PlayStation Portable system software

PlayStation Portable system software is the official, update-able firmware for the PlayStation Portable. Updates add new functionality as well as security patches to prevent homebrew applications being run on the system. Updates can be obtained in four ways:

• Direct download to the PSP over Wi-Fi. This can be performed by choosing "Settings", "Network Update" from the XMB.
• Download to a PC, then transfer to the PSP via a USB cable or Memory Stick.
• Included on the UMD of some games. These games may not run with earlier firmware than the version on their UMD.
• Download from a PS3 to a PSP system via USB cable. (Japanese version only)

While system software updates can be used with consoles from any region, Sony recommends only downloading system software updates released for the region corresponding to the system's place of purchase. System software updates have added various features including a web browser, Adobe flash support, additional codecs for images, audio, and video, PlayStation 3 connectivity, as well as patches against several security exploits, vulnerabilities, and execution of homebrew programs. If the power supply is lost while writing to or updating the system software, the console will no longer be able to boot unless the system is booted from a different source such as a battery in service mode where it can be restored.

The latest reported firmware version shipping pre-installed on new PSPs is 5.02, which was released on November 20, 2008.

The latest downloadable PSP Firmware version is 5.03 (as of January 19, 2009)

Versions

Version	Date Released	Description
5.05	February 19, 2009	Provided only with the Japanese release of The Idolm@ster Support for PlayStation Home rewards has been added.
5.03	January 19, 2009	System software stability during use of some features has been improved. Patches the Gripshift buffer overflow exploit via modified game save data. Support for Premium Themes has been added.
5.02	November 20, 2008	System software stability including the use of the Playstation(R) Store has been improved.
5.01	October 21, 2008	Fixes a bug in the PlayStation Store with 8GB and 16GB Memory Sticks, causing the system to display "Not Enough Space" while downloading content.
5.00	October 15, 2008	First "universal" firmware version for the original PSP-1000, PSP-2000 PSP Slim & Lite and PSP-3000 series [PlayStation Network] has been added as a category on the XMB [PlayStation Store] has been added under [PlayStation Network] menu [Account Management] has been added under [PlayStation Network] menu Sleep Timer Function for [Music] [USB Auto-Connect] Feature added for PSP-1000 and PSP-2000 A new full-screen keyboard; press [Select] when the On-Screen Keyboard is displayed. A new optional redesigned XMB Background A new video format is supported (MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) Video Main Profile (AVC CABAC) in 640 x 480 pixels) [Title Display] feature under [Settings] [Backlight Auto-Adjust] has been added as an option under [Power Save Settings] Screen capture has been added as a feature within games and the internet browser (this is up to the game developer or the web site developer to support though).
4.21	December 5, 2008	No update to this firmware was ever made available. This firmware was only available pre-installed on the initial release of the black Rachet & Clank Entertainment Pack PSP-3000 series in North America. This firmware may have also have been pre-installed on some later production units of the Silver R&C Bundle in North America and other colors and regions worldwide. Unknown changes from 4.20
4.20	October 14, 2008	Initial Firmware for the Sony PSP-3000 series No update to this firmware was ever made available. This firmware was only available pre-installed on the initial release of the PSP-3000 series [USB auto-connect] feature in [System Settings] under [Settings] PSP 3000-only features: [Flicker Reduction] under the [Connected Display] menu in [Settings]. [Noise Reduction] under the [Connected Display] menu in [Settings]. [Color Space] under the [System Settings] menu in [Settings].
4.05	July 13, 2008	Added new visualization effect under [Music]. Added support for viewing rentals and purchased videos downloaded from the [PlayStation Store] (temporarily US version only) Slim-only features: Up to 8 programs may now be scheduled for record using the One-segment TV Tuner (Japanese version only) You may now set up a whole series of programs to record using the One-segment TV Tuner (Japanese version only) You may now record TV using the One-segment TV Tuner without having to also watch it (Japanese version only)
