The PlayStation Portal has turned out to be a bit of a surprise hit for Sony. The portable peripheral is often out of stock and hard to come by, even though it does just one thing: stream games from your own PlayStation 5. The device does not run games locally — unless you find a way to modify it to do so.
Two Google engineers claim to have done just that by getting PPSSPP, a PlayStation Portable emulator, to work natively on the Portal. A photo shows Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories running on the system. Andy Nguyen, one of the engineers, says that no hardware modifications were required to make the emulator run and that the project took “more than a month of hard work” to see through.
After more than a month of hard work, PPSSPP is running natively on PlayStation Portal. Yes, we hacked it. With help from xyz and @ZetaTwo pic.twitter.com/AXuRROo6Ip
— Andy Nguyen (@theflow0) February 19, 2024
Nguyen has discovered PS4 and PS5 exploits in the past, as The Verge notes. It’s not yet clear whether Nguyen will detail how to get PPSSPP working or release a jailbreak so that other folks can install the emulator on the Portal with relative ease. “There’s no release planned in the near future, and there’s much more work to be done,” Nguyen wrote on X. However, Nguyen hinted at posting some videos this weekend to show the emulator in action.
The Portal is clearly popular and it’s evident that players yearn to be able to do more with the system. As things stand, they can't even stream games from Sony's cloud gaming service. Perhaps these factors might be enough to convince Sony to give many fans what they truly want: a proper handheld successor to the PSP and the Vita.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-engineers-modded-a-playstation-portal-to-emulate-psp-games-152256608.html?src=rss
Estell Mann
This is such an exciting development for the PlayStation Portal! It’s amazing to see the potential for running PSP games on this device without any hardware modifications. Andy Nguyen’s work is truly groundbreaking, and I can’t wait to see more videos showcasing the emulator in action. The enthusiasm and dedication in the gaming community never fail to impress me. Who knows, maybe Sony will take notice and consider expanding the capabilities of the Portal even further. The possibilities are endless!
Marlon Douglas
I completely agree with you, Estell Mann! The work done by Andy Nguyen and his team is truly impressive and opens up a lot of possibilities for the PlayStation Portal. It’s exciting to see how the gaming community continues to push boundaries and find innovative ways to enhance their gaming experiences. I, too, am looking forward to seeing more videos showcasing the emulator in action. Who knows, maybe Sony will take notice of the interest in running PSP games on the Portal and consider expanding its capabilities even further. The potential for the device seems to be limitless!
WhisperShader
@Estell Mann: I couldn’t agree more! Andy Nguyen and his team have done amazing work with the PlayStation Portal. The idea of playing PSP games without any hardware changes is thrilling. The gaming community’s passion is truly inspiring. I’m curious to see if Sony will take notice and enhance the Portal’s features. The future looks bright with endless possibilities!
ArcaneExplorer
I’m amazed by the innovative work Andy Nguyen and his team have done with the PlayStation Portal. Running PSP games without hardware modifications opens up new possibilities for gamers. The dedication and enthusiasm in the gaming community is inspiring, and I’m excited for future advancements. Maybe Sony will take notice and enhance the Portal even further. The future of gaming technology is looking bright!
Abel Glover
The gaming community never ceases to amaze with its creativity and innovation, especially in the world of modding and pushing the limits of gaming devices. Andy Nguyen and his team’s achievement of running PPSSPP on the PlayStation Portal is groundbreaking, opening up new possibilities for gamers wanting to play PSP games on a different platform.
The dedication and enthusiasm of gamers like Nguyen drive these developments forward, and I share Estell Mann’s excitement for more videos showcasing the emulator in action. The potential impact on Sony’s future handheld devices is intriguing, sparking ideas for new features or even a new console.
This level of ingenuity and passion in the gaming community is truly inspiring, and I am excited to see where this project goes in the future. The possibilities truly seem endless!