DuckStation Setup Guide

Step 1: Download DuckStation

DuckStation is free and open-source. Get the latest stable build from the official site at duckstation.org. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Always download from the official source — third-party builds may be outdated or modified.

• Windows: Download the .zip, extract it anywhere, run duckstation-qt-x64-ReleaseLTCG.exe.
• macOS: Download the .dmg, drag DuckStation to Applications. On Apple Silicon, use the native arm64 build.
• Linux: Use the AppImage (mark it executable and run it) or install from your distro's package manager.
• Android: Install from Google Play or the GitHub releases page.

Step 2: Install Your PS1 BIOS

DuckStation requires a real PS1 BIOS file to run games. Without it, it falls back to HLE BIOS — a software approximation that works for most games but breaks some.

The BIOS file must be a raw .bin — not a .zip. If you downloaded a ZIP, extract it first. The file must be exactly 524,288 bytes (512 KB). Download BIOS files here →

Step 3: Add Your Games

Go to Settings → Game List → Add Search Directory. Point it at the folder containing your PS1 disc images (.bin/.cue, .iso, .chd, .pbp formats are all supported). DuckStation will scan and build a library automatically.

Recommended format: CHD (Compressed Hunks of Data). It stores multi-track PS1 discs in a single compressed file — smaller than BIN/CUE, no quality loss. Convert with CHDMAN.

Step 4: Enable PGXP Geometry Correction

This is the single most impactful visual improvement available in PS1 emulation. The original PS1 hardware calculated 3D positions in integer coordinates, causing polygons to "wobble" as the camera moved. PGXP stores positions as floating-point values, eliminating the wobble entirely.

Go to Settings → Graphics → Enhancements and enable:

• PGXP Geometry Correction — eliminates polygon wobble
• PGXP Culling Correction — fixes clipping issues with PGXP enabled
• PGXP Texture Correction — reduces texture warping (can cause issues in a small number of games)

PGXP is compatible with the vast majority of games. If you encounter visual glitches in a specific game, disable Texture Correction first — that's usually the cause.

Step 5: Set Internal Resolution

Go to Settings → Graphics → Rendering → Internal Resolution. The original PS1 rendered at 240p. DuckStation can multiply this:

Recommendation: Start at 4x or 8x. Most modern PCs handle 8x with no performance impact. Note: upscaling only improves 3D geometry — pre-rendered backgrounds and FMV sequences are still the original resolution.

Step 6: Configure Texture Filtering

In Settings → Graphics → Enhancements → Texture Filtering:

• 3D games (Crash, Metal Gear, Gran Turismo): Try Bilinear or xBR. Bilinear smooths textures; xBR preserves more edge detail.
• 2D sprite games (Castlevania: SotN, Street Fighter Alpha): Leave at Nearest Neighbour. Bilinear blurs pixel art and looks worse.

Step 7: Controller Setup

Go to Settings → Controllers → Controller Port 1. DuckStation supports:

• DualShock (Analog Controller) — for most games. Use this by default.
• Digital Pad — for games that don't support analog (some early PS1 titles).
• Multitap — for multiplayer games that required it (e.g., PaRappa 2, Bomberman Party Edition).

Vibration note: DualShock vibration requires a v4.x BIOS (SCPH-7001 for USA, SCPH-7000 for Japan). If vibration isn't working, check your BIOS version in Settings → BIOS.

Step 8: Save States vs. Memory Cards

DuckStation supports both:

• Memory Cards: The authentic save method. DuckStation creates virtual memory card files. These are compatible with other emulators and can be backed up. Managed in Settings → Memory Cards.
• Save States: Snapshot saves — instant and unlimited. Use F1 (save) and F3 (load) by default. Note: save states can break between DuckStation updates, so don't rely on them for long-term saves.

Step 9: Per-Game Settings

Right-click any game in your library and choose Game Properties. You can override global settings per game — useful for:

• Disabling PGXP Texture Correction for games that glitch with it enabled
• Forcing a specific BIOS version
• Adjusting CPU overclock for games with slowdown (e.g., Castlevania: SotN's reverse castle)
• Enabling software renderer for games that look better without GPU upscaling (sprite-heavy titles)

Recommended Settings Summary