users. LDPlayer and MuMu Player each have roughly 22,200 monthly searches in the US, putting them on par with BlueStacks in search demand. NoxPlayer trails with around 2,400 monthly searches. LDPlayer is marketed towards gamers who want multi-instance farming for mobile RPGs, MuMu Player boasts a newer Android core and high-refresh gaming modes, and NoxPlayer is known for its automation and scripting tools. LDPlayer's latest version is LDPlayer 14, MuMu Player is on version 6.0, and NoxPlayer is still on Android 7. LDPlayer has no native macOS build, MuMu Player has official Windows and macOS installers, and NoxPlayer's macOS build may need to be checked for update recency.

AppWizard

October 10, 2026

DroidDeck Brings SteamOS to Android in an App

Valve's SteamOS is now accessible on Android handhelds through an app called DroidDeck, which allows users to engage with games in a familiar interface. The installation process involves disabling the “Child-process limit” in Developer Options and using Wireless ADB Debugging if necessary. Users can then access the Steam section of the app to download essential components like the FEX and Proton drivers. DroidDeck also features a “Desktop” tab for a Linux desktop environment and enables the installation of emulators within the SteamOS. The app is currently available for download on GitHub, and developers are actively working on enhancements and bug fixes.

BetaBeacon

October 9, 2026

Citra Emulator: A Simple Guide to Playing Nintendo 3DS Games on PC and Android

Citra is an open-source program designed to run compatible Nintendo 3DS games on other devices by recreating parts of the original console's behavior.