OpenPS2BIOS
An experimental replacement PlayStation 2 BIOS by Tamariba Devs, developed for emulators and tested in PCSX2. It includes an original boot screen and the EE and IOP kernels needed to start PS2 software. No Sony firmware is included.
Current version: 0.2
Warning
For emulator use only. Do not flash or install this BIOS on a real PS2. Real console hardware is unsupported and untested. Installing an experimental BIOS could leave your console unable to boot.
OpenPS2BIOS does not initialise the console's memory controller or other hardware that emulators set up on their own. On a real PS2 it will not boot.
Compatibility
See the game compatibility table for individual results. The listed games reach their main menus. Gameplay, saving, sound and controller support may still have problems; reaching a menu does not mean a game is fully playable.
OpenPS2BIOS is still in development. Results can change between BIOS builds and emulator versions.
Known limitations
- The boot screen only starts PS2 discs. There is no system menu, memory card browser or clock and language settings.
- PlayStation (PS1) discs, audio CDs and DVD video are not supported.
- When a game reboots the IOP, the modules it requests are not loaded. Built-in replacements provide the services instead. Encrypted (KELF) modules are not supported.
- A game stops when it uses a system call that is not implemented yet, so that missing features show up as a clear failure, not as a crash later on.
Downloads
Prebuilt ROM images are attached to each release on the Releases page. To build it yourself, see below.
Building
Requirements:
- Clang with the MIPS backend,
ld.lldandllvm-objcopy - GNU Make
- Python 3.10 or newer
The PS2SDK is not required. The build is tested with LLVM 23. Clang reports "MIPS-I support is experimental" for the IOP sources; this warning is expected.
make
This produces build/OpenPS2BIOS.bin, a 4 MiB ROM image. In your emulator,
select it as the BIOS.
Contributing
Bug reports, compatibility reports and pull requests are welcome. Please check existing issues before opening a new one, and keep each report focused on one problem or game.
For bugs and compatibility reports, open an issue with:
- The game title, region, serial and disc number. Mention any patches or mods.
- The OpenPS2BIOS build and emulator version.
- Your operating system and any relevant emulator settings.
- Steps to reproduce the result, what you expected and what happened.
- How far the game gets: boot, main menu, gameplay or completion.
- Logs or screenshots, if they help show the problem.
Reports about working games are useful too. Please say what you tested beyond the menu, including controller input, audio and saving where possible. Do not attach game images, Sony BIOS files or other copyrighted game data.
Pull requests for documentation and compatibility updates are welcome. Describe what changed and include the testing details behind any compatibility update. For larger changes, open an issue first so we can discuss the approach.
Acknowledgements
The PS2SDK project served as a reference for system call numbers, module interfaces and data structures. OpenPS2BIOS contains no PS2SDK code.
License
OpenPS2BIOS is licensed under the MIT License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Tamariba Devs.
OpenPS2BIOS is an independent project and is not affiliated with Sony Interactive Entertainment.