The emulation of the historic PlayStation 2 on Android returns to be talked about thanks to Nethersx2active and increasingly mature fork born from the ashes of Aethersx2, the project abandoned months ago and for a long time remaining irreplaceable. The Trixarian developer has in fact released version 2.0 of the emulator, marking a first Major update from 2025; However, it is not a simple corrective update, but a real internal revision, which brings with it important innovations both in terms of interface and performance, as long as you know which version installing.

Two versions, two experiences for the Nethersx2 emulator

Version 2.0 of the emulator arrives in two distinct variants, a choice that could initially confuse, but which proves to be very sensible in a compatibility perspective:

  • Nethersx2 Standard (Build 4248) It is the most recent and advanced release, based on the latest PCSX2 architecture (the original PC emulator) and it is the one on which most of the news are concentrated
  • Nethersx2 Classic (Build 3668) It is an alternative version built on an older and more tested base, designed to ensure better compatibility on some devices, especially the less recent ones or with non -optimized GPUs

It is important to underline that the two versions cannot coexist on the same device, moreover the rescue states are not compatible between both; Users will therefore have to be careful to choose with knowledge of the fact that Build to adopt, perhaps starting from the standard (ideal for modern devices) and moving on to Classic only in case of problems.

Among the most visible innovations there is certainly the new touch overlap Completely redesigned, buttons at the top to save or restore states, manage macro, rewind and quickly access various advanced functions make the user experience much more complete and accessible; An update that many had been waiting for for some time, especially considering the limitations and complexity of the controls in previous versions.

From a technical point of view Gamedb conversion script has been updatedfinally integrating the most recent Fix and optimizations from the main branch of PCSX2, this translates into better performance, greater stability and extended compatibility with many titles, thanks also to the elimination of old overrides designed specifically for Android but now obsolete.

There is no shortage minor changes But appreciable, including improved widescreen patch, default disabled interlalation, larger covers on the games list, improved Russian location and small fixes for specific devices.

It is not all roses and flowers, however, the release notes still signal some problems with Mali-A50 GPUs of the oldest generation in combination with the Vulkan render, as well as graphic anomalies in titles such as Nascar and Colin McRae Rally, nothing that compromises the general experience, but it is good to know in advance to avoid surprises.

Both versions of the emulator can be downloaded from the respective Github pages (here and here), as for all emulators the original PS2 bios is required (to be legally obtained) and the Roma of the games in your possession, according to the laws in force regarding copyright.

Nethersx2 2.0 represents an important step forward for PS2 emulation on Android, finally more fluid, accessible and modern; The division between standard and classic may seem like a compromise, but it is actually an excellent solution to guarantee the best possible operation on a wide range of devices.