PlayStation Portal Hack Allows It To Run PSP Emulator

A new hack for the PS5’s handheld gaming accessory, PlayStation Portal, reportedly allows it to run PSP emulator PPSSPP.

Twitter/X user Andy Nguyen (theflow0) has shared that, after more than a month of hard work, him and his fellow modders were able to hack the PlayStation Portal and allow it to run PSP emulator PPSSPP natively on the otherwise streaming-only device.

Nguyen mentioned that there is no release planned for this PlayStation Portal hack in the near future, and that there’s much more work to be done. He added that he may upload some videos that demonstrate PSP titles running natively via emulation on the handheld device.

The ability to run PSP titles natively on the portable device does sound enticing, and it begs the question why it doesn’t officially support the ability to natively run PSP and possibly PS1 titles. It’s possible that the device’s battery isn’t built for running software natively, and, as a result, battery life may not be ideal for such a scenario.

For the uninitiated, the PlayStation Portal is a handheld gaming accessory for the PlayStation 5 developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It enables access to your PS5 games through your home Wi-Fi without the need for a TV. It can play compatible games installed on your PS5 console, including both PS5 and PS4 titles. The device also provides haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in supported PS5 games. It features a full HD screen for a detailed gaming experience and can deliver gameplay at up to 60fps at a resolution of 1080p.

PlayStation Portal Remote Player is designed for efficient remote play. Users can use it on their home Wi-Fi network for better quality, though it is not mandatory. The device can also function on any broadband internet Wi-Fi with a minimum speed of 5Mbps, but a faster connection of at least 15Mbps is recommended for an improved experience. The experience may vary when using PlayStation Portal over public Wi-Fi, and gameplay may be affected as a result.

Meanwhile, PPSSPP is an open-source PSP emulator available for various platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Nintendo WiiU, Nintendo Switch, BlackBerry 10, MeeGo, Pandora, Xbox Series X/S, and Symbian. Released on November 1, 2012, it is licensed under the GNU GPLv2 or later.