A new experimental emulator is bringing Nintendo Switch games to an unlikely platform: a jailbroken PlayStation 5.
The project, called ProsperoEden, is based on Eden, an open-source emulator derived from Yuzu. While the software is still in its early alpha stage, testing has already shown that several Switch titles can boot and run on modified PS5 hardware.
One of the most impressive results so far comes from Cuphead, which reportedly reaches 60 frames per second.
Several Switch Games Have Been Tested
Early testing has also included a range of other Nintendo titles. These include Metroid Dread, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Hollow Knight, Horizon Chase Turbo, Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Pokémon Legends ZA.
The emulator can use the PS5’s DualSense controller directly, giving players access to the console’s standard input hardware rather than requiring a separate controller.
However, the current results should not be mistaken for full compatibility.
ProsperoEden remains in its “release alpha” phase, and the tests have not demonstrated complete playthroughs of the games. Some titles may encounter crashes, graphical problems, performance drops or other issues that prevent them from being played from beginning to end.
OpenGL Limits the Current Build
ProsperoEden is currently operating through OpenGL and does not yet have a Vulkan backend.
That limitation could have a significant impact on performance and compatibility. A future Vulkan implementation could potentially improve the emulator’s efficiency, although its eventual performance will depend on how the project develops.
The software already includes several features beyond basic game launching. Players can save their progress, monitor performance through an integrated overlay and use shortcuts to switch between docked and handheld modes.
You Need a Modified PS5
There is an important catch: ProsperoEden is not something that can be installed on a standard PlayStation 5. The emulator currently requires a jailbroken PS5 capable of running unofficial software. Users also need a dump of the original Switch games being tested.
That makes the project largely experimental rather than a practical way for ordinary PS5 owners to play Switch titles.
The latest project adds to the growing interest in PlayStation 5 emulation.
PC-based PS5 emulation projects have been making increasingly rapid progress, with some experimental builds already demonstrating games running at playable frame rates. The technology remains far from offering broad compatibility, but development is moving quickly.
ProsperoEden shows another side of that progress by bringing Switch emulation to modified PS5 hardware.
For now, the project remains a technical experiment. But reaching 60 FPS in Cuphead and successfully launching multiple other Switch games suggests that PS5 hardware may have considerably more emulation potential than these early builds initially revealed.
