Dead Cells: First PS5 Game Runs Natively on Windows via AnyPS5

By Indie Kings | October 24, 2026

Updated October 24, 2026: A developer called OverkillLabs has shown the PlayStation 5 version of Dead Cells running as a native Windows executable through the AnyPS5 project. It is the first commercial PS5 game claimed to reach gameplay this way.

Image: AnyPS5 demonstration environment.

What AnyPS5 does

AnyPS5 is a project that aims to run PS5 games natively on PC without traditional CPU emulation. Because the PS5 uses x86-64 architecture, the original executable can be relinked directly into a host executable. The remaining work is recreating the PS5 environment: system libraries, runtime functions and graphics interfaces translated to Vulkan.

Dead Cells demonstration

OverkillLabs demonstrated the PlayStation 5 version of Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Edition (PPSA15552, version 01.000.000) running as a native Windows executable. The build reaches gameplay with audio and sound effects working, plus keyboard, mouse and SDL-compatible controller input. No traditional CPU instruction translation is performed.

Metric	Value / Status
Game version tested	Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Edition v01.000.000 (PPSA15552)
Performance (indoor)	55-60 FPS at 4K
Performance (outdoor)	30-35 FPS at 4K
Test system	Ryzen 7 5800X3D + GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Method	AnyPS5 relinking (not traditional emulation)

Performance numbers are early and not representative of standard PC performance. Only one version and region have been tested; other patches or regions may not work. No game files are included; users must provide their own.

How it works technically

The project relinks the original x86-64 code into a host executable. Graphics interfaces use Vulkan translation for proprietary GPU commands. System libraries are recreated rather than emulated, which is why the approach is faster than traditional emulators that translate CPU instructions.

Limitations

Only Dead Cells version PPSA15552 has been tested. Only one region/build works. No online features or multiplayer have been verified. Performance varies significantly between indoor and outdoor scenes. The project remains experimental and requires the user to prepare their own game files.

FAQ

What is AnyPS5?
A project that aims to run PS5 games natively on PC without a traditional emulator.

Which game works?
Only Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Edition (PPSA15552, v01.000.000) has been demonstrated.

Is it an emulator?
It relinks the original executable rather than translating CPU instructions; some call it closer to emulation than a conventional PC port.

What is the performance?
About 55-60 FPS indoors, 30-35 FPS outdoors at 4K on a Ryzen 7 5800X3D with GeForce RTX 5070 Ti.

Can I download and play?
No; the project requires your own game files in the required format and is experimental.

When was this shown?
September 28, 2026, reported by VideoCardz.

Bottom Line

AnyPS5 demonstrates that a commercial PS5 game can run as a native Windows executable without full CPU emulation. It is not yet practical for everyday use, but it pushes the boundary of PS5-to-PC compatibility.

Sources

VideoCardz: Dead Cells is fhe first PS5 game to run natively on Windows through AnyPS5, accessed 24 October 2026