EmuCoreV

EmuCoreV is a PlayStation Vita emulator for Android. It combines a custom Android interface, library and catalog UX, installer flows, and runtime controls with a Vita3K-based emulation core adapted for this app.

Warning

EmuCoreV is still under active development. Expect instability, renderer-specific issues, incomplete compatibility, and device-to-device performance differences.

Current Android builds target arm64-v8a only. Firmware handling, game installation, compatibility sync, and mobile UX are still being refined.

Not all games boot or behave correctly yet. Compatibility, fixes, and performance work are ongoing.

Highlights

• Vita3K-based native core integrated into a Kotlin + Jetpack Compose Android app
• Library and catalog screens with cover art, metadata, media, and compatibility badges
• Firmware, update, VPK, ZIP, PKG, zRIF, RIF, and work.bin install flows
• In-game overlay, per-game settings, and Android-first storage and setup flows
• App language selection and localized UI resources

What This Repository Contains

This repository contains the Android application, Compose UI, JNI bridge code, bundled Vita3K source tree, catalog assets, and supporting build tooling used by EmuCoreV.

Tech Stack

• Kotlin + Jetpack Compose
• Android DataStore
• JNI bridge to native C++
• Vita3K-based emulation core and Android integration layer
• Android NDK + CMake
• Local compatibility sync against Vita3K compatibility data

Current App Scope

EmuCoreV currently targets Android with:

• minSdk 28
• targetSdk 37
• package id com.sbro.emucorev
• version 0.1.6
• ABI arm64-v8a

Building Locally

Requirements

• Android Studio with Android SDK, NDK 29.0.14206865, and CMake 3.22.1+
• JDK 21 (Android Studio's bundled JBR is supported)
• Python 3 available to CMake; use python3.path in local.properties when it is not on PATH
• OpenSSL Android outputs prepared under tools/openssl-test/out
• the third_party/vcpkg checkout initialized

Debug Build

.\gradlew :app:assembleDebug

Notes For Native Dependencies

• app/build.gradle.kts currently points OPENSSL_ROOT_DIR to tools/openssl-test/out
• tools/build_android_openssl.sh is the local helper used to prepare the expected OpenSSL layout
• Gradle passes the bundled third_party/vcpkg checkout and Android NDK to CMake automatically

Project Structure

• app/ Android application module
• app/src/main/java/com/sbro/emucorev Kotlin app code
• app/src/main/cpp Native bridge and Vita3K-based sources
• app/src/main/assets Catalog data and bundled assets
• tools/ Local helper scripts and ignored machine-specific native build inputs

Notes

• Firmware files, licenses, keys, and game content are not distributed with this repository.
• Use only your own legally obtained firmware and game dumps.
• Compatibility data shown in the catalog and detail screens is derived from Vita3K's public compatibility data.

Credits

EmuCoreV builds on the Vita3K project and its ecosystem, then layers a custom Android interface, catalog, installer flow, storage handling, and handheld-focused UX on top.

• Vita3K: https://github.com/Vita3K/Vita3K
• Vita3K Compatibility: https://github.com/Vita3K/compatibility
• Vita3K Compatibility Page: https://vita3k.org/compatibility.html?lang=en

Support

If you want to support ongoing development or join the community:

• Official website: https://emucorev.web.app
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/emucore/membership
• Discord: https://discord.gg/c5EBeNRpz2
• More apps by the author: https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=7136622298887775989

License

This project includes and derives from GPL-licensed Vita3K code, so the repository is distributed under the GNU General Public License v2.0 or later.

See LICENSE for details.