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A GitHub project has demonstrated God of War: Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta running in desktop and mobile browsers after their PSP code is translated to C++ and compiled to WebAssembly. The project uses a reimplementation of PSP system functions and graphics rather than a conventional emulator, and does not include game files; users must supply their own disc images.
A GitHub project has demonstrated God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta running in web browsers after translating their PSP machine code into C++ and compiling it to WebAssembly. The project says it runs the games through a custom implementation of PSP system and graphics functions, rather than a conventional emulator, and includes no game data.
The project’s creator says Chains of Olympus runs from startup through menus, cutscenes and combat, with music, speech and sound effects working. In the scenes measured so far, it reaches 60 frames per second in Chrome and Firefox on a laptop and can render at up to four times the PSP’s native resolution of 480 by 272 pixels. The creator also reports support for phones with on-screen touch controls. Movies are currently skipped.
Ghost of Sparta was brought up through the same scripts. The repository reports performance of 55 to 60 frames per second at three times native resolution. Getting it to boot required support for a small DRM-protected file, several system calls and a lighting fix, according to the project. These figures are the creator’s reported results, not independently verified benchmarks.
Users must provide a disc image themselves; the repository says it does not distribute game data. Its scripts process the game on the user’s machine, while disc content can be fetched in parts using HTTP Range requests, so only the executable needs to be downloaded at the outset. The supplied material does not establish how the project’s use of game images is treated under copyright law in different jurisdictions.
A Different Route to Browser Play
The demonstration shows how ahead-of-time recompilation can make older console software run in a browser without reproducing every part of the original hardware as a conventional emulator would. That distinction is technical: the project translates executable code and supplies targeted replacements for PSP services, while its graphics layer interprets the console’s display lists and sends drawing work to WebGL2.
For players, browser access could reduce the need to install a dedicated emulator or configure a separate device. The reported support for desktop browsers and phones suggests the approach can span different hardware, though performance depends on the device and browser. The work also shows the engineering effort involved: the initial build reportedly ran at six frames per second, and much of the improvement came from addressing timing, graphics synchronization and browser-specific buffer behavior rather than simply increasing rendering power.
The project is a technical demonstration, not an official release from Sony or the game’s publisher. Its requirement that users provide game data also means it is not a ready-to-play distribution of either title.
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How the PSP Code Reaches WebAssembly
The repository says it uses PSPRecomp to analyze a decrypted game executable, identify functions and generate C++ code in units based on 16 KiB of guest code. The project adds a web target and patches, then compiles the result to WebAssembly. A compact software layer answers requests for PSP functions such as threads, file access, controller input, audio, save data and system messages.
Graphics are handled by a separate layer. The project decodes the PSP’s display lists on the CPU and submits batched geometry and state to WebGL2. It also models features such as framebuffers, fog and the PSP’s use of the framebuffer alpha channel for stencil data. The graphics work runs on a worker thread with an OffscreenCanvas, allowing the game and graphics processing to overlap, according to the repository.
The creator’s performance notes describe several browser-specific changes. For example, the project adjusted how it handles frame swaps and index buffers after profiling revealed substantial overhead. A separate audio implementation handles sound effects and uses FFmpeg’s ATRAC3+ decoder for music and speech streams.
“PSP games running in the browser without an emulator.”
— The project’s GitHub repository
WebAssembly compatible game controllers
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Limits of the Demonstration
The reported frame rates are attributed to the project and are described for measured scenes; the supplied source does not provide independent testing, device specifications or a complete benchmark methodology. Results on other computers and phones remain uncertain. The project also says movies are skipped, so its report does not establish that every part of either game works.
The source does not specify a release date, a formal support list for browsers or devices, or whether the project has been reviewed for security and compatibility. It also does not explain the legal status of users’ disc images across jurisdictions. The developer’s account describes how the technical system works, but does not amount to authorization from rights holders.
touchscreen game controllers for mobile
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Further Compatibility and Testing
The repository provides the current implementation and scripts, but the supplied material does not announce a release schedule or a next milestone. The immediate next steps for readers evaluating the project are to consult the repository for its current requirements, supported browsers and setup instructions, and to check for updates as compatibility work continues.
Further testing would be needed to establish performance across a wider range of devices and to clarify how completely the games run, including the currently skipped movies. Any broader availability also depends on users having access to game data they are entitled to use; the project itself does not provide that data.
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Key Questions
Which God of War games are included in the demonstration?
The project reports browser builds of God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta, both originally released for PSP.
Is this a conventional PSP emulator?
The repository describes the method as recompilation, not conventional emulation: it translates the game’s MIPS machine code into C++, compiles that code to WebAssembly and implements selected PSP system and graphics functions.
Does the project include the games?
No. The repository says no game data is included and that users supply a disc image. The source does not determine the legal status of using a particular image.
How well do the games run?
The project reports 60 frames per second in measured scenes for Chains of Olympus in Chrome and Firefox on a laptop, and 55 to 60 frames per second for Ghost of Sparta at three times native resolution. These are developer-reported results, and performance on other systems has not been established by the supplied material.
Does every part of the games work?
Not according to the current report: movies are skipped. The repository describes gameplay, menus, audio and other functions working, but the supplied information does not confirm complete compatibility across all scenes or devices.
Source: hn
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