Exploit found in all PSPs, up to 3.03; downgrader coming soon!

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 25th 2007 at 8:54PM }

The headline should explain it all. The team at N00bz has discovered an exploit that can now be run on all of Sony's official firmware including the latest, 3.03. You will need an unpatched version of GTA: Liberty City Stories to take advantage of the exploit. Right now, there's a proof-of-concept available at N00bz's website, but it will be a matter of days until all PSP owners, including 3.03 users will have a downgrader ... as long as they can secure a non-patched version of GTA (note: copies being sold in stores right now most likely are patched!).

I wonder what Sony's thinking right now. The game has changed, hasn't it?

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jose El Maton @ Jan 25th 2007 10:03PM

Eek! There's been an update to the original post that I refered to in my first comment. Check it out here
http://playstation.joystiq.com/2007/01/24/stop-asking-if-you-can-downgrade-your-3-03-system/

kaylestotts @ Jan 25th 2007 10:06PM

Wow this is crazy...I just hope that downgrading from 3.03 doesnt brick our psp.

h0mi @ Jan 25th 2007 10:08PM

Nice.

Trekster @ Jan 25th 2007 11:04PM

Well I am all for homebrew, I am not for playing pirated games on the PSP. People don't seem to care that really hurts the PSP when they don't buy the game. I am however for playing emulated games on systems that I have owned in the past and still have software for aka C64,Amiga,SNES,NES,Genesis and GBA
But Pirating Software has been true since the beginning of gaming and it will always be around.
It also be nice to be able to play the games I have already off of the memory stick, this would further extend battery life

gonzo @ Jan 25th 2007 11:09PM

Is there a way to tell if a GTA game is patched or not? otheriwse its kind of a lottery ,but good news for potential homebrewers.

johhnlena @ Jan 25th 2007 11:36PM

yes finnaly there is going to be a 3.03 downgrader for my black psp caz i upgraded to 3.02 and my white psp already has homebrew and that shit is nice i love you noobs and all da ppl that is making da downgrader and thanks.

Shane @ Jan 25th 2007 11:42PM

I am glad that I didn't trade in my Liberty City Stories when I got Vice City.

I wonder if that homebrew sudoku game will work on the custom firmwares, I played the hell out of that one when I was on 2.0.

pixelator @ Jan 26th 2007 12:45AM

Why is this not a case of 'next upgrade contains: security enhancements' that eliminate this loophole for firmwares 3.1 and later?

Hey, I'm all for homebrew and so forth on PSP, but they're just going to patch the hole again, and make the newer games require the new firmware and we'll quickly back where we were before.

*shrug*

On one hand, you can damn Sony for releasing these updates and quashing homebrew, but if they didn't, they'd be telling publishers 'Hey, we're going to let people pirate your stuff on our system' and it's not a good time in the PSP's life to be doing that...

Kade Storm @ Jan 26th 2007 2:38AM

Right on!

So just continue watching this cycle, and enjoy the show!

Oddly enough, I am actually enjoying moderate load times these days. You know, not Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 load times, but standard load times; there's a certain lure in killing time with load screens.

What I really enjoy about Dark_Alex's custom firmware: PSx emulation! Hey, I'm playin' Parasite Eve and Diablo on the PSP, and I am friggin' pleased!

mr_who? @ Jan 26th 2007 5:30AM

LMAO
I'm playing the hello world program now.
I swear that fire warms my hearth!

spir00 @ Jan 26th 2007 8:01AM

Well, I am now stepping into the homebrew when it comes out. I'm sick of sony lazyness. and my xXx free movie that doesn't seem to work no more when I add it to my card.

Alien @ Jan 26th 2007 10:19AM

Maybe , just maybe Il try it out to :)

Tree Stoner @ Jan 26th 2007 10:49AM

Pixelator - Downgraded psp's can easily emulate the newest firmwares... hence the 3.03 OE firmwares that Dark_Alex keeps creating. They allow you to play the new games, get the new firmware features, and yet still retain homebrew capabilities!

Let the sun shine in!! Now if only Sony would pull the stick out of their ass and let us run homebrew without hacking the firmwares.

Tristan @ Jan 26th 2007 12:25PM

I am really not understanding why one would want to downgrade their PSP...

Kicks @ Jan 26th 2007 12:40PM

The only question I still can't seem to find good info on is whether or not you can play your owned games on infrastructure. I'm enjoying Syphon Filter and MGS:PO over the internet and don't want to lose out on that. Thanks in advance for any feedback

Kade Storm @ Jan 26th 2007 1:01PM

You can play these games with infrastructure mode. As a matter of fact, it is said that with Dark Alex's 3.03 OE-C, even 333 MHz wifi is possible. But yeah, I am telling you from first hand experience: The infrastructure mode works, even better than it did with Devhook.

Jamma @ Jan 26th 2007 2:19PM

gonzo, if your copy of GTA inlcudes an update to 2.00, it's the original version. If it includes a 2.60 update, it's the newer version and is patched.
GO NOOBZ!!! you are a genius. I hope that there will be an easy downgrader with no risk of bricking though.......

Kicks @ Jan 26th 2007 3:20PM

Good to know, thanks. Can't wait for the downgrader to be released for 3.03 then. That's the one thing I was kicking myself about after I upgraded my brand new psp. I didn't do the homebrew research until it was too late

AznMetalHead @ Jan 27th 2007 1:47AM

OMG I CAN't WAIT!!!!

ROACHbud @ Jan 27th 2007 5:57PM

i have a copy of need for speed most wanted 5-1-0, it has a 2.0 upgrade on it also, can i use that game instead of the gta?? i also have the new mother board, will it even be possible for me to downgade my psp?? and if so will i be able to downgrade all the way to 1.50?? could someone please help!!

Your name (required): @ Jan 27th 2007 9:18PM

>> i have a copy of need for speed most wanted 5-1-0, it has a 2.0 upgrade on it also, can i use that game instead of the gta??

Short answer: lol no. Long answer: I'm not sure, but AFAIK, GTA:LCS 2.0 firmware upgrade is the /only/ PSP game that has an exploit that allows you to run homebrew through it. /No/ other (even GTA:LCS 2.06 firmware upgrade) allows you to. So, no.

>> i also have the new mother board, will it even be possible for me to downgade my psp??

If they make a TA-082 (which is what mine is) or whatever the newest board is (TA-08*6?*), then yes. Otherwise probably not.

>> and if so will i be able to downgrade all the way to 1.50??

Probably, probably not. You (and I) have to /wait/ until said downgrader /becomes available/ to download and the instructions say what is/isn't possible to do with it.

In any case: I want to believe this will work with TA-082. I want to play my Biohazard 2 and 3 on my PSP and I'm not paying Sony $599 + 10 bucks just to do that.