Jotego has officially launched a CPS3 core for the MiSTer FPGA, a significant milestone for the FPGA emulation community and fans of Capcom's 1990s arcade hardware.
The Capcom Play System III (CPS3) debuted in 1996 alongside Red Earth and succeeded the CPS1 and CPS2 platforms.
CPS3's hardware and encryption—most notoriously the battery-backed suicide mechanism that disabled boards when the internal battery died—have long complicated preservation and accurate reproduction, making a working FPGA core a sought-after achievement.
According to the developer's update on 12 June 2026, the CPS3 core is being made available to MiSTer users today.
Jotego framed the release as a timely win for retro arcade enthusiasts, saying the rollout should make for an especially good weekend for those following the project.
Earlier communications clarify the development and testing context.
On 4 June 2026 Jotego confirmed that video footage previously shared of CPS3 titles booting was captured on a different FPGA device, the SiDi128.
He explained that the SiDi128 implementation uses roughly half the memory cache of the MiSTer version, and that some visual artifacts seen in footage likely stem from that difference.
Jotego also reported that the core will boot on MiSTer hardware but remains unstable in some configurations, which he attributed to SDRAM noise and said he is actively investigating.
The CPS3 platform hosted only six official commercial releases: Red Earth, Street Fighter III: New Generation, Street Fighter III 2nd Impact: Giant Attack, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike: Fight for the Future, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future.
That small, high-profile library and the system's secure encryption make accurate hardware replication both technically demanding and culturally significant for archivists.
Jotego has also acknowledged using AI-assisted tools during development, which aided debugging and analysis but did not replace core hardware validation.
The MiSTer FPGA project remains a community-driven effort focused on accurate FPGA recreations of classic systems, distinct from software emulation approaches used on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch or digital storefronts like the eShop.
For MiSTer owners and preservation advocates, the CPS3 core launch represents a major step toward stable, playable CPS3 reproduction on FPGA hardware.
Further technical updates and stability patches are expected as Jotego continues testing and refining the MiSTer implementation.
The Capcom Play System III (CPS3) debuted in 1996 alongside Red Earth and succeeded the CPS1 and CPS2 platforms.
CPS3's hardware and encryption—most notoriously the battery-backed suicide mechanism that disabled boards when the internal battery died—have long complicated preservation and accurate reproduction, making a working FPGA core a sought-after achievement.
According to the developer's update on 12 June 2026, the CPS3 core is being made available to MiSTer users today.
Jotego framed the release as a timely win for retro arcade enthusiasts, saying the rollout should make for an especially good weekend for those following the project.
Earlier communications clarify the development and testing context.
On 4 June 2026 Jotego confirmed that video footage previously shared of CPS3 titles booting was captured on a different FPGA device, the SiDi128.
He explained that the SiDi128 implementation uses roughly half the memory cache of the MiSTer version, and that some visual artifacts seen in footage likely stem from that difference.
Jotego also reported that the core will boot on MiSTer hardware but remains unstable in some configurations, which he attributed to SDRAM noise and said he is actively investigating.
The CPS3 platform hosted only six official commercial releases: Red Earth, Street Fighter III: New Generation, Street Fighter III 2nd Impact: Giant Attack, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike: Fight for the Future, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future.
That small, high-profile library and the system's secure encryption make accurate hardware replication both technically demanding and culturally significant for archivists.
Jotego has also acknowledged using AI-assisted tools during development, which aided debugging and analysis but did not replace core hardware validation.
The MiSTer FPGA project remains a community-driven effort focused on accurate FPGA recreations of classic systems, distinct from software emulation approaches used on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch or digital storefronts like the eShop.
For MiSTer owners and preservation advocates, the CPS3 core launch represents a major step toward stable, playable CPS3 reproduction on FPGA hardware.
Further technical updates and stability patches are expected as Jotego continues testing and refining the MiSTer implementation.