PS5SX2 Update Enables Physical PS2 Disc Play on Jailbroken Consoles

Key points

• PS5SX2 version 2.01, released October 10, 2026, adds support for reading physical PS2 DVDs on jailbroken PS5 consoles.
• The emulator copies the disc data to the PS5's internal storage upon first insertion, rather than running the game directly from the optical drive.
• Version 2.02, released the same day, added an experimental option to read discs via external USB DVD or Blu-ray drives, aiding Digital Edition owners.
• The PS5's internal optical drive cannot read CDs, meaning PS2 games released on CD media are incompatible with the internal drive feature.
• Swordpdf confirmed that support for PS3 discs is planned for a future RPCS3 port, following the success of the PS2 implementation.

Background

This development follows the September 2026 release of PS5SX2, which initially required users to load PS2 games from digital ROMs stored on the SSD. The update addresses a long-standing gap in official Sony backwards compatibility, which currently only supports PS4 titles. The move mirrors recent PC developments where RPCS3 enabled physical PS3 disc playback, though the PS5 implementation requires a one-time dump process rather than direct streaming.

How outlets are covering it

TechPowerUp and Tom's Hardware emphasize the technical breakthrough of native disc reading and the upcoming PS3 support, highlighting the emulator's ability to render at 6x resolution. Tbreak UAE focuses on the practical limitations, noting that the process requires a one-time dump and that external drive support is unverified. All sources agree that this feature is exclusive to jailbroken consoles, as Sony has not officially supported PS2 disc playback since the PS3 era.

Why it matters

This update expands the utility of jailbroken PS5 consoles by allowing users to play original physical PS2 media without relying on digital downloads or official Classics catalogs. It demonstrates the PS5's hardware capability to handle older emulation tasks and may pressure Sony to reconsider official backwards compatibility policies, especially as the company plans to discontinue disc production for new games in 2028.

What to watch

Swordpdf is developing a port of RPCS3 for the PS5 to enable physical PS3 disc support. Users should monitor for stable releases of the external USB drive feature in version 2.02, as current support is experimental and off by default. The broader homebrew community may see increased adoption of PS5SX2 as a primary method for playing legacy titles.