ePSXe for Android officially supports Android TV, and the TV is arguably where a PS1 emulator feels most at home: a big screen, a couch, and real controllers. This guide covers what works, what to set first, and the honest limits.
What you need
- An Android TV device or television running the Play Store version of ePSXe for Android (paid, $3.75 — install it from the TV’s Play Store so it receives the 2.0.19-series updates).
- One Bluetooth or USB controller per player. The TV remote is for setup, not for playing.
- Your games and BIOS on storage the TV can read — a USB drive is the practical choice; copy images ripped from your own discs and a BIOS dumped from your own console (legal BIOS guide).
Setup order that avoids the usual traps
- Install from Play, then grant the app access to the folder holding your BIOS and games — scoped storage applies on TV exactly as on phones, and an unapproved folder is invisible to the file picker.
- Pair controllers in the TV’s Bluetooth settings before launching the app, then map them in Preferences (see the controller guide).
- Set the BIOS path and load one game to confirm the full chain works before inviting anyone to play.
The TV-specific wins
Two-player split-screen is a listed feature of the Android app (it supports 1–4 players), and PS1-era local multiplayer — racers, fighters, sports titles — maps perfectly onto it. The Android 2.0.18 update specifically improved Android TV support, and the current 2.0.19 series keeps that work current, including edge-to-edge display handling on modern sets. On a 4K TV, prefer the OpenGL renderer’s moderate upscaling over maximum settings; a stable frame rate beats resolution for living-room play, and our graphics settings guide explains the trade-offs.
Honest limits
There is no separate TV interface — it is the Android app presented on your television, so some menus remain phone-shaped. Input lag varies by TV; use the TV’s game mode. And the app’s age shows in places: if the big-screen experience is your top priority, compare the whole field in best PS1 emulator for Android before spending.