QuackStation

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What QuackStation is

QuackStation is a PlayStation 1 emulator with a Qt interface and a fullscreen, TV-oriented interface based on Dear ImGui. It is free and open-source under GNU GPLv3 or later. It offers hardware rendering through D3D11, D3D12, OpenGL, Vulkan, and Metal, as well as software rendering. Hardware graphics options include upscaling, texture filtering, 24-bit true colour, and PGXP geometry precision and texture correction. Playback features include save states, runahead, rewind, fast boot, CPU overclocking, and time-stretched audio. It can load CDs and disc images including BIN/CUE, raw BIN/IMG, MAME CHD, ECM, MDS/MDF, and unencrypted PBP. Controller support includes digital and analog pads, GunCon and Justifier lightguns simulated with a mouse, NeGcon, and multitap for up to eight devices. A PS1 or PS2 BIOS image is required, and the emulator does not include one; users must dump it from their own console. The Android app is currently unmaintained and unsupported. The maker lists Windows, Linux, and macOS builds through GitHub Releases, with Linux AppImage requirements equivalent to Ubuntu 22.04 or newer.

Who it suits

QuackStation suits people looking for a PS1 emulator with multiple rendering options, playback features, and support for different controller types. Android users should note that the app is unmaintained and unsupported.

What it does well

Supports hardware and software rendering.
Includes save states, rewind, and runahead.
Reads several disc-image formats.
Supports multitap for up to eight devices.

What to know first

Requires a PS1 or PS2 BIOS image users supply.
Android app is unmaintained and unsupported.
Linux AppImage needs Ubuntu 22.04-equivalent or newer.

Limits

QuackStation has no paid tier listed. The BIOS must come from the user's own console, and Android is currently unmaintained and unsupported. Linux users need a supported release build; the AppImage requires a distribution equivalent to Ubuntu 22.04 or newer.

Getting started

Open the project on GitHub.
Choose a build from GitHub Releases for Windows, Linux, or macOS.
Use a supported platform version and, for hardware rendering, a compatible GPU.
Dump a PS1 or PS2 BIOS image from your own console; QuackStation does not provide one.
Load a game from CD or a supported disc-image format.

Verdict

QuackStation pairs varied rendering and playback options with broad disc and controller support. Its BIOS requirement and the unsupported Android app are important constraints to consider before use.

Questions

Is QuackStation free?

Yes. It is listed as free, with a free plan.

Which platforms does it support?

Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android are listed. The Android app is currently unmaintained and unsupported.

Does QuackStation include a BIOS?

No. It requires a PS1 or PS2 BIOS image, which users are instructed to dump from their own console.

Is QuackStation open source?

Yes. The project is licensed under GNU GPLv3 or later, though it describes the current licensing as effectively GPLv3 only.

What game formats can it load?

It supports CD playback and disc images including BIN/CUE, raw BIN/IMG, MAME CHD, ECM, MDS/MDF, and unencrypted PBP.

Where can I get a supported build?

The maker lists Windows x64 and ARM64, Linux x86_64 AppImage and Flatpak, and universal macOS builds through GitHub Releases.

Facts from QuackStation's own pages

Android support: The Android app is described as currently unmaintained and unsupported. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
BIOS requirement: A PS1 or PS2 BIOS ROM image is required, and the emulator does not include one; the maker says users should dump it from their own console. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Disc formats: It supports CD playback and disc images including bin/cue, raw bin/img, MAME CHD, ECM, MDS/MDF, and unencrypted PBP. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
Downloads: The maker provides builds for Windows x64/ARM64, Linux x86_64 in AppImage and Flatpak formats, and universal macOS binaries through GitHub Releases. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Emulation features: Features include save states, runahead, rewind, fast boot, and emulated CPU overclocking. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Graphics features: Hardware renderers support upscaling, texture filtering, and 24-bit true colour; PGXP provides geometry precision, texture correction, and depth buffer emulation. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Input: It supports digital and analog controllers, GunCon and Justifier lightguns simulated with a mouse, NeGcon, and multitap controllers for up to eight devices. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
Integrations: It supports RetroAchievements and Discord Rich Presence. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
License: The project states it is licensed under GNU GPLv3 or later, while noting that it is effectively GPLv3 only for now. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
License and security: QuackStation is licensed under GNU GPLv3 or later; the README provides no security certification or compliance claim. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Linux limit: The README says the AppImage requires a distribution equivalent to Ubuntu 22.04 or newer and notes that the Flathub install command was not working as of 30 October 2025. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
Linux support: The maker says the AppImage and Flatpak builds on the releases page are the only supported Linux versions; the AppImage requires a distribution equivalent to Ubuntu 22.04 or newer. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Media support: It can load games from CD and several image formats, including bin/cue, MAME CHD, ECM, MDS/MDF, and unencrypted PBP. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Platform limits: Windows 10 version 1809 or newer is required, macOS 11.0 or newer is required, and the Android app is currently unmaintained and unsupported. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Product: QuackStation is a PlayStation 1 emulator with a Qt front end and a fullscreen/TV interface based on Dear ImGui. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
Project origin: The project is a hard fork of the final GPLv3 version of DuckStation. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Purpose: QuackStation is a PlayStation 1 emulator with a Qt front end and a fullscreen/TV interface based on Dear ImGui. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Rendering: It supports hardware rendering with D3D11, D3D12, OpenGL, Vulkan, and Metal, as well as software rendering. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Save and playback: Features include save states, runahead, rewind, fast boot, and time-stretched audio. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
Support: The README says packages from sources other than GitHub Releases may be out of date and are not supported by the developer. · github.com, 29 Sept 2026
Support and community: The README says the Discord server does not currently exist and warns that builds or packages from other sources are not supported by the developer. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
System requirements: The listed CPU architectures are x86_64 with SSE4.1, ARMv7, ARM64, or RISC-V/RV64; hardware rendering requires a GPU supporting OpenGL 3.1, OpenGL ES 3.1, Direct3D 11 Feature Level 10.0, or Vulkan 1.0. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Video capture: Video capture uses Media Foundation on Windows and FFmpeg on all platforms. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026

Where QuackStation stands on Freedom251

PlayStation Emulators#10 of 25