Emulation On The Oculus Quest 2 VR Head Set Is Pretty Awesome! PS2, Gamecube, PSP, N64
**Emulation on the Oculus Quest 2: A Comprehensive Guide**
Hello everyone, it’s ETA Prime back again today to dive into the world of emulation on the Oculus Quest 2. This has been something I’ve wanted to explore for a while, but unfortunately, the built-in screen capture feature wasn’t cooperating with sideloaded apps. Even when attempting to cast the content, it would result in a black screen. However, thanks to the latest updates, we’re now able to capture the screen on this device pretty easily. Today, we’ll be testing out some GameCube, N64, PSP, and PS2 emulators.
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### **Setting Up for Emulation**
All the emulators we’re going to test today have been sideloaded using SideQuest, which is a fantastic application for getting these kinds of apps onto your Quest 2. One thing I’ve noticed with some of the higher-end emulators is that you can’t access a file browser directly within the app. For example, if I wanted to run *Solo Calibur 2*, I’d need an external file browser like File Browser Plus, which is just an APK I downloaded and sideloaded onto the Quest.
However, some apps like PSP using PPSSPP have their own built-in file browsers that work seamlessly with the Quest 2’s internal storage. This makes it much easier to access and manage your games without needing additional apps.
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### **GameCube Emulation with Dolphin**
For GameCube emulation, we’re using the Dolphin Emulator, specifically a development build from their website. While I’m not sure of the exact version, it’s a later iteration as of this video. Unfortunately, some games aren’t running as smoothly as I’d hoped. For instance, when I tried *The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker*, which runs at 30 FPS on console, it flawlessly translated to the Quest 2.
However, with titles like *Auto Modista*, a game I particularly love for racing, things got a bit tricky. Swapping back to the OpenGL backend helped stabilize performance, but there were still some dips in FPS when effects piled up on screen. While not perfect, it’s clear that GameCube emulation on Quest 2 is definitely possible with the right tweaks.
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### **N64 and PSP Emulation**
Starting off with something lighter, we tested N64 emulation using Retro Arch with the Mopin core. *GoldenEye 7|* ran exceptionally well, maintaining a solid 60 FPS throughout. For sound, I had to rig up an external recording setup since the built-in screen recorder couldn’t capture audio from sideloaded apps.
Moving on to PSP, we used PPSSPP with the Vulkan backend for *Chains of Olympus*, running at 2x resolution. The performance was impressive, and while there’s room to push it further, it still looks great at 60 FPS. This shows that even harder-to-emulate PSP games run smoothly on Quest 2.
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### **PS2 Emulation with EtherSX2**
The PS2 emulator, EtherSX2, does work on the Quest 2, but there are some limitations. When I tried to access the file browser within the app, it prompted me that no app could perform that task. This is because EtherSX2 doesn’t use any permissions, so launching games requires ADB over Wi-Fi or USB.
Despite this inconvenience, I was able to get a few PS2 games running in safe mode without any hacks. The native PlayStation 2 resolution made it an easier experience compared to other emulators tested. While there were some performance dips, especially with the Vulkan backend crashing more frequently than OpenGL, Quest 2 still managed to handle these games decently.
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### **Controller Setup and Sound Challenges**
Pairing a controller was straightforward, thanks to Bluetooth support on Quest 2. I used an Xbox One controller for testing, and while some apps required manual mapping, most worked out of the box. This makes using external controllers much more accessible than before.
One major hurdle we’re still facing is sound recording. The built-in screen recorder doesn’t capture audio from sideloaded apps, forcing us to rely on external setups. This is something that needs improvement to make content creation easier in the future.
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### **Looking Ahead**
In conclusion, emulation on Quest 2 has come a long way with the latest updates. While there are still some challenges like file access and sound recording, it’s clear that many retro games can run smoothly on this device. If you’re curious about seeing specific emulators or games in action, feel free to leave your requests in the comments below.
Thank you for watching, and stay tuned for more videos as I continue exploring the world of emulation on Quest 2. Until next time, keep those headsets clean and enjoy your retro gaming adventures!
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Let me know if you have any questions or need further details!