he PCSX2 emulator has been the go-to tool for PlayStation 2 emulation for years . However, a new open-source alternative called Iris is emerging , starting to gain attention in the scene for its capabilities and modern approach.

Iris presents itself as an experimental project that aims to replicate the functioning of the legendary Sony console on modern platforms such as Windows, Linux and macOS.

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Born about 7-8 months ago, the project is still in its infancy, but has already attracted the attention of the emulation community for its transparency and open-source approach.

The goal of Iris is clear: to offer an alternative for running commercial PS2 games and, potentially, support advanced features such as emulation of the PSX DESR BIOS , a less common variant of Sony’s console.

The team behind Iris , led by allkern , took a collaborative approach, engaging with the community through the emudev Discord server and thanking external contributors and PCSX2 team members for their support.

This spirit of sharing is one of the strengths of the project, which invites developers and enthusiasts to contribute directly via GitHub.

What works in Iris

Even though it is still in alpha, Iris offers some noteworthy features:

Cross-platform support: The emulator is designed to run on Windows, Linux and macOS, providing flexibility for users.
Graphical Interface: Iris includes a GUI based on ImGui, which allows you to load disk images (ISO) or ELF executable files in an intuitive way. Settings allow you to configure BIOS, ROM1 and ROM2 dumps, with command line options for more advanced users.
Multiple BIOS Compatibility: Iris supports multiple PS2 BIOSes, including less common ones like the Chinese BIOS and the PSX DESR BIOS. The latter is particularly interesting, as it could pave the way for DESR’s XMB (XrossMediaBar) emulation, although crucial components like Flash, ATA, and MagicGate are still missing.
Launching Commercial Games: Some PS2 games can be launched, although they often stop at the start menu or title. This is a significant achievement for such a young project, although performance is still far from optimal.

Current challenges

Being in its early stages, Iris has several limitations that make it more of a developer project than an emulator ready for the general public:

Slow Performance: The lack of a Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler for the Emotion Engine (EE) and IOP processors, along with the lack of a hardware renderer, leads to very low frame rates. Most games run at reduced speeds, making the gaming experience less than fluid.
VU Emulation Problems: The PS2’s Vector Units (VU), which are responsible for much of the 3D graphics, are still poorly emulated. This causes many games to lack backgrounds and 3D models, limiting the visual experience.
Limited DESR Support: While Iris can boot the PSX DESR BIOS, emulation stops at the boot animation, failing diagnostic tests due to lack of support for Flash, ATA, and MagicGate.
Incomplete functionality: The emulator still lacks many optimizations and advanced features, such as a full-featured debugger or a more refined user interface.

These limitations are not surprising, considering that Iris is a work in progress. However, the recent fixing of a DMAC bug, which allowed more games to be launched, shows that the team is actively working on improving compatibility and performance.

Iris ‘ roadmap is nevertheless ambitious and full of objectives. Among the team’s priorities are:

Implementation of a JIT compiler: This should dramatically improve performance, making games run smoother and bringing them closer to the standards of more mature emulators like PCSX2.
VU Emulation Improvements: Addressing graphical issues related to Vector Units is crucial to ensuring a complete visual experience.
Full PSX Support DESDESR: The addition of Flash, ATA and MagicGate could unlock XMB emulation, making Iris one of a kind.
General Optimizations: The introduction of a hardware renderer and further improvements to the code could turn Iris into a serious competitor in the PS2 emulation landscape.

Iris: A new PS2 emulator that promises to surprise

What works in Iris

Current challenges

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