OpenBIOS compatibility for free PlayStation emulators

[davidhedlund]

Is there a page for https://github.com/grumpycoders/pcsx-redux/tree/main/src/mips/openbios that lists compatibility status for PlayStation emulators?

Retroarch libretro-cores

SCPH-5501

libretro core	PlayStation SCPH-5501 + 240pTestSuitePS1	scph5501.bin + RetroArch 1.12.0 + Ubuntu 22.04 + 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU	scph5501.bin + RetroArch 1.10.3 + Windows 11 + 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU
Beetle PSX HW	?	Works	Works
Beetle PSX	?	Works	Works
PCSX ReARMed	?	Works	Works
SwanStation	?	Works	Works

OpenBIOS

libretro core	OpenBIOS[2] + PlayStation + 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU	OpenBIOS[2] + RetroArch 1.12.0 + Ubuntu 22.04 + 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU	OpenBIOS[2] + RetroArch 1.10.3 + Windows 11 + 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU
Beetle PSX HW	Works	Failed: libretro/beetle-psx-libretro#866	Failed: libretro/beetle-psx-libretro#866
Beetle PSX	Works	Failed: libretro/beetle-psx-libretro#866	Failed: libretro/beetle-psx-libretro#866
PCSX ReARMed	?	Failed: libretro/pcsx_rearmed#708	Failed: libretro/pcsx_rearmed#708
SwanStation	?	Works	Works

GNU/Linux commands:

• Beetle PSX HW: retroarch --libretro ~/.config/retroarch/cores/mednafen_psx_hw_libretro.so ~/.config/retroarch/downloads/240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue
• Beetle PSX: retroarch --libretro ~/.config/retroarch/cores/mednafen_psx_libretro.so ~/.config/retroarch/downloads/240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue
• PCSX ReARMed: retroarch --libretro ~/.config/retroarch/cores/pcsx_rearmed_libretro.so ~/.config/retroarch/downloads/240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue
• SwanStation: retroarch --libretro ~/.config/retroarch/cores/swanstation_libretro.so ~/.config/retroarch/downloads/240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue

Windows commands:

• Beetle PSX HW: cd C:\RetroArch-Win64; .\retroarch.exe --libretro .\cores\mednafen_psx_hw_libretro.dll .\downloads\240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue
• Beetle PSX: cd C:\RetroArch-Win64; .\retroarch.exe --libretro .\cores\mednafen_psx_libretro.dll .\downloads\240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue
• PCSX ReARMed: cd C:\RetroArch-Win64; .\retroarch.exe --libretro .\cores\pcsx_rearmed_libretro.dll .\downloads\240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue
• SwanStation: cd C:\RetroArch-Win64; .\retroarch.exe --libretro .\cores\swanstation_libretro.dll .\downloads\240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue

Installations

• Retroarch: To avoid conflicts, delete ~/.config/retroarch/, and start Retroarch to generate a new settings directory
• Retroarch: Retroarch: Main menu -> Online Updater -> Update Assets -- this will fix the fonts for the menu, and the assets are also required to run 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.cue
• 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU: Can be downloaded from 1) https://github.com/filipalac/240pTestSuite-PS1/releases/tag/19122020 2) Retroarch: Main menu -> Online Updater -> Content Downloader -> Sony PlayStation -> 240pTestSuitePS1-EMU.zip
• Retroarch: Main menu -> Online Updater -> Update Core Info Files
• Retroarch: Main menu -> Online Updater -> Core Downloader -> Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX HW)
• Retroarch: Main menu -> Online Updater -> Core Downloader -> Sony - PlayStation (Beetle PSX)
• Retroarch: Main menu -> Online Updater -> Core Downloader -> Sony PlayStation (PCSX ReARMed)
• Retroarch: Main menu -> Online Updater -> Core Downloader -> Sony PlayStation (SwanStation)
• [2]: OpenBIOS: openbios.bin extracted from pcsx-redux-nightly-11167.20221114.1-x64.zip downloaded from https://install.appcenter.ms/orgs/grumpycoders/apps/pcsx-redux-win64/distribution_groups/public (link listed in https://github.com/grumpycoders/pcsx-redux/#where)

Built-in OpenBIOS in libretro-cores:

• Beetle PSX: "FWIW, we would be open to any PRs that would integrate OpenBIOS into Beetle PSX core proper as some kind of built-in HLE BIOS feature. I think that could personally be an awesome feature that could make this core a lot more convenient out of the box for endusers. Out of the 3 main PS1 emulator cores we have so far, only PCSX ReARMed does not require the user to supply a commercial BIOS. So it'd be great if Beetle PSX had similar functionality." - LibretroAdmin, mednafen_psx_hw_libretro.so, mednafen_psx_libretro.s: OpenBIOs issue libretro/beetle-psx-libretro#866 (comment)

OpenBIOS in free multi-emulators

• ares: Ubuntu: scph5501.bin works with games, but OpenBIOS failed with games
• MAME: Ubuntu: No tested
• Mednafen: Ubuntu: scph5501.bin works with games, but OpenBIOS failed with games
• OpenEmu: macOS-only: Not tested

DuckStation (works)

• Download https://github.com/stenzek/duckstation/releases/download/latest/duckstation-windows-x64-release.zip, and extract it. Run the duckstation-qt-x64-ReleaseLTCG.exe file. It will generate a C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\Documents\DuckStation\ folder that will be used in the next step.
• Download openbios.bin[2], and rename it to scph5501.bin
• Download "PlayStation Demo Disc Version 1.4 (USA)" and and open it in Duckstation with File -> Open file. It works!

