You Can Now Play PS3 Games on Android — But Is It Legal?

A new PS3 emulator called aPS3e has officially launched on the Google Play Store, bringing PlayStation 3 gaming to Android for the first time.

The app, developed by a mysterious Chinese developer known as aenu, is based on the popular open-source project RPCS3. However, the emulator has sparked controversy over its handling of open-source licenses.

aPS3e first appeared a few months ago, combining parts of RPCS3, Vita3K, and Termux to create a working PS3 emulator for Android. Early tests showed that only a few games were playable, and performance was inconsistent. Despite this, excitement around PS3 games running on phones quickly spread online.

The real issue started when the developer made the app closed-source, even though it was built on open-source software. After criticism, the project returned to GitHub with some of its code, but without proper licensing details.

That could create more legal trouble in the future. Still, the emulator is now free on the Play Store, with a $5 version available to support the developer. Just be aware—you’ll need a powerful phone, and game compatibility is still very limited.