Will custom firmware destroy the PSP?

PSP gamers seem to constantly talk about custom firmware and the benefits of having it on the console. You'll find hundreds of forums and websites containing guides, tips, tools, and downloads on CFW all over the web.

Here are some of the main features provided by CFW:

1. You can watch movies from all regions.
2. Run emulators for old console platforms such as NES, SNES, Genesis, Atari, etc.
3. PSP games can play directly from the memory stick.
4. Custom XMB themes can be installed.
5. Full support for third party homebrew applications.

[xaphanze]

I have the latest firmware on my psp and I love it.

[The Killer]

many people in the world is buying it!!
and in 1-2 years the price will be around 100$ which is very cheap and mass market for a handled gaming console!!

[Harry190]

someone who's got custom firmware on his psp.

[decapitator]

Actually, it's helped PSP a LOT. In other terms, you could say CF unlocked the full potential of the PSP.

[Captain Tuttle]

If Sony makes more money on the hardware than the software it'll help. If they lose money on the hardware (which I doubt, it's been out awhile)and rely on software for revenue it'll hurt.

[captainpwn]

Anytime someone in my school gets a PSP, everybody asks him if he/she has hacked it yet. Most likely its a yes, but if not, they get it done within a week. Doesn't it occur to anybody that Sony is the only one signing studios to make great games for the PSP now? When it launched, 3rd party's were rushing to create great content for it, but now...no. It's pretty much only Sony hiring 1st parties and some 3rd party's to create content so they can move hardware. Software wise, PSP is dead. Why on earth would someone go to the store, pay $40 on a UMD, come home and then play it, when it takes a few minutes to download and transfer. And let's be honest, Sony's efforts to stop hacking recently has been abysmal at best.

If Sony wanted to get serious they'd

1) Decrease the price of PSP UMD games IMMEDIATELY to atleast $30

2) Offer PSP games for download on the PC Store. Not just 2 year old games, but the newest games. Also bump up the memory stick storage capacities and lower the prices on those as well.

3) For god sakes, DONT GIVE UP ON STOPPING HACKERS!

[insomnium]

Because it's the right thing to do perhaps?

[Harry190]

you are right.

[gambare]

I have friends with two psp, one for original games and another for custom firmwares (they love the snes emulation)

[TheMART]

Will the R4DS destroy the DS?

Will the flashed 360 DVD drives destroy the DS?

Did the modchips for PS2 and XBOX 1 destroy them?

Don't think so. Sony just needs to get out more games like God of War. The people that play illegal copies normally won't buy at all. They won't even buy a device that's not hackable.

And there are those that get custom firmware that just want it for homebrew or running games from memory stick which they own but just want less noise (no UMD spinning and less battery drain)

[Harry190]

a pretty big psp fan.that's quite newsworthy.nice.

[TheMART]

Don't know what's newsworthy about that. One can dislike a company because of its behaviour and some of its products but like another. I like the PSP indeed. I like the XBOX 360 for homeconsole gaming.

Have said that for some time already. But hey if it lightens your day I'm fine with that :P

[silent h3ro]

"Will the R4DS destroy the DS?"

Definitely not, but there's a good reason. Look at the target audience of the DS. It is geared towards younger teens, and kids. They are not going to know about these slot 1 and 2 cards. And secondly, you cannot just "update" the software on the DS like you can with the PSP. With the DS you have to buy extra hardware that goes into the device that is hard to find as well (it's technically not illegal but I'm sure it is very shady to try and sell it online). The PSP has a target audience, or appeals to, an older audience (older teens - 20s) Of coarse piracy will be more common with the PSP. Xbox and PS2 consoles were more confusing to mod because most modchips you had to solder - most people don't bother with that. Sure you have softmodding as well but it is also pretty confusing.

[ruibing]

The R4 is definitely damaging the DS. I really only bought a DS because I was curious about R4. The good thing about it is that for a modest price of about $40, you have fully hacked the DS without changing its actual firmware or anything, so you haven't voided the warranty.

