Nintendo Switch 2 Gets Its First PS1 Emulator After Jailbreak Breakthrough

The Nintendo Switch 2 homebrew scene is moving fast, and now PlayStation 1 classics are entering the picture. Developer Izmysh on X claims to have built the console’s first fully native PS1 emulator, with footage reportedly showing games running directly on Switch 2 hardware. The catch? This is still an experimental proof of concept, not a public release.

Gran Turismo 2 and Silent Hill reportedly run on Switch 2

According to VideoCardz, which first reported on it, Izmysh’s demonstration features classic PlayStation games, including Gran Turismo 2, Silent Hill, and Tekken 3. The developer says the emulator runs natively on the console instead of streaming gameplay from a computer.

Izmysh also claims the software uses the Switch 2’s own filesystem. Disc images can reportedly be saved successfully to a microSD card, giving the project a foundation for handling game files directly on the console.

However, there is a limitation. The emulator has not been released publicly, and its source code is unavailable for independent verification. Its compatibility, performance, and wider functionality therefore remain unclear.

Switch 2 homebrew development is picking up pace

The breakthrough follows the recent appearance of the ns2jb jailbreak, which opened the door to unofficial applications on compatible Switch 2 firmware. Izmysh has also worked on IZDOOM, a DOOM project, and Super File Bros., a file manager for accessing console storage.

That said, the current jailbreak remains limited. It requires assistance from an external computer and does not provide permanent custom firmware or kernel-level access. It is also still at the proof-of-concept stage, rather than a simple, consumer-ready modification. All that said, native PS1 emulation could eventually make the Switch 2 more versatile.