emulator RPCS3Designed specifically for running PlayStation 3 games on a computer, it’s a major step forward in fully preserving the console’s physics library. The project’s developers announced the ability to read PS3 game discs directly from compatible Blu-ray drives and run them on PCs. Previously, owners of physical copies would need to use other methods to transfer games to emulators, but now the original media itself can serve as the source.
This is an especially important achievement in preserving gaming history. Game Console 3 Released in 2006, it became a huge commercial success over time despite an extremely difficult start. In total, Sony sold more than 87 million units worldwide during the console’s lifetime. PS3 production ended in 2017, but interest in its library continues to this day due to a large number of exclusives and games that have yet to be fully re-released on modern platforms.
Additionally, the PS3 holds a special place in Sony’s history as the company’s first home console to support Blu-ray. This format is not only used for gaming but also for watching HD movies. After a vague life cycle, Sony gradually lowered the cost of the system and released new revisions and various configurations, which helped the console solidify its position in the market and eventually nearly matched the Xbox 360 in sales.
Now, owners of surviving PS3 disc collections have another way to use them on modern computers. RPCS3 stated that the latest update adds support for directly reading game Blu-rays through compatible optical disc drives. The developers particularly note the contributions of users Megamouse and digant73, who played an important role in the implementation of this feature.
To demonstrate the capabilities of the new version, the RPCS3 team used Dragon King 3known in Japan as Dragon Rider 3. The game launches directly from the physical disc, clearly confirming that the emulator is now able to work with original PS3 media.
Support for new features is not limited to one operating system. In addition to Windows 11, the ability to use compatible drives also appears in versions of RPCS3 for FreeBSD, macOS, and Linux. This makes the update of particular interest to users using alternative operating systems.
Of course, a disk and emulator by themselves are not enough. RPCS3 places certain requirements on the computer. For comfortable work, the developers recommend using a processor with at least six cores, and the graphics card must support Vulkan 1.2 or newer APIs. Additionally, the project team tested the feature’s compatibility with Blu-ray drives from different manufacturers, including LG and Asus.
The emergence of physical disk support comes against the backdrop of the continued development of RPCS3 itself. As of July 2026, developers report that the emulator is compatible with approximately 75% of the PlayStation 3 library. Over 2,300 games have been released in physical and digital formats throughout the platform’s history, so this number corresponds to approximately 1,700 projects that are already operational in RPCS3 in some form.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that all compatible games will work perfectly. The compatibility status of RPCS3 depends on the specific project: some games may run without major issues, while others may experience graphical errors, crashes, or specific glitches. Therefore, new disc reading capabilities do not automatically mean full compatibility with the entire PS3 physical library.
However, the development of RPCS3 became particularly important in terms of game preservation. Sony is gradually phasing out features that work with the digital ecosystem of older consoles. In July 2026, the company announced the phased closure of the PlayStation Store for PS3, which is scheduled to be completed in July 2027. Once stores in affected areas are closed, users will no longer be able to purchase new digital games for the console.
At the same time, items that have been purchased will not disappear immediately. Games previously purchased through the PlayStation Store should still be available to download and install, but the long-term fate of this option remains uncertain. That’s why physical copies and simulation projects are especially important for preserving old games.
In this case, RPCS3 is more than just a tool for running older projects on more powerful hardware. The emulator allows you to access the PS3’s vast library years after the PS3 itself has been discontinued, now making it one step closer to owning the games in their original format – using the original discs.
In the future, developers may continue to expand the list of compatible games and hardware. In theory, the ultimate goal of the project is still to emulate the PlayStation 3 library as completely as possible, but it is still unknown when RPCS3 will reach 100% compatibility. For fans and supporters of preserving gaming history, the ability to run original discs on modern computers has become a significant advancement.
