The ARMSX2 received a change in the development code that allows importing compressed texture packages in ZIP and TAR.ZST directly through the file picker on Android. The feature appears in a commit published on October 13, 2026, but has not yet been confirmed in a stable APK distributed to the public.
With this, the goal is to reduce manual labor in installing replacement textures. Before this change, the add button on the packages screen opened a folder picker. Now, the code allows selecting compressed files and keeps a separate option to import directories.
How texture importing works in ARMSX2
To do this, the new flow goes through the component TexturePackInstaller.installLocal. According to the commit description, the installer identifies the format from the first bytes of the file, instead of relying solely on the extension.
Next, the program extracts the data to a temporary area and merges it into the replacement textures folder corresponding to the game identifier. The rendering tab also uses the new path, allowing TAR.ZST files to be processed where previously there was only the ZIP option.
Library and management interface of ARMSX2 in an earlier version. Source: Allves Games archive. Visual reference, not a capture of the new ZIP/TAR.ZST importer.
Additionally, the update preserves traditional folder importing. This way, users with already extracted collections do not need to change their organization.
Is the feature already available for download?
There is still no confirmation that the stable version of ARMSX2 includes this change. The code was integrated on October 13, while the stable version 2.8.3 documented by the project is earlier. Therefore, installing 2.8.3 does not guarantee that the new buttons and formats are present.
However, the commit also does not prove that any ZIP or TAR.ZST package will work. This is because the internal structure, game identifier, and texture files must be compatible. Allves Games did not conduct an installation test or measure performance.
ARMSX2 settings for Android in a previous version. Source: Allves Games. The screenshot does not demonstrate the ZIP/TAR.ZST import still under development.
To track the availability of a build with this feature, check the official ARMSX2 releases. There is no reason to point to an old APK as if it already had the function.
ARMSX2 ZIP textures: which APKs are available?
Stable version 2.8.3 has four official APKs, but it was released on October 11, 2026, before the October 13 commit. Therefore, these downloads do not guarantee the import of ZIP and TAR.ZST textures.
First, check your Android version and your processor's instruction set. Then, choose only one compatible edition. The Legacy version works on older ARM64 processors.
- On Android 15 or higher, with a compatible ARMv8.2 processor, download the A15 edition.
This option uses the ARMv8.2 architecture and requires the CPU features indicated by the project.
- On devices with Android 13 or 14 and a compatible ARMv8.2 processor, download the A13 edition.
If the device uses an earlier version of Android, check the next option before installing.
- If the device uses Android 11 or 12 and a compatible ARMv8.2 processor, download the A11 edition.
On the other hand, some older ARM64 processors need the Legacy build.
- Devices with Android 8 or later and older ARM64 processors, without ARMv8.2 support, need the Legacy edition.
Next, back up your settings and install only the appropriate APK. ARMSX2 requires a BIOS extracted from your own PlayStation 2 console. Consult the official BIOS guide to configure the emulator.
These links download the stable version 2.8.3 APKs directly. Since the names include the version number, they will not be updated automatically; also check the latest official release when installing. The new ZIP and TAR.ZST function is not yet confirmed in 2.8.3.
Difference from PCSX2 ZIP support
On the other hand, the novelty of ARMSX2 should not be confused with the direct loading of ZIP textures in PCSX2 for computers. The projects have distinct implementations and interfaces, even though they share a technological origin.
In turn, the change is different from the RAISR texture upscaling of ARMSX2, which deals with image processing, not the way files are imported.
For now, the confirmed information is the presence of the implementation in the code. However, availability in an installable version, compatibility with actual packages, and the result in the interface still need validation.
Sources: official commit from 10/13/2026; ARMSX2 release history.
