There are multiple ways of playing PS2 and PS1 games without the original disc, provided you own it and have previously created a backup.
Notes regarding Compatibility
The methods listed on this page use different approaches to load games. Not all of them will work with every PS2 or PS1 game.
OPL and Neutrino use software to load data from different storage devices using the IOP (I/O processor). This means that while playing, the IOP will be busy with other things than originally intended. While the vast majority of PS2 games will work, there might be some exceptions. PS1 games cannot be played using this approach because the IOP inside the PS2 is actually the PS1's main CPU, meaning that custom software cannot be run on it while playing PS1 games. This makes it impossible to play PS1 games natively from anything but the disc drive.
MechaPwn and modchips allow loading data from the disc drive directly, meaning that theoretically, all games can be loaded like intended, including PS1 games. These methods should have perfect compatibility as a result.
For playing PS1 games without a modchip, an emulater like POPS is required. Since POPS is not perfect, not all games will work. The benefit of using POPS is that it can easily be launched just like OPL and Neutrino and does not require hardware modifications or a working disc drive.
Available Methods
Depending on your resources, you can choose between the following methods:
PS2 Games only
Open PS2 Loader
- Most well-known game and software loader
- Easy to set up
- Needs access to homebrew
- Not compatible with all games
- Supports many different devices (devices marked with * are not supported on official OPL versions as of 2026-05-05, meaning that other versions must be used):
- USB
- MX4SIO (SD card to Memory Card adapter)
- MMCE*
- A hard drive, both exFAT and APA formatted
- SMB (over the network)
- UDPFS (over the network, as of 2026-04-23 in early stages for OPL)*
- i.Link (experimental)
Neutrino
- Lightweight software for loading PS2 games
- Good compatibility and quickly advancing developement
- Needs to be paired with a user interface for optimal experience
- Needs access to homebrew
- Supports many different devices:
- USB
- MX4SIO (SD card to Memory Card adapter)
- MMCE
- A hard drive, both exFAT and APA formatted
- UDPFS (over the network, easier than SMB)
- i.Link (experimental)
ESR
- Game ISOs can be patched with a special software
- Can then be burned to a DVD and started via ESR (homebrew application)
- Needs access to homebrew
- Not compatible with all games
- Needs a PS2 with working disc drive
PS2 and PS1 games
Mechapwn
- Only compatible with the SCPH-500xx and SCPH-5500xx Fat consoles and all Slim consoles
- Boots games burned to a disc ("masterpatched" first in the case of PS2)
- Edits the consoles EEPROM: risk of damaging the console in special cases -> make a backup!
- Needs a PS2 with working disc drive
- Needs access to homebrew for installation
- Similar functionality to a modchip, possibly compatible with all games
A modchip
- Boots unmodified games burned to a disc
- Best compatibility for PS1 games since no emulation is needed
- Possibly compatible with all games
- Needs a PS2 with working disc drive
- A lot of work to install one yourself, usually expensive if someone else does it
PS1 Games only
POPS
todo