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EmuDeck guide RPCS3 Tips and Tricks

How to Configure RPCS3 to Work With ES-DE and Pegasus

AppImage

  1. In Desktop Mode, open RPCS3
  2. Skip this step if you have already added your games to RPCS3:
  3. Either:
    • In the top left click, File, click Add Games, locate your game
    • In the top left click, File, click Install Packages/Raps/Edats, and install your PKG
    • For more information, read the File Formats section
  4. Right click your game, click Create Shortcut, click Create Desktop Shortcut
  5. On your desktop, you should see an icon for your game. Move this icon to Emulation/roms/ps3
  6. If your desktop shortcut contains special icons any special symbols (Ex: the copyright symbol, ©), rename the desktop file to remove these symbols.
    • For example, rename God Of War® Collection.desktop to God Of War Collection.desktop, removing the © after War
  7. (Optional) If the desktop file is opening RPCS3 instead of the game:
  8. In Desktop Mode, right click the desktop file
  9. Click Properties
  10. On the General tab, click Change to the right of the Open With line
  11. Under Application Preference Order, click RPCS3
  12. Click Remove on the right
  13. Click Apply in the bottom left and click OK
  14. The desktop file will not work in Desktop Mode, but will launch the game directly either through a terminal or through ES-DE
  15. Your game should now show up in and launch directly from ES-DE and Pegasus

If you get an Invalid file or folder error message, you will need to change the Alternative Emulator in ES-DE for PlayStation 3 to RPCS3 Shortcut [Standalone].

You may also do this on a per-game basis if you are using a mix of folders and PKGs. On a game, press the select button, scroll down and select EDIT THIS GAME'S METADATA, scroll down and select ALTERNATIVE EMULATOR, select PS3 and select the corresponding format.

Refer to https://gitlab.com/es-de/emulationstation-de/-/blob/master/USERGUIDE.md#sony-playstation-3, for additional information.

Flatpak

These are legacy instructions for the Flatpak installation from Discover. If you would like to use the AppImage, see Why did EmuDeck switch to the AppImage? for instructions.

  1. In Desktop Mode, open RPCS3
  2. Skip this step if you have already added your games to RPCS3:
  3. Either:
    • In the top left click, File, click Add Games, locate your game
    • In the top left click, File, click Install Packages/Raps/Edats, and install your PKG
    • For more information, read the File Formats section
  4. Right click your game, click Create Shortcut, click Create Desktop Shortcut
  5. On your desktop, you should see an icon for your game. Move this icon to Emulation/roms/ps3
  6. Right click the shortcut, click Open with Kate or a text editor of your choice
  7. Edit the beginning of the Exec= line using the following template:
  8. Original Line: `Exec="/app/bin/rpcs3" --no-gui
  9. Updated Line: Exec="/usr/bin/flatpak" run net.rpcs3.RPCS3 --no-gui
    • Replace "/app/bin/rpcs3" --no-gui with "/usr/bin/flatpak" run net.rpcs3.RPCS3 --no-gui
  10. Do not edit anything on the line after --no-gui
  11. Example, using Demon Souls:
  12. Original Line: Exec="/app/bin/rpcs3" --no-gui "%%RPCS3_GAMEID%%:BLUS30443"
    • Original Line
  13. Updated Line: Exec="/usr/bin/flatpak" run net.rpcs3.RPCS3 --no-gui "%RPCS3_GAMEID%:BLUS30443"
  14. Save and close out of the desktop file
  15. (Optional) If the desktop file is opening RPCS3 instead of the game:
  16. In Desktop Mode, right click the desktop file
  17. Click Properties
  18. On the General tab, click Change to the right of the Open With line
  19. Under Application Preference Order, click RPCS3
  20. Click Remove on the right
  21. Click Apply in the bottom left and click OK
  22. The desktop file will not work in Desktop Mode, but will launch the game directly either through a terminal or through ES-DE and Pegasus
  23. Your game should now show up in and launch directly from ES-DE and Pegasus

If you get an Invalid file or folder error message, you will need to change the Alternative Emulator in ES-DE for PlayStation 3 to RPCS3 Shortcut [Standalone].

