How To Install PCSX2 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

PCSX2 is an open-source PlayStation 2 emulator that enables you to play PS2 games on your PC. It recreates the PS2 hardware using a combination of MIPS CPU Interpreters, Recompilers, and a Virtual Machine. PCSX2 supports a wide range of PS2 titles, making it possible to enjoy classic games without the need for the original console.

 In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of installing PCSX2 on Ubuntu 24.04, ensuring that you can enjoy your favorite PS2 games with ease.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the installation process, it’s crucial to ensure that your system meets the minimum requirements for running PCSX2 on Ubuntu 24.04. Here are the recommended specifications:

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Ubuntu and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint.
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• Basic familiarity with the terminal and command-line interface.
• SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
• An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies.
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 3.2 GHz or better / AMD Phenom II X4 @ 3.2 GHz or better.
• GPU: DirectX 10 GPU or better.
• RAM: 4 GB or more.
• Free Disk Space: 10 GB or more.
• An Ubuntu 24.04 system with root access or a user with sudo privileges.

Install PCSX2 on Ubuntu 24.04

Step 1. Updating the Package Repository.

Before proceeding with the installation, make sure to update your Ubuntu 24.04 system to the latest version. Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This will ensure that you have the latest packages and dependencies required for a smooth installation process.

Step 2. BIOS and Game Requirements.

To run PS2 games using PCSX2, you need a valid PS2 BIOS file. It’s important to note that downloading BIOS files from the internet is illegal. The legal way to obtain a PS2 BIOS is by dumping it from your own PlayStation 2 console. Here’s a step-by-step guide on setting up the BIOS in PCSX2:

1. 1. Dump the BIOS from your PlayStation 2 console using compatible software and a USB drive.
   2. Place the dumped BIOS file in the PCSX2 BIOS directory. By default, this directory is located at ~/.config/PCSX2/bios/ on Ubuntu 24.04.
   3. Launch PCSX2 and navigate to the “Config” menu.
   4. In the “BIOS” section, select the BIOS file you dumped and placed in the BIOS directory.
   5. Save your settings and restart PCSX2 for the changes to take effect.

With a valid PS2 BIOS setup, you are now ready to start playing PS2 games using PCSX2 on your Ubuntu 24.04 system.

Step 3. Installing PCSX2.

There are multiple ways to install PCSX2 on Ubuntu 24.04. We will cover the two most common methods: using Ubuntu’s official repository, Snap and via Flatpak.

• Using Ubuntu’s Official Repository

Open a terminal and run the following command to add the PCSX2 PPA to your system:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:pcsx2-team/pcsx2-daily

Install PCSX2 using the following command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install pcsx2

Once the installation is complete, you can launch PCSX2 from the applications menu or by typing pcsx2 in the terminal.

• Installing via Flatpak

Flatpak is a universal package format that allows you to install applications on various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu 24.04. Follow these steps to install PCSX2 using Flatpak:

Install Flatpak by running the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt install flatpak

Add the Flathub repository, which hosts a wide range of Flatpak applications:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install PCSX2 using Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub net.pcsx2.PCSX2

After the installation is complete, you can launch PCSX2 by running the following command:

flatpak run net.pcsx2.PCSX2

Alternatively, you can find PCSX2 in your applications menu.

• Installing via Snap.

Snap is another popular packaging system that simplifies the installation of applications on Linux. Follow these steps to install PCSX2 using Snap on Ubuntu 24.04:

sudo apt install snapd

Install PCSX2 using Snap with the following command:

sudo snap install pcsx2

Confirm the installation when prompted, and wait for the process to complete.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed PCSX2. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing PCSX2 on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official PCSX2 website.