[Silellak]

Silly Mart, didn't you get the memo?

If you like any Playstation system, you have to like ALL of them AND think Sony is the savior of gaming.

Also, you're not allowed to own a 360, either. Sorry.

[decapitator]

I see.. I have a DS but barely use. I will buy an R4 and see it how functions.

[ChefDejon]

do i just download it and on my memory stick and install it? is there a chance it will brick my psp? and if its difficult to do?

[Harry190]

on what firmware you have on your psp right now.if
it's the latest,you'll have to wait a little bit.
unfortunately,there is always the chance that it will kill your psp.

[Delive]

Will it destroy the PSP that Sony planned and made? Yes. Developers will have their profits reduced from lack of game sales. They will slowly pull game production from the PSP and move it to the other consoles. Software will make less and less money. THe PSP will fall from grace.

Will it destroy the PSP that Sony made, but has had it's potential maximized by the open minds of people who want the PSP to do more of what it's capable of doing, not just what Sony wants it to do? No, not at all. CFW will actually help the PSP maintain a longer life than Sony has planned, until something comes out and does it better than the PSP can. With software sales suffering from piracy, less PSP games will be made and that will lead to less games to pirate, but then the homebrew crew will make their own games and apps to supplement.

For Sony to succeed, it may take something drastic like a recall on all unsold PSP's and release a new model, a PSP 2 that can only be used from here on out. Or maybe recover sales lost from software on hardware and accessories.

[v1c1ous]

only big name psp titles are selling well.

common titles that get overlooked by media tend to be downloaded instead of bought.

when was the last time you saw a psp game outside japan in the top 20 sales that wasn't already an established series on consoles?

[insomnium]

Just look at MGS:PO (about 1 million)

I wonder how GOW:COO and FF:CC will do. Will they ever break the 2 million mark?

"As for promoting piracy, No! If you download a ripped game, you'll notice in the read me that it's for preview purposes, at the end of the day, it comes down to you as an individual... buy it or be a sad sap."

This part is stupid. I've come to realize people really enjoy being sad sapps. It doesn't bother them since they save a lot of money by doing it. People today just don't have values in their lives other than money it seems.

I would understand it better if the prices in the US/JP were around $85 like they usually are here in Europe.

I mean I was shocked to see GOW:COO here with a 39.90€ price tag today. That's cheap if compaired to the normal prices! Change that to US currency however and it's about $63. That's why I usually import my games. Lucky for me PSP and PS3 are regionfree consoles=)

[moujahed]

You'll have to first buy a PSP in order to do this right?? So how can it hurt the PSP itself??? It may hurt Software sales... seeing as how 75% of the people who have CFW don't buy them.

I purchased Crisis Core... I purchased MGSPO, and MGSPO+. I have snes emulators, and the PS1 games I own on my PSP. So I dont think believe that Im hurting sony what so ever.

Neither are the people doing this, because most of them use it for movies, classic ps1 and other console games.

Like I said, you'll have to purchase a PSP, so this will not hurt PSP console sales. In fact it helps.

[skilzkilz]

its not custom firmware thats the problem its the pirates. that and not a ton of games there are some good ones but there should be as many as ds games if not more.

And UMD's suck and cost to much , if i'm getting a 1/3 of the space i should be paying a 1/3 of the regular price.

[UltramanJ]

Hackers have killed PSP's software sales. Only a fool wouldn't admit that PSP software sales are in the toilet, while hardware sales are solid.

[MrRaveDave]

aside from GOW and Crisis core, how many other AAA mass market games are there on the psp? cheap lazy psp ports and arcade games compendiums (looking at you midway) just dont cut it. Thats the reason software sales are low.....get resident evil 4 on there!

Most people use the custom firmware for homebrew and useful third party apps. However there is always the chance a version of these firmwares can be released with the intention of bricking PSP's. such assholes do exist....