[TUTORIAL] shadPS4 in 2026: install and configure the PS4 emulator on PC (QtLauncher, modules, updates)

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[TUTORIAL] shadPS4 in 2026: install and configure the PS4 emulator on PC (QtLauncher, modules, updates)

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Automatically translated from French.

[TUTO] shadPS4 en 2026 : installer et configurer l’émulateur PS4 sur PC (QtLauncher, modules, mises à jour)

shadPS4 now runs PS4 games on PC, Bloodborne included: here is how to install it, copy your games from your PS4 and configure it properly.


Where does shadPS4 stand?

The latest stable version is 0.19.0 (2 October 2026), and test builds come out every day. The project claims to run Bloodborne, Dark Souls Remastered or Red Dead Redemption, but the compatibility list still rates Bloodborne as “in-game”: it is playable, with known performance and stability issues. Do not expect a perfect experience.


System requirements
  • Processor: at least 4 cores / 6 threads, with the x86-64-v3 (AVX2) instruction set: Intel Haswell, AMD Excavator or newer; Mac M1 or newer via Rosetta 2.
  • Graphics card: 2 GB of video memory and Vulkan 1.3.
  • 8 GB of memory; Windows 10, Ubuntu 22.04 or macOS 26 minimum. Intel Macs are not supported.
  • On Windows, the Visual C++ 2022 redistributable.
Update all graphics drivers, including the one for the integrated chip, and do not install shadPS4 in a protected folder (such as Program Files).


1. Install the QtLauncher

The main shadPS4 repository now only contains the engine, without an interface. Download the shadPS4 QtLauncher (repository shadps4-emu/shadps4-qtlauncher), extract it and launch it. Then, at the top right, Version Manager: choose a Stable version (or Nightly), confirm with Yes then OK. The launcher downloads the emulator by itself.


2. Copy your games from your PS4

You need a jailbroken PS4 with GoldHEN (see our GoldHEN tutorial). The shadPS4 wiki recommends:
  • Itemzflow, which copies a game in a few clicks (see the essential PS4 homebrews);
  • or ftpdump, which copies the game to the PC over FTP (preferably over Ethernet).
The game folder must be named CUSAxxxxx (its ID; remove the “-app” added by ftpdump). Add its location in Settings > Configure… > Paths > Game Folders. Games are used in folder form: there is no PKG installation.


3. Updates and DLC
  • Update: a CUSAxxxxx-patch folder next to the game's folder (Itemzflow and ftpdump name it correctly).
  • Separately downloaded DLC: in the DLC folder (Paths > DLC Path), in a subfolder with the game's exact name.
Right-clicking a game also lets you compress it to ZAR format (Convert to ZArchive) to save space.


4. System modules (fonts, videos, sound)

Without them, some games display text incorrectly, have no videos or no sound. With GoldHEN's FTP server, copy the /system/common/lib/ folder from your PS4 into shadPS4's sys_modules folder (its path is in Paths > PS4 Sysmodules Path). For fonts, also copy /preinst/common/font and /system/common/font2 into shadPS4's fonts folder.


5. Trophies (optional)

The trophy key is extracted from your console: copy /system/vsh/SceShellCore.elf over FTP, drag it onto the tool tropy_key_export.exe (link in the shadPS4 wiki), then enter the key in Settings > Manage Cryptographic Keys, tab Trophy Key.


6. Settings

Settings > Configure…, tab Graphics: Display Mode (windowed, fullscreen), Present Mode (vertical sync), HDR and FSR. There is no internal resolution setting yet: the window size does not change the game's resolution. Patches (60 fps, etc.) are downloaded by right-clicking the game, Cheats / Patches; the team does not provide support when they are enabled.
Shortcuts: F10 frame counter, F11 fullscreen. Xbox and DualShock controllers work out of the box.


The most common errors
  • Missing text, no video or no sound: system modules or fonts missing.
  • Crash on launch: graphics drivers up to date? Visual C++ 2022 installed? Folder outside Program Files?
  • Crashes on 12th-generation and newer Intel processors: try the experimental “Red Zone CPU Patches” option (Experimental tab).
  • The game does not appear: badly named folder (it must be named CUSAxxxxx) or path not added.
  • To understand a crash, the log is in user/log/shad_log.txt.
For other consoles, see Emulation on PC: the right emulators in 2026.


Sources and official guides: shadPS4 · shadPS4 QtLauncher · Quickstart guide · Compatibility

Tgames does not provide games, BIOS files or keys: only use backups of your own games and your own console. A question? Reply to this topic.

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