You may also do this on a per-game basis if you are using a mix of folders and PKGs. On a game, press the select button, scroll down and select EDIT THIS GAME'S METADATA, scroll down and select ALTERNATIVE EMULATOR, select PS3 and select the corresponding format.

Refer to https://gitlab.com/es-de/emulationstation-de/-/blob/master/USERGUIDE.md#sony-playstation-3, for additional information.

How to Configure Multiplayer

RPCS3 comes with a nifty auto-map feature that makes setting up multiplayer a breeze. To set up multiplayer, you simply need to enable the additional ports.

Note: If you are in Desktop Mode, make sure that Steam is open.

  1. Open RPCS3
  2. Open the Pads menu in the Settings
  3. For each controller you are using for Player 2, 3, 4, etc, click the respective tab
  4. You do not need to adjust any settings for Player 1
  5. Under Handlers, select SDL for each player you are enabling
  6. Under Devices
  7. Player 2: Steam Virtual Gamepad 2
  8. Player 3: Steam Virtual Gamepad 3
  9. Player 4: Steam Virtual Gamepad 4
  10. Player 5: Steam Virtual Gamepad 5
  11. Player 6: Steam Virtual Gamepad 6
  12. Player 7: Steam Virtual Gamepad 7
  13. Using Player 2 as an example:
  14. On the Player 2 configuration screen, after you have selected the appropriate Device and Handler, click Refresh to the right of Handler
  15. After you are finished enabling any additional players, click Save and you may open your game either directly as a shortcut in Steam or through ES-DE and Pegasus
  16. (Optional) You may need to re-arrange the controller order in Game Mode for your controllers to function as expected. See How to Re-Arrange the Controller Order to learn how

Special Game Configurations

RPCS3 Wiki

Some games may require additional setup, needing mods or alteration of settings. The RPCS3 Compatability List can be used to check for these. Simply search for the name of the game and click the hyperlinked name to view the wiki page for that game and see if there are any recommended or required settings changes.

EmuDeck Community Creations

Use the EmuDeck Community Game Configurations page to submit or view special game configurations.

How to Set up the Motion Sensor with External Controllers

The PlayStation 3 controller, or the DualShock 3 notably had "Sixaxis". Sixaxis refers to the motion sensor used in a handful of games. One of the more popular games that utilized Sixaxis was Folklore. For a full list of games, see https://www.giantbomb.com/sixaxis-support/3015-5310/games/.

RPCS3 has implemented support to allow emulating the Sixaxis through evdev, which exposes the gyro in a large variety of modern controllers (including the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, 8BitDo Ultimate Controller, and the DualSense).

At this time, the Steam Deck gyro cannot be used. But if you own one of these controllers, you may emulate the Sixaxis through RPCS3.

Here's How

Desktop Mode

  1. Switch to Desktop Mode
  2. Exit out of Steam
  3. You may exit out of Steam a couple of different ways:
    • Right click the Steam icon in your taskbar and click Exit Steam
    • Open Steam, click the Steam button in the top left, click Exit
    • Open a terminal (Konsole) and enter killall -9 steam
    • Do note that clicking the the X button in the top right of the Steam window will not exit out of Steam
  4. Your controls will switch to Lizard Mode. Use L2 to right click, R2 to left click, and the Right Trackpad to move the mouse
  5. You may also connect an external keyboard and mouse
  6. Click the bluetooth icon in the bottom right of your taskbar and connect your controller
  7. Click the Steam icon in the bottom left of the taskbar and open RPCS3
  8. Click Pads at the top
  9. Under the Player 1 tab, click the Dropdown box below Devices and select your controller
  10. To switch back to the default controller layout, make sure Steam is open and select Steam Virtual Gamepad 1
  11. Click Save, and exit out of RPCS3