4.01	June 25, 2008	Display of search results under [Internet Search] has been improved for certain languages. Playback of video content under [Video] has been improved for certain file types.
4.00	June 18, 2008	[Internet Search] has been added as a feature under [Network] Functionality allowing for altered playing speeds under [Video] Added Subtitle support for UMD Movies under [Video]
3.96	June 3, 2008	Provided only with the North American version of Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 Support for PlayStation Network titles has been expanded.
3.95	April 8, 2008	Support for PlayStation Network titles has been expanded. Downloaded PlayStation game controls can now be further customized. The method for turning the PS3 off using [Remote Play] has been altered.
3.93	March 18, 2008	The Internet Radio feature has been expanded. Slim-only features: Skype feature has been added under Network. (Japanese version only)
3.90	January 29, 2008	Support for [PlayStation Network] titles has been expanded. Support for the Go!Messenger service (under Network). (European version only) Slim-only features: Skype feature has been added under Network. (Excluding Japanese version)
3.80	December 17, 2007	Streaming internet radio player Added new music visualization effect Video scene search RSS now supports OPML and pictures PlayStation Spot now available at BB Mobile Point (Japanese version only) Added ability to play PlayStation games from disc or hard drive via Remote Play with the PlayStation 3 system Slim-only features: One-segment broadcasting recordings (Japanese version only)
3.73	November 29, 2007	Initial release for a revision of the Slim & Lite with TA-085 v2 motherboard. Improved system stability by fixing problems where the UMD drive would occasionally suspend and then fail to reload data.
3.72	October 30, 2007	Support for [PlayStation Network] titles expanded. Remote Start now available under Remote Play. Remote Start requires a PlayStation 3 system with system software version 2.00.
3.71	September 13, 2007	Revisions to strengthen security have been added. Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded. A correction has been made to the settings for some regions (i.e., the PlayStation Spot icon was removed for regions other than Japan)
3.70	September 11, 2007	First "universal" firmware version for both the original PSP-10xx and PSP-20xx PSP Slim & Lite series Custom themes Support has been added for assigning buttons in [Remote Play] A scene search feature has been added under [Video] Sequential playback is now supported under [Video] Simultaneous playback of content under [Music] and [Photo] is now supported PlayStation Spot icon added under [Network] for regions other than Japan Video bitrate limit raised to 2Mbit/s from 768kbit/s
3.60	September 10, 2007	Initial Firmware for the Sony PSP Slim & Lite No update to this firmware was ever made available. This firmware was only available pre-installed on the initial release of the PSP Slim & Lite with TA-085 motherboard Slim-only features: TV output added Support for the 1-Seg Tuner [Japanese version only] UMD cache support USB Charge option Additional color themes for XMB
3.52	July 24, 2007	Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
3.51	June 29, 2007	Illuminati exploit has been patched.
3.50	May 31, 2007	Allows Remote Play to be used via an internet connection. "RSS Channel Guide" has been added as a feature under "RSS Channel". CPU speed limit removed, allowing CPU to run at 333MHz rather than 266MHz.
3.40	April 20, 2007	Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.. "Certificate Utility" option erased. (Can still be accessed by pressing triangle on the selected game) Saved data from PlayStation format software can be used on both PSP and PS3 systems.
3.30	March 28, 2007	Support for thumbnail images within RSS channel and in video folder. MPEG-4/H.264 support for 720×480, 352×480, and 480×272 (native resolution). "Wireless Hotspot" added (6 months of free T-Mobile Hotspot wireless internet access was added for US users)
3.11	February 8, 2007	Added: Reset option for PlayStation Network games. "Portable TV" menu under "Network". (Japanese version only)
