You have a PlayStation 1 disc image and want it running on a Windows PC. DuckStation, written by Stenzek, is built for exactly that. The download comes from the official server at github.com, and we do not host the file.
A PlayStation 1 emulator for x86-64 and AArch64
DuckStation emulates the original PlayStation, and it targets both x86-64 and AArch64 processors. It is tagged for hardware renderers, OpenGL and a JIT compiler. The Windows build is version 0.1.11894 and takes up 69.3 MB.
What a session looks like in the Qt interface
The changelog points to a Qt front end with a game properties page, a select disc dialog and a track summary list. Achievements show in popups, and the properties page lists an RA Game ID. A debugger window with call stack and threads views is also in the recent commits.
Against PCSX2, RetroArch and the rest
PCSX2 is the alternative closest in name, though it covers a different console. RetroArch, PPSSPP, Cemu, BizHawk and DOSBox are also alternatives. The right choice depends on which system you want to play.
What's new in 0.1.11894
The September 12, 2026 build lets you change the console region while a game runs. It also adds a category badge to achievement popups and a threads view to the debugger.
DuckStation pros and cons
Pros
- Free
- Covers x86-64 and AArch64
- Hardware renderer and JIT compiler tags
- Built-in achievements and debugger tools
Cons
- No visual preview of the interface is available here
- Licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 forbids commercial use and modified versions
Is DuckStation safe?
The file is served from github.com, the official host, and the developer is Stenzek. The licence is CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. No independent security review is available.
How to install DuckStation
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start DuckStation from the Start menu.
