PS5X runs PS5 Quake II on Xbox Series X in developer mode
Developer Devan Kosmo Wynal used the PS5X emulator port to run four PS5 games on Xbox Series X, but Xbox's 5GB memory cap limits the scope.
Developer Devan Kosmo Wynal ran the PS5 version of Quake II on an Xbox Series X using PS5X, an Xbox port of the open-source PS5 emulator KytyPS5, according to Engadget. The emulator has not been released to the public and works only in the console's official developer mode.
PS5X ran four PS5 titles in the demonstration: GEX Trilogy, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd, Marvel Cosmic Invasion and Quake II. All four accepted Xbox controller input, and some produced sound.
None of the four games is a PS5 exclusive, and no PS5-exclusive title has yet been shown running through PS5X. Microsoft's developer mode caps games at 5GB of memory and apps at 1GB, which makes running most current big-budget games difficult.
Xbox developer mode also supports only DirectX 11 and DirectX 12, so Vulkan graphics commands must be converted to DirectX. Wynal described PS5X as a research project for running PS5 homebrew and game backups in developer mode, and said it contains no PS5 firmware or decryption keys.
Earlier emulator crackdown
Microsoft blocked emulators in Xbox retail mode in 2023, and reports said users who bypassed the block received 15-day suspensions. The RPCS3 team lists KytyPS5 and SharpEmu as open-source PS5 emulators that can currently boot games, and has warned about scam sites impersonating such projects.
Quick answers
Is PS5X available to the public?
No. PS5X has not been released to the public and only works in the official Xbox developer mode.
Which PS5 games ran on the Xbox Series X?
GEX Trilogy, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd, Marvel Cosmic Invasion and Quake II. None of them is a PS5 exclusive.
Why can't PS5X run big PS5 games?
Xbox developer mode limits games to 5GB of memory and supports only DirectX 11 and DirectX 12, so Vulkan graphics commands must be converted.