3.10	January 30, 2007	Added: Dynamic normalizer. Conserve memory option. [PlayStationSpot] menu under [Network]. (Japanese version only) Secret patching of sceRegOpenRegistry and GTA exploits.
3.03	December 20, 2006	Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded. Added: Support for taking photos and videos using the camera.
3.02	December 6, 2006	Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
3.01	November 22, 2006	Support for PlayStation Network titles expanded.
3.00	November 21, 2006	Support for: PlayStation 3 Remote Play. Classic PSone games. Added a music visualizer.
2.82	October 26, 2006	Revisions to strengthen security have been added.
2.81	September 7, 2006	Support for memory sticks with a capacity of greater than 4GB. Security update to fix libtiff exploit.
2.80	July 27, 2006	Support for Video RSS feeds. Update for LocationFree Player to support AVC video codec. Secret patching of sceKernelLoadExec bug, but opening sceRegOpenRegistry exploit.
2.71	May 30, 2006	Support to download Game Demos from the Internet Browser.
2.70	April 25, 2006	Support for Adobe Flash Player (Version 6).
2.60	November 29, 2005	Support for Audio RSS feeds.
2.50	October 13, 2005	Network LocationFree Player added. [Auto-Select] and [Unicode (UTF-8)] added to the browser. Settings for [Text Size] and [Display Mode] and the input history of online forms accessed can now saved in the browser. Video Copyright-protected video can now be played. Settings [Set via Internet] has been added to [Date and Time] in [Date & Time Settings]. [WPA-PSK (AES)] has been added as a security method under [Network Settings]. Other Korean input mode has been added to the on-screen keyboard.
2.01	October 3, 2005	Security update to patch TIFF exploit. Security update was later found not to work correctly in every version through 3.03 (Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories exploit).
2.00	September 1, 2005	Initial UK release (with included update disc) [Network] (added in this release) [Internet Browser] added. Video 4:3 Screen Mode has been added (for video saved on Memory Stick Duo media). Go To feature has been added (for UMDVIDEO and UMDMUSIC). A-B Repeat feature has been added (for UMDVIDEO, UMDMUSIC and video saved on Memory Stick Duo media). Audio options have been added (for video saved on Memory Stick Duo media). MP4 (AVC) has been added as a playable file format (for video saved on Memory Stick Duo media). Music The combination of SonicStage version 3.2 (or later) and PSP system software 2.00 (or later) has made it possible for music files in ATRAC3 plus format to be transferred to a Memory Stick PRO Duo MP4 (the audio codec for MP4 format audio files is MPEG-4 AAC) and WAV (Linear PCM) have been added as playable file formats (for music saved on Memory Stick Duo media). Photo Wallpaper feature has been added. Image transfer feature has been added. TIFF, GIF, PNG and BMP have been added as viewable file formats. Settings Korean has been added as a system language in [System Settings]. [Character Set] has been added in [System Settings]. [Theme Settings] has been added. [Internet Browser Start Control] has been added as a security mode in [Security Settings]. WPA-PSK (TKIP) has been added as a security mode in [Network Settings]. Web address shortcut feature has been added as an input mode for the on-screen keyboard.
1.52	June 15, 2005	Initial UK release Revisions to strengthen security have been added. Support for UMD music.
1.51	May 18, 2005	Security update to patch "KXploit" exploit
1.50	March 24, 2005	Initial North American release Support for: content authorization. new video codecs. multiple languages.
1.00	December 12, 2004	Initial Japanese release Original release No content authorization system.

Custom firmware

For a list of custom firmware versions, please visit Custom Firmware available for PSP

Some developers have developed custom firmware versions, which allow extra functionality to the user such as custom icons and fonts on the XMB and different applications. Most notably however is the lack of security patches found in official firmware, allowing homebrew developers to run code on later versions of PSP firmware.

See also

• XrossMediaBar
• PlayStation 3 System Software
• Xbox 360 System Software
• Wii System Software

External links

Official PlayStation Portable System Software Update page

• "Asia". • Australia • "Japan" (in Japanese). • "Korea" (in Korean). • New Zealand • United Kingdom • United States