PS2 emulator cancelled after developer receives death threats

One developer has ceased creating a PlayStation 2 emulator they were working on for Android devices after revealing that they’d been subject to an endless barrage of complaints, demands, and even death threats in relation to the project.

The PS2 era is one I think we all universally look back to fondly - if you’re a PlayStation fan that is. In fact, I recently uncovered both my PS2 and my copy of The Simpsons: Hit & Run and to my astonishment, that bad boy worked after years in a dusty loft. In case you missed it, one dedicated fan is remaking Hit & Run. Let’s be honest, we’re all really chasing that sweet dose of nostalgia but the Android PS2 emulator won’t be available to give it to you.

Check out some of our favourite PlayStation 2 titles below. Can’t believe Bratz: Forever Diamondz didn’t make the list.

The project, known as AetherSX2, was originally started by the mystery developer as a fun hobby which they hoped would bring joy to PlayStation fans. Unfortunately though, they didn’t get the response they’d hoped for and were instead left facing a constant onslaught of complaints and death threats. The project’s site has since been suspended.

The developer posted a notice reading, “Due to neverending impersonating, complaints, demands, and now death threats, I'm done. AetherSX2 was always meant to be a fun hobby for me, not profit driven. It doesn't make sense to continue working on a hobby which isn't fun anymore. [...] Thanks to everyone who wasn't a d*ck for the last year.”

Current builds of the emulator will remain available to download via the site’s archive but no new updates will be released. As reported by Kotaku, it’s a shame as the only other Android PS2 emulator, DamonPS2, is plagued by controversy for supposedly stealing source code from another emulator developer, PCXS2.