How to Add PS2 BIOS to RetroArch on Android & iOS

Have you ever wanted to play your favourite PlayStation 2 (PS2) games on your mobile device? With RetroArch, you can turn your Android or iOS device into a portable gaming console. RetroArch is a powerful, multi-system emulator that allows you to enjoy classic PS2 games on modern devices. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up RetroArch, add BIOS files, and start playing PS2 games.

Being able to play PS2 games on a non-PS2 console isn’t new; we’ve seen that happen on PCs many times. The likes of RPCX2 make it possible to play PlayStation 2 games on Windows, Linux and other similar operating systems. Unlike the PC method, PCSX2 isn’t quite complicated. There’s an article on how to add PS2 BIOS on PCSX2 which comes in detailed steps.

On mobile devices like Android and iOS, the whole process doesn’t always come easy. This is why we’ve decided to make a detailed guide that’ll make things less complicated. Especially for starters, this article focuses on making sure you’ll be able to download the PS2 BIOS, install it and play games without hassles. With that said, let’s see ways to emulate PlayStation 2 titles by adding PS2 BIOS to RetroArch.

What Is RetroArch?

RetroArch is a popular console emulator and is also known as a multi-system emulator. It allows users to play games from a variety of gaming consoles like PSP, PS2, GBA, SNES, Sega Genes and a lot more. It’s open-source, meaning it’s free to use and constantly updated by a community of developers. With RetroArch, you can enjoy your favourite old games on modern devices.

This emulator has been available for a long time and why it doesn’t have the reputation as the likes of PCSX2, PPSSPP and much more, it still makes sense. There are plenty of features packed on RetroArch and it’s something you won’t find on other emulators. In the next section, we will highlight the features of RetroArch before going to the steps of adding BIOS files.

Also Read: How to Setup PS2 BIOS On PCSX2

Features of RetroArch on Android & iOS

As said in the description of RetroArch, it has a lot of features and we’ve highlighted them below.

• Multi-System Emulation: RetroArch supports emulation for a wide range of gaming consoles, including PS2, SNES, NES, Sega Genesis, and more, allowing you to play games from various platforms all in one app.
• Save and Load States: RetroArch enables you to save your game at any point and load it later, making it easier to pick up where you left off or retry difficult sections without starting over.
• Customizable Controls: You can customize the on-screen touch controls or use external controllers via Bluetooth or USB, providing a flexible gaming experience tailored to your preferences.
• Shaders and Graphics Enhancement: RetroArch offers a variety of shaders that can enhance the visual quality of games, adding effects like smoothing, scanlines, and more to improve the gaming experience.
• Netplay for Multiplayer Gaming: RetroArch includes netplay support, allowing you to play multiplayer games online with friends or other players around the world, recreating the social aspect of classic gaming.

Steps to Add PS2 BIOS to RetroArch on Android & iOS

Whether you’re an Android user or an iOS user, the following steps will work perfectly on followed correctly.

Step 1: Download & Install RetroArch

• Head over to the Google Play Store or Apple Store.
• Search for RetroArch and once found, click on the download button and wait while it installs on your device.
• Once the installation has been completed, launch the RetroArch and then close it. “This allows it to create a folder in your internal storage“

Step 2: Downloading PS2 BIOS File

• Click on the button below to download the complete list of PS2 BIOS files.

• With a good file extractor like WinZip, extract the zipped file you download.
• The BIOS files have descriptions that represent which regions they’re from. Make sure to pick the one needed. If you’re playing PS2 games from the USA, use the USA BIOS file.
• Make sure to move the BIOS file to RetroArch/system/pcsx2/bios in your device’s internal storage. For Android users, use “Files by Google” to access your internal storage.

Step 3: Getting The PS2 Core Needed

RetroArch emulator is quite different from other PS2 emulators. It requires a PS2 core to work. Follow the steps below to download the right PlayStation 2 core for it.

• Launch the RetroArch emulator and navigate to Settings.
• You’ll see the “Load Core” option in the settings menu, click on it.
• Since there’s no PlayStation 2 core available, you’ll need to click on “Download Core“.
• From the list of cores displayed on your screen, click on the one that says “Sony – PlayStation 2 (LRPS2)” to download it.
• Once downloaded, now go back to “Load Core” and load the core you recently installed on the RetroArch emulator.

Step 4: Adding PS2 ISO Game to RetroArch

• Find a reputable source to download your preferred PS2 games. If you already have some, you can proceed with the next step.
• Put your PS2 ISO game files in a single folder on your device’s internal storage.
• Launch the RetroArch emulator, then go to “Load Content“. Now select the folder where your games are stored. From there, you can always play any of your favourite PS2 titles on RetroArch.

Must Read: Different Types of PS2 BIOS Files Explained: Which One Do You Need?

Conclusion

RetroArch is an outstanding emulator that’ll let you play any gaming console title on your Android and iOS devices. While it doesn’t have that huge recognition, it still comes out to be a better choice for emulating most games. Besides, it supports consoles like the PlayStation 3 and much more. When it comes to knowing how to add PS2 BIOS to RetroArch, the steps above are what you need.