The PlayStation 2 launched by Sony dominated the entire 2000s and remains the best-selling game console in history. But just recently, an independent game developer successfully developed software to allow this classic console to natively render movable 3D VTuber virtual characters. It plans to add DIY full-body motion tracking in the future, and even considers using the console’s EyeToy camera device to implement a face tracking system that is completely operated independently by the PS2.
Generally speaking, VTuber will use cameras, motion capture technology and computer real-time calculations to synchronize the movements and expressions of the “person in the scene” with the 3D virtual characters on the live screen during the live broadcast. It is conceivable that this system has high requirements for hardware, not to mention that it must run related software while playing the game.
However, independent developer “Serenity Theater” recently showed fans this new project that surprised many people, and explained how he successfully enabled the PlayStation 2 console to natively run VTuber-related software, once again demonstrating the potential of this classic Sony console.
Serenity recently released an actual demonstration video on the X platform to introduce to fans an early version of the software called “Serenity VTuber Rig V1”. In the footage he released, fans can see that a PlayStation 2 connected to a CRT TV is rendering a wireframe 3D model in real time and rotating simultaneously according to various coordinate values.
I’m creating Vtuber software that runs natively on the PlayStation 2!
It runs directly within the Emotion Engine, here’s a showcase of how it works! pic.twitter.com/qfOdbDlZ3a
— Serenity (@SerenityTheater) July 21, 2026
According to Serenity, this project was developed through PS2SDK, which is a set of open source development tools specially created for the PlayStation 2 console to assist developers in developing various applications on this console.
It is worth noting that the current version of this software has not yet reached the point where the PS2 console can independently complete the “motion capture” process itself. In the relevant introduction, Serenity emphasized that the current system still needs to be assisted by a PC running Python scripts. The computer is responsible for calculating the user’s posture data, and then transmits each frame of data to the PS2 console through a network connection. Even so, he still emphasized that the PlayStation 2 console itself is really responsible for “rendering” the virtual characters, not the computer or emulator.
“No tricks! No simulators! No fakery!” he said
The current version of this software relies on the “Emotion Engine” processor of the PS2 console, which is the core CPU of the console. According to Sony’s official information, the “Emotion Engine” is composed of eight computing units with different functions, and this was one of the most representative hardware of the PS2 console at the time.
For now, the main use of “Serenity VTuber Rig V1” is to output 3D models that can be captured through live broadcast or recording software such as OBS. When fans asked whether VTuber’s avatar could appear directly in games on PS2 consoles, Serenity said it was not possible yet and emphasized again that this was the “current” situation.
You’ve asked the perfect question. For NOW, it’s just a vtuber software that showcases a model users can capture for OBS. Emphasis on “for now”.
— Serenity (@SerenityTheater) July 22, 2026
In addition to VTuber-related uses, Serenity also revealed that one of the original ideas for this project was actually to produce an animated video introducing the PS2 game development process, and he also hopes that this software can gradually develop into a universal animation creation tool in the future. In addition, developers are also thinking about whether they can make good use of the “EyeToy” peripheral camera dedicated to the PS2 console to create a face tracking system that is completely calculated by the console itself. However, he did not forget to criticize this classic accessory, saying that it is a terrible camera.
However, Serenity’s ambitions for this software certainly don’t end there. He even stated that he hopes to add a “full-body motion tracking” function implemented through DIY hardware in the future. He also said that since the entire software is actually built on the “Hardware Abstraction Layer” (Hardware Abstraction Layer, HAL), in theory, he can indeed port it to other game consoles of the same generation.
As for why you chose the 26-year-old PlayStation 2 console as your development platform? Serenity also gave a very simple and concise answer, that is, in his mind, this console is “the best console in history.”
Serenity doesn’t seem ready to set a formal launch date for the software. However, when some fans joked that this system might give birth to a new generation of “PS2bers”, the producer emphasized that the first goal will be to improve the ease of use of the software so that more people can easily use this special VTuber system.
Source: KOCPC Chinese