Recently, the ARMSX2 emulator became the first PlayStation 2 emulator on Android with multiplayer support. As it turns out, the same settings apply to the more popular NetherSX2.
NetherSX2, a popular Android emulator for PlayStation 2, has received version 2.2n update, the main feature of which is experimental online multiplayer support. Developer Trixarian released the update on GitHub, accompanying it with a festive address and a traditional list of fixes.
The addition of network functions was made possible by the integration of the DEV9 Ethernet module, previously used in the ARMSX2 project. It was ARMSX2 that a few weeks ago became the first Android PS2 emulator with working multiplayer, and the growing interest in this solution prompted the authors of NetherSX2 to implement a similar function.
To activate network play, users need to open App Settings → Settings and enable the Enable DEV9 Ethernet option. After that, you should select the API with the value Sockets and specify the connection method.
For finer tuning, you can manually set DNS addresses, such as PS2 Online or PSRewired. This allows you to connect to fan servers depending on the specific game. A list of compatible projects is available in the PlayStation 2 Online Games (2024) catalog.
In addition to network capabilities, the update includes a large-scale replenishment of the GameDB database, converted from PCSX2. Dozens of rendering and graphics issues in games have also been fixed, including Silent Hill 3, Yakuza 1 and 2, Final Fantasy X-2, Battle Gear 3, and TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. This is just part of the changes — the full list is available on the project page on GitHub, where two versions of the emulator are published: classic and patched (experimental).