[nicolasnoble]

I don't have any desire nor time to dedicate testing OpenBIOS with other emulators than PCSX-Redux itself. The code is tested on both Redux and the real hardware. If there is a compatibility issue with another emulator that doesn't show neither in Redux nor the real hardware, then it's a bug in said emulator, and should be filed accordingly. General bugs with OpenBIOS should still be filed here: I don't have the attention span nor energy to look at more than one location for issues.

That being said, talking with @stenzek regularly, I know OpenBIOS works as well on his emulator as the retail hardware.

[davidhedlund]

Interesting. @stenzek What do you think about the idea of recommending OpenBIOS in the text at https://github.com/stenzek/duckstation ?

[davidhedlund]

@nicolasnoble Good work on the project! OpenBIOS is the only free BIOS that I'm aware of for PlayStation. Cheers.

[davidhedlund]

I don't have any desire nor time to dedicate testing OpenBIOS with other emulators than PCSX-Redux itself. The code is tested on both Redux and the real hardware. If there is a compatibility issue with another emulator that doesn't show neither in Redux nor the real hardware, then it's a bug in said emulator, and should be filed accordingly. General bugs with OpenBIOS should still be filed here: I don't have the attention span nor energy to look at more than one location for issues.

Well, good work on the project anyways! OpenBIOS is the only free BIOS that I'm aware of for PlayStation. Cheers.

That being said, talking with @stenzek regularly, I know OpenBIOS works as well on his emulator as the retail hardware.

I can confirm that OpenBIOS works for Duckstation. I think OpenBIOS should be the default BIOS in Duckstation.

[wheremyfoodat]

@nicolasnoble Good work on the project! OpenBIOS is the only free BIOS that I'm aware of for PlayStation. Cheers.

There is also the no$psx BIOS if you're interested. However it's not open source, actively maintained, and is pretty clumsy to use.

[wheremyfoodat]

I don't have any desire nor time to dedicate testing OpenBIOS with other emulators than PCSX-Redux itself. The code is tested on both Redux and the real hardware. If there is a compatibility issue with another emulator that doesn't show neither in Redux nor the real hardware, then it's a bug in said emulator, and should be filed accordingly. General bugs with OpenBIOS should still be filed here: I don't have the attention span nor energy to look at more than one location for issues.
That being said, talking with @stenzek regularly, I know OpenBIOS works as well on his emulator as the retail hardware.

I can confirm that OpenBIOS works for Duckstation. I think OpenBIOS should be the default BIOS in Duckstation.

Keep in mind OpenBIOS is not 100% compatible with retail games yet. As such, this decision would be a double-edged blade, as users might be confused when their games don't work because of the BIOS (implicitly) used.

[davidhedlund]

I can confirm that OpenBIOS works for Duckstation. I think OpenBIOS should be the default BIOS in Duckstation.

Keep in mind OpenBIOS is not 100% compatible with retail games yet. As such, this decision would be a double-edged blade, as users might be confused when their games don't work because of the BIOS (implicitly) used.

Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it.

[wheremyfoodat]

I can confirm that OpenBIOS works for Duckstation. I think OpenBIOS should be the default BIOS in Duckstation.

Keep in mind OpenBIOS is not 100% compatible with retail games yet. As such, this decision would be a double-edged blade, as users might be confused when their games don't work because of the BIOS (implicitly) used.

Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it.

No problem.

[stenzek]

I'm going to add detection for OpenBIOS so that it doesn't show up as an unknown entry. But, I have no plans to ship any BIOS ROMs alongside the application itself. I was considering adding it an option in the "missing BIOS" dialog, however - with the risks that @wheremyfoodat pointed out.

As for the libretro core being broken, that has nothing to do with me, and is possibly violating copyright since they committed code which was never released as their own without attribution. So please don't tag me with any relation to it. I try to stay out of the public eye, because the trolling from those folks never ends.

[davidhedlund]

OpenBIOS also works fine with swanstation_libretro.so for Windows 11. I just tried it. @nicolasnoble

[nicolasnoble]

Hah, I didn't realize you were offering to do this sort of testing yourself :-) Good data, thanks!

As another data point, I know that OpenBIOS works properly on some other emulators, like Avocado or the PSX_MiSTer.

I'm totally open in solving problems people may encounter with using OpenBIOS, mind you, so feel free to file bugs. I'm also available on the EmuDev subreddit and Discord server to discuss.

[davidhedlund]

Hah, I didn't realize you were offering to do this sort of testing yourself :-) Good data, thanks!

As another data point, I know that OpenBIOS works properly on some other emulators, like Avocado or the PSX_MiSTer.

I'm totally open in solving problems people may encounter with using OpenBIOS, mind you, so feel free to file bugs. I'm also available on the EmuDev subreddit and Discord server to discuss.

I spend last day to evaluate OpenBIOS (see the updated list in the top post) because I think it's the most important component in the emulator world right now. If developers are starting to ship emulators that require a BIOS with a free BIOSes, or if a free BIOS package is offered, end users may be able to run games very easily.

To put things into perspective, please have a look for PCSX-redux at https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Collection:Video_game_console_emulators#Sony -- I'm a long-term contributor and admin for the Free Software Directory and I'm cooperating closely with the Free Software Foundation.

I will try my best to help you.