DriveClub Recomp Wiki / vs shadPS4
DriveClub Recomp vs shadPS4
A dedicated native port against a general PS4 emulator: what each one does with DriveClub today, according to both projects’ own data.
- Native port
- PS4 emulator
- DriveClub 1.28
- Checked November 8, 2026
Both projects run PS4 code on a PC without interpreting the PS4’s processor, and both translate graphics to Vulkan. The difference is scope: DriveClub Recomp is a port of one game, tuned and extended for it, while shadPS4 is a general PlayStation 4 emulator for the whole library. Facts below come from each project’s repository and shadPS4’s public compatibility list, checked November 8, 2026.
Side-by-side comparison
| DriveClub Recomp | shadPS4 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A port of one game: DriveClub 1.28, with fixes and features written for it | A general PS4 emulator for many games |
| How the game code runs | Directly on your x86-64 CPU; PS4 system libraries reimplemented | Also runs PS4 x86-64 code on x86-64 hosts with reimplemented libraries |
| Graphics | GPU commands and shaders translated to Vulkan, with game-specific fixes | Vulkan renderer for PS4 graphics in general |
| Platforms | Windows 10/11 x64; Linux AppImage (experimental) | Windows, Linux, macOS and FreeBSD (per its repository) |
| DriveClub status | Playable from menus through races, photo mode, saves, trophies and private multiplayer (README) | Compatibility list: “In-game” on Windows and Linux with graphics, texture and cutscene issues; “Nothing” on macOS |
| What you supply | Your 1.28 update folder and base game folder | Your game dump; the compatibility reports also use system modules from the reporter’s own console |
| Upscaling | FSR 3.1, FSR 4, FSR 4.1, DLSS/DLAA, neural rendering | No DriveClub-specific upscaler options |
| Wheels | Force feedback from tyre physics, clutch, H-shifter, handbrake | Not a focus |
| Online | Private sessions with the included server (LAN/VPN) | No DriveClub online |
| Mods | dcmod modkit, Lua scripts, HDR filters | General patch and mod folder support |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later | GPL-2.0 |
DriveClub on shadPS4: compatibility list
shadPS4’s compatibility tracker has these open DriveClub reports (labels as of November 8, 2026; the reports were made on older releases, shadPS4 is at v0.21.0 since October 30, 2026):
| Title ID | OS | Status | Issues | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CUSA00093 (US) | Windows | In-game | Graphics, textures, cutscenes; report made on 0.9.0 | #1006 |
CUSA00093 (US) | Linux | In-game | Graphics, textures, cutscenes; report made on 0.10.0 | #1536 |
CUSA00003 (EU) | Windows | In-game | Graphics, hang; report made on 0.8.0 | #678 |
CUSA00093 (US) | macOS | Nothing | Memory | #1971 |
“In-game” on that list means the game reaches gameplay but has issues serious enough to be marked; DriveClub VR (CUSA04779) only boots on Windows. Results on a current shadPS4 build may differ from these labels.
Why a dedicated port goes further for one game
A general emulator has to be correct for thousands of games. A dedicated port can fix exactly what DriveClub needs and add features no PS4 had. From DriveClub Recomp’s release notes:
- Freezes and crashes chased one by one: the career-event freeze in 0.2.4 (a read-write lock the PS4 lets through), the infinite loading after races in 0.3.0, dozens of AMD “device lost” reports in 0.2.4–0.3.1.
- Higher frame rates without breaking the game: Unlocked (VRR) keeps normal game speed; camera, replay, menu and particle fixes for high FPS; the 0.4.0 build was profiled on real races for +11%.
- PC features: DLSS, FSR 4/4.1, HDR10, ultrawide up to 32:9, a benchmark, wheels with tyre-physics force feedback, DualSense and Xbox triggers, UDP telemetry.
- Things the servers took away: trophies and private online sessions (clubs, lobbies, statistics) with an included server, since the PS4 game’s servers closed in 2020.
- Modding: the
dcmodkit shipped in v0.4.2.
Which should you use?
- To play DriveClub on a Windows PC: DriveClub Recomp. It needs version 1.28.
- On Linux: DriveClub Recomp’s AppImage is experimental; shadPS4 is the other route. Try the AppImage first and report back to its tracker.
- On macOS: neither runs DriveClub today.
- For other PS4 games: shadPS4 (and check its compatibility list for each one).
Frequently asked questions
Is DriveClub Recomp better than shadPS4 for DriveClub?
For DriveClub specifically, yes on what both projects publish: DriveClub Recomp is built for this one game and its README lists it as playable through races, photo mode and saves, while shadPS4’s compatibility list marks DriveClub as “In-game” with graphics, texture and cutscene issues. shadPS4 is the choice for the rest of the PS4 library.
Is DriveClub Recomp based on shadPS4?
Its README does not say so. It describes its own runtime (reimplemented PS4 libraries and a Vulkan translation “similar to Wine and DXVK”) and states that parts of the code derive from other GPL projects, which keep their notices in the source files. Both projects are GPL-2.0 family licensed.
Can I use the same game dump for both?
DriveClub Recomp needs version 1.28 (CUSA00093 or CUSA00003) as an update folder plus the base game folder. shadPS4 runs installed game folders too. This site does not explain how to obtain or prepare game files for either.
Does shadPS4 run DriveClub on macOS?
Not according to its compatibility list, which marks DriveClub as “Nothing” on macOS because of a memory problem. DriveClub Recomp has no macOS build either.
Which has better performance?
No side-by-side benchmark has been published. DriveClub Recomp’s test PC (RTX 5070 Ti, Ryzen 7 5800X3D) holds about 60 FPS at 4K in the heaviest scenes, and its built-in benchmark lets you measure your own PC with 1% and 0.1% lows.