Game Mode

  1. In Game Mode, connect your controller
  2. Select your PlayStation 3 game
  3. On the Play screen, select the Controller icon to the right of the screen
  4. Select your controller tab at the top
  5. Click Reorder Controllers and move your external controller to the top
  6. Click the Gear icon to the right, and click Disable Steam Input
  7. You may need to restart first for this setting to properly apply
  8. Your controller's gyro will now work for this selected game, repeat as needed for your other games

For a video, see below:

Post-Configuration

To restore the default Steam Deck controls:

  1. Open RPCS3
  2. Click Pads at the top
  3. Under the Player 1 tab, click the Dropdown box below Devices and select Steam Virtual Gamepad 1
  4. Select SDL under Handlers
  5. Click Save, and exit out of RPCS3

(Optional) To restore Steam Input:

  1. Select your PlayStation 3 game
  2. On the Play screen, select the Controller icon to the right of the screen
  3. Select your controller tab at the top
  4. Click the Gear icon to the right, and click Enable Steam Input
  5. You may need to restart first for this setting to properly apply
  6. The controls will be reverted to Steam Input and the Steam Deck controls will be restored

How to Roll Back RPCS3 to an Older Version

AppImage

Introduction

Your ROMs launch using a script created by EmuDeck, rpcs3.sh in ~/Emulation/tools/launchers.

Emulation Directory

~/Emulation refers to either your home directory or SD Card/removable media depending on your installation location.

The script launches the corresponding emulator in /home/deck/Applications and specifically looks for two traits:

  • The most recently downloaded version of the emulator in /home/deck/Applications, based on the file/release date.
  • The emulator name at the beginning of the file. Anything after the emulator name is ignored.
  • For example, if the latest version of the emulator is 1351 and you would like to downgrade to 1349. When you download version 1349, you could rename it to EMULATORNAME-1349.AppImage, and EmuDeck's script will ignore the -1349 in the file name, allowing you to record which versions of the emulator you are using through the file name.
How to Roll Back RPCS3
  1. Download the version of the emulator you would like to use from RPCS3's Builds page: https://rpcs3.net/compatibility?b
  2. Move the downloaded emulator from Step 1 to /home/deck/Applications
  3. (Optional) Rename or delete the original emulator file
  4. Right click the newly downloaded emulator, click Properties, click Permissions, check Is executable
  5. Your games will now launch using the version of the emulator you downloaded
Flatpak

These are legacy instructions for the Flatpak installation from Discover. If you would like to use the AppImage, see Why did EmuDeck switch to the AppImage? for instructions.

If you do not have access to a mouse and keyboard for the below section, use L2 to right click and R2 to left click. Alternatively, remote into your Steam Deck using one of the methods found in the FAQ, How do I remotely control my Steam Deck?.

  1. In Desktop Mode, open Konsole
  2. To see a list of prior versions of the emulator, type:
  3. flatpak remote-info --log flathub net.rpcs3.RPCS3
  4. If Konsole prompts you to select system or user, enter 2 to select user
  5. Konsole will list a list of previous versions for the flatpak. The important line for each version is the Commit: line. The Commit: line will have a long accompanying alphanumeric string (the “commit” code). Copy the string for the version you want to downgrade to.
  6. Using Citra as an example:
    • How to Roll Back Flatpaks: 1
  7. To downgrade to the version you want:
  8. flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here net.rpcs3.RPCS3
  9. Replace put_commit_code_here with the actual code you located in Step 2.
    • Using Citra as an example:
    • How to Roll Back Flatpaks: 2

If the above steps did not work and you are getting an error message along the lines of Flatpak not installed, your Flatpak is likely installed at the system level instead. Select one of the below solutions:

Solution 1: Open the EmuDeck application, click the Manage Emulators page, select the emulator in question, and click Reinstall / Update.

Solution 2: Add sudo in front of the commands written in Step 2 and Step 5. In Step 2, write sudo flatpak remote-info --log flathub net.rpcs3.RPCS3 and in Step 5, write sudo flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here net.rpcs3.RPCS3.

How to Configure Language Settings

In-Game

  1. In Desktop Mode, open RPCS3
  2. At the top, click Configuration, click System
  3. Below Console Language, select your preferred language in the drop-down menu