What Can A Hacked PSP Do?

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is several generations old at this point, but the handheld still remains in relatively high demand – largely thanks to hacking (sometimes referred to as modding or jailbreaking). Yes, the PSP is a fantastic console in its own right, but the hacking community has done a lot to extend the longevity of this handheld system.

What can a hacked PSP do? Well, quite a lot actually. Hacked PSP consoles allow for dozens of new and improved capabilities, including but not limited to:

• Playing emulators/ROMs
• Playing PS1 games
• Running backups of PSP titles from a memory card
• Reading patched copies of games
• Downloading and installing cheats
• Customizing the home screen
• Overclocking the PSP
• Creating save states
• Taking screenshots
• Using the PSP as a PC controller
• Playing homebrew games

Now, this is just a brief overview of some of the great features that come with hacking a PSP, but there are plenty of great homebrew apps that continue to push the limits of what the console is capable of. (And if any of these features don’t quite make sense to you at the moment, don’t worry as we cover each in more detail just below.)

Note: This is by no means a guide to hacking the PSP. Doing so incorrectly could cause irreparable damage to the console. This is merely an educational walkthrough of some of the different features that are available to those who decide to install custom firmware onto their PSP.

Playing Emulators/ROMs

As a quick disclaimer, we don’t condone the use of pirated software, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention this feature as it is one of the leading reasons gamers decide to hack their consoles in the first place.

When it comes to emulation on the go, the PSP is arguably one of the best (if not the best) options out there. The PSP is able to run some Nintendo 64 games decently, and anything earlier than that without much problem. It can also deliver some incredible performance with Game Boy Advance games.

Playing PS1 Games

You might be wondering why the PS1 games are separated from the emulators and ROMs section. Well, that’s because original PlayStation games do not operate on the PSP in quite the same way as emulated consoles do. For starters, PS1 games do not require the download of an outside emulator in order to play. With custom firmware, PS1 games download and play right from a memory card.

And the games play extremely well too. In fact, the vast majority of PS1 titles play exactly as they would on the original hardware. So, if you’re looking to take your original PlayStation games on the go, the PSP is easily one of the best options out there.

Running Backups Of PSP Titles From A Memory Card

One of the few downsides of the PSP hardware is the UMD discs themselves. These discs carrying games and movies were designed to hold more data than cartridges at the time, but they are subject to damage and are quite loud when inserted into the console. It works just fine, but disc-based media is far from a perfect solution when it comes to portable hardware.

But, in a few easy steps, a hacked PSP can play backups of these games from a memory card. Making a copy of a PSP title is pretty easy, and being able to carry all of your games on a single memory card makes the handheld console much more portable and less susceptible to wear and tear.

Reading Patched Copies Of Games

Being able to play patched games actually means a couple of different things depending on the titles you are looking to play. Some games have technical patches that make them run more smoothly, while others have language patches that may translate these titles to your native language.

These are generally user-developed patches and need to be sought out, but it’s an absolute game-changer for titles that never got a release out of Japan. With plenty of dedicated fans out there, many games have received unofficial translations, making them accessible to a wider audience.

Downloading And Installing Cheats

Downloading and installing cheats is pretty self-explanatory. Using certain plugins that only work with custom firmware, gamers can experience cheats from a ton of popular video games on the PSP.

Customizing The Home Screen

If you’re wanting a completely different background on your PSP, hacking is definitely the way to go. With just a few easy steps, there are plenty of themes out online available to be downloaded and installed on any PSP with custom firmware.

Overclocking The PSP

For those looking to push the PSP beyond its stock settings, overclocking is an option for hacked consoles. This may result in games running more smoothly on the hardware, especially when it comes to emulation.

Creating Save States

As opposed to normal save features which may limit when and where you can save games, save states are a helpful feature that allows gamers the ability to jump in and out of games at any point. This may sound like a small feature, but it is definitely worth having for tough retro games and other certain titles that restrict saving.

Taking Screenshots

Taking screenshots in games has become pretty commonplace in gaming today. And while the screenshot feature on a hacked PSP might not be quite up to the standard photo modes on current hardware, it’s still nice to have the ability to capture moments in-game.

Using The PSP As A PC Controller

If you’re so inclined, the PSP can also be used as a PC controller. There are plenty of controller options in addition to the standard mouse and keyboard when it comes to PCs these days, but the PSP is yet another option for those who love the feel of the Sony handheld.

Playing Homebrew Games

The term ‘homebrew games’ typically refers to titles developed by amateur creators. One of the most famous examples of homebrew games is Cave Story, a title that isn’t even technically considered homebrew anymore as it is now sold commercially on several platforms. While you won’t find any AAA experiences in the homebrew scene, there are more than a handful of gems out there that are worth checking out.