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The Best PS4 Emulators: Play Bloodborne on PC (Without Getting Scammed)

By Suyu Staff 3 min read
The Best PS4 Emulators: Play Bloodborne on PC (Without Getting Scammed)

Hey folks! If you’ve ever wanted to play PlayStation 4 exclusives like Bloodborne or Persona 5 on your PC, 2025 is the year to celebrate. PS4 emulation has come a long way, but let’s cut through the noise: not all emulators are created equal.

Some are scams, others are half-baked—but a few, like ShadPS4, are legitimately blowing minds. I’ll walk you through the best options, how to set them up, and how to dodge the sketchy stuff.

Let’s dive in.

Why Emulate PS4 in 2025?

Let’s face it: consoles age, but PCs evolve. Emulating PS4 lets you:

  • Play exclusives at higher resolutions/framerates.
  • Preserve games that might vanish from digital stores.
  • Experiment with mods or save states.

But a warning upfront: Only use emulators from trusted sources. Scams like “PCSX4” still bait newcomers with fake downloads (more on that later).

How PS4 Emulation Works (Spoiler: It’s Hard)

Emulating a PS4 isn’t like running a PS1 game on your toaster. The PS4 uses an x86-64 CPU (similar to your PC), but its custom AMD GPU and OS layers make it a beast to replicate.

Developers have to reverse-engineer everything—from memory management to GPU calls. That’s why even in 2025, only a handful of emulators can run games smoothly.

The Gold Standard: ShadPS4 Emulator

Who’s Behind It?

ShadPS4 is the brainchild of George Moralis, the legend behind PCSX (PS1) and PCSX2 (PS2). Development started in late 2022, and by 2025, it’s the most polished PS4 emulator out there.

Key Features

  • Cross-Platform: Windows, Linux, and macOS (yes, Mac gamers rejoice!).
  • Performance: Runs Bloodborne at 60 FPS if you’ve got the hardware (we’ll talk specs later).
  • Compatibility: 321 games are “playable” as of February 2025, including Sonic Mania and Persona 5.

How to Set Up ShadPS4 (Step-by-Step)

1. Download the Emulator

  • Official Site: Head to ShadPS4’s GitHub (avoid third-party sites!).
  • Install: Extract the ZIP file to a folder (e.g., C:\ShadPS4).

2. Dump Your PS4 BIOS

  • Legally Required: You must own a PS4. Follow the dumping guide (search online) to extract BIOS files from your console.

3. Configure the Emulator

  • Launch ShadPS4.exe > Settings > System.
  • Point the emulator to your BIOS folder (e.g., C:\PS4_BIOS).

4. Add Games

  • Insert your PS4 game disc into your PC’s Blu-ray drive (or use a legally dumped game file).
  • In ShadPS4, click File > Load Game > Select your .iso or disc drive.

5. Tweak Performance

  • Graphics: Enable Vulkan renderer for AMD/NVIDIA GPUs.
  • CPU: Set “Recompiler” mode to “Auto” for best speed.
  • Resolution: Upscale to 4K if your GPU can handle it (works wonders for Bloodborne).

Pro Tip: Check the compatibility list before starting a game. Some titles need specific settings.

RetroArch + Libretro: The Wildcard

RetroArch isn’t a PS4 emulator itself—it’s a frontend that can run emulator “cores.” As of April 2024, there’s no official PS4 core, but experimental builds exist.

How to Try It (At Your Own Risk)

1. Install RetroArch

2. Add a PS4 Core

  • Unofficial cores sometimes pop up on forums like Libretro’s GitHub.
  • Warning: These are alpha builds. Expect crashes.

3. Load a Game

  • Place your PS4 game files in a folder (again, legally sourced!).
  • In RetroArch: Load Core > Load Game.

RetroArch’s Perks:

  • Netplay for multiplayer.
  • CRT shaders for retro aesthetics.

Red Flags: Avoid Fake Emulators Like PCSX4

Google “PS4 emulator,” and you’ll see ads for PCSX4. It’s a scam. These sites:

  • Ask for payment to “unlock” the emulator.
  • Bundle malware with downloads.

Stick to:

  • Official GitHub repositories.
  • Trusted communities like r/emulation.

Legal Stuff: Don’t Be That Person

  • Own the Game: Dump games from discs you own.
  • No Piracy: Emulation ≠ stealing. Don’t torrent games—support devs!

Hardware Requirements: No Compromises

To run Bloodborne at 60 FPS:

  • CPU: Intel i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 / AMD RX 6800 XT.
  • RAM: 16GB DDR5.

Even with this setup, some games stutter. Emulation is that demanding.

2025 is a thrilling time for PS4 emulation. ShadPS4 is leading the charge, RetroArch is (slowly) catching up, and scammers are… well, still scamming. Follow this guide, respect the legal lines, and you’ll be slaying Bloodborne bosses in 4K in no time.

Your Turn: Tried ShadPS4? Got a game running smoothly? Let me know in the comments!

Disclaimer: This guide assumes you own a PS4 and legally acquired games. Support developers by buying titles you emulate!