Built in the open.
Follow development, explore the C++ source, and see the community's work as it happens.
About shadPS4 ↗ YOUR PLAYSTATION 4. ON PC.
PS4 Emulator
for Windows.
Download shadPS4 and explore your PlayStation 4 library on PC. Check game compatibility, set up your controls, and get ready to play.
△ ○ × □FAMILIAR SYMBOLS. NEW POSSIBILITIES.
Always moving forward. An emulator shaped by its community.
Read the setup guide ↗THE NEXT CHAPTERFamiliar games.
Familiar games.
Different possibilities.
Discover a project that brings PlayStation 4 emulation to your desktop. Start with the right tools and see what works for your library.
Your controls. Your way.
Use a supported controller or configure keyboard inputs to suit the way you play.
Find your setup ↗A simpler starting point.
QtLauncher gives you a graphical interface and a place to manage emulator versions.
Download for Windows ↓A CLOSER LOOKThe emulator.
The emulator.
The actual experience.
Real screenshots from the shadPS4 project, showing the launcher and a game running on Windows.
Screenshots: shadPS4 launcher announcement ↗ and project gallery ↗. Interface and game results depend on the version and hardware used.
CHECK BEFORE YOU PLAYSee PS4 emulation
See PS4 emulation
in action.
Compatibility changes as shadPS4 develops. Look up your title before downloading and check reports for your hardware and emulator version.
Explore compatibility
A LITTLE MORE CLARITY
Before you jump in.
The essentials, answered.
What is shadPS4?
shadPS4 is a community-developed, open-source PlayStation 4 emulator. It is written in C++ and remains under active development.
Looking for a PS5 emulator?
For PlayStation 5, visit the dedicated PS5 emulator website.
Visit the PS5 emulator websiteIs every PS4 game playable?
No. Some titles run, while others encounter graphical errors, crashes, or fail to start. Check the upstream compatibility database for your exact game and emulator version.
Are games included in the download?
No. The launcher and emulator do not include games or Sony firmware. Use game files and required system modules from your own console.
How do I install shadPS4 on Windows?
Download the Windows package, extract it into a folder you can write to, and follow the Windows setup guide.
USEFUL TO KNOW
PS4 emulation on Windows, explained.
Practical answers for your next step.
What is a PS4 emulator for PC?
A PS4 emulator is software that recreates parts of the console environment on a computer. shadPS4 is an open-source project focused on PlayStation 4 emulation. This website helps Windows users find the download, understand the setup process, and check game reports before testing their own library.
Start with the question you need answered: where to download shadPS4 for Windows, what hardware it needs, or whether a particular PS4 game has been tested. Each page covers that step in more detail.
What should you check before downloading?
Check your Windows version, processor, graphics card, and available memory against the requirements. Then look up the exact game you want to test. A PC that meets minimum specifications does not establish that every game will run well; hardware readiness and game compatibility answer different questions.
The Windows setup guide puts those checks alongside installation steps, so you can prepare your PC before opening the emulator.
What do the screenshots tell you?
The images above come from the shadPS4 project and show real interfaces or game output from the builds identified in their captions. Use them to understand what the software looks like. For a decision about a specific title, read its compatibility report rather than treating a screenshot as a promise of performance on your PC.
Sources: shadPS4 project website · Project screenshot galleryDocumentation checked