Great news for PlayStation 2 fans! The PCSX2 emulator has just been updated to version 2.4.0, bringing a host of technical improvements and welcome fixes. The goal: to make PS2 emulation even smoother, more accurate… and more compatible!

Already praised for its 2.0 release last year — described by its developers as the biggest update in the project’s history — this 2.4.0 version continues along that ambitious path.

Improved compatibility with "Render Target in Render Target"

One of the main technical improvements is called "RT in RT". Behind this somewhat cryptic acronym lies a rendering method used by certain PS2 games, especially for split-screen effects.

Until now, this technique caused display issues in the emulator’s Hardware mode. Thanks to the work of refraction, former lead developer of the project, this mode is now much better supported.

In practical terms, this means that games like Jak X: Combat Racing, Drakengard, Hitman: Contracts, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex now display correctly.
A real boost to overall emulator compatibility!

Other notable improvements

PCSX2 2.4.0 also introduces:

• The ability to manually set the game’s internal real-time clock, allowing certain Easter Eggs to be unlocked (like in Metal Gear Solid 3)
• Direct3D 11 rendering optimizations
• A brand-new, modern debugger system
• SDL 3.0 support
• And signed macOS builds, for improved security and ease of use

If you’re playing PS2 games on PC, Mac, or Linux, this 2.4.0 version of PCSX2 can significantly improve your gaming experience. You can find the full update details on the official PCSX2 blog, where the team also discusses features from earlier releases.

PS2 emulation on Recalbox relies on this emulator, and PCSX2 updates may be integrated into our system if our internal testing proves successful. Finally, a quick reminder: PS2 emulation on Recalbox is currently available only on PC, and as of now, we do not support PS2 on Raspberry Pi.

Source: Time Extension