M33 continues custom firmware project

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 26th 2007 at 2:00PM }

After Dark_Alex suddenly left the homebrew scene, many were wondering if the custom firmware dream would continue. Only a few weeks after his departure, a Russian hacking team, M33, has been making waves.

In fact, they've successfully released a number of custom firmware options for homebrew enthusiasts in the weeks surrounding E3. Most recently, they've released a custom firmware based on 3.52, Sony's most current release. 3.52 M33 will, once again, support the features of Sony's official release, while also launching homebrew applications. Supposedly, the latest release will also let you purchase and download PS1 games off the official PlayStation Store and play them legally on your hacked machine.

Those that want M33 on their systems must have either PSP version 1.50, or a system with Dark_Alex's custom firmware already installed. To download the M33 installer, click here. (You'll also need to download firmware 1.50 and 3.52.)

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Tags: 3.52, customfirmware, m33

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

brettjr @ Jul 26th 2007 5:25PM

This site shouldn't support this type of thing until it becomes official imo. And if you want to, everytime you show a link you should tell them what is voided on their psp when they hack and that Sony knows you hacked it when you do, meaning you lose support from them as in updates etc.

GoBob @ Jul 26th 2007 5:43PM

What?

"This site shouldn't support this type of thing until it becomes official imo."

Official custom firmware? By Sony, I'm guessing you mean? Yeah... Good luck with that...

"And if you want to, everytime you show a link you should tell them what is voided on their psp when they hack and that Sony knows you hacked it when you do, meaning you lose support from them as in updates etc."

Um, if you don't know what you're doing, don't do it. There are tons of warnings that are all over downgraders and custom firmware. Also, Sony doesn't care about homebrewers. They care about pirates and people who wish to brick your PSP.

Not to flame, but please do your research.

jamma @ Jul 26th 2007 6:11PM

Hey this is great, but has this been tested and could it brick my 3.40 OE psp if i upgrade? or should i stick with what i've got for now?

GoBob @ Jul 26th 2007 6:25PM

I currently have 3.51 m33-7 and it works great. It won't brick your system as long as you follow the directions. I've heard from a few people who upgraded to 3.52 m33 and they are quite happy. It's based on DAX's work and it's quite stable.

brettjr @ Jul 26th 2007 6:45PM

@2

Do my research on what? Is that just something you heard said on the some msgboard and you decided to repeat it to try to make yourself seem smart? Do my research on what, huh? Please explain.

"Official custom firmware? By Sony, I'm guessing you mean? Yeah... Good luck with that..."

Um, okay. On this SITE, one the SAME page there's a article about sony trying to find a way to support homebrew. Now that's beyond not doing research that's stupidity.

And who said Sony cares about homebrewers I said that several things lose support once you hack your psp and it's true.

You're stupid internet attempt to try to come off as smart, elite or whatever just made you seem very ignorant.

GoBob @ Jul 26th 2007 7:07PM

brettjr,

I would prefer that this does not degrade into a dumb flamewar.

"Do my research on what? Is that just something you heard said on the some msgboard and you decided to repeat it to try to make yourself seem smart? Do my research on what, huh? Please explain."

Basically, don't say things that you don't know about.

"'Official custom firmware? By Sony, I'm guessing you mean? Yeah... Good luck with that...'

Um, okay. On this SITE, one the SAME page there's a article about sony trying to find a way to support homebrew. Now that's beyond not doing research that's stupidity."

Just because Sony supports homebrewers doesn't mean they want CFWs. Again, Sony is anti-piracy and CFW does open the door to piracy. You need to downgrade to firmware 1.5 or use CFW to use homebrew at this moment.

"And who said Sony cares about homebrewers I said that several things lose support once you hack your psp and it's true."

OMG H4X0RZ! Guess what? Not everyone who uses CFWs are pirates! The day Sony allows homebrew on their official firmwares is the day I go back to official firmware.

"You're stupid internet attempt to try to come off as smart, elite or whatever just made you seem very ignorant."

Well, considering that I read a lot about the PSP world and the homebrew/mod scene, I would like to think I have a decent idea of what's going on. I've downgraded both of my PSPs, I upgraded to CFW, and I've completely disassembled my PSPs. I'm also a development programmer for a medical software company, so I can definitely understand a good portion of what Sony has been going through with their firmware, updates and the like.

Please try not to throw insults around. It's not a good way to make your point.

Chris @ Jul 26th 2007 7:15PM

Brettjr, your garbled attempts at English are really not helping to make anybody care about anything you have to say. You also asked:

"And who said Sony cares about homebrewers I said that several things lose support once you hack your psp and it's true."

Now the first part I can answer, Jack Tretton says that Sony cares about homebrew. You brought him up in one of your posts but you must not have the cognitive ability to wrap your mind around the fact that although he didn't directly say "Sony cares about homebrew" they obviously do since they are trying to find a way to make homebrew possible without having to hack your PSP.

And in regards to the second part of that finely crafted one-sentence paragraph...what the hell does that have to do with the rest of the sentence? Of course hacking your PSP voids the warranty. Who are you to say what PSP Fanboy should post or not? If even Sony is realizing that homebrew is a huge part of the PSP then what is wrong with a news site dedicated to said gaming system reporting on what people have shown they care about?

Chris @ Jul 26th 2007 7:22PM

"And who said Sony cares about homebrewers I said that several things lose support once you hack your psp and it's true."

And if you're claiming that you never said Sony cares about homebrewers because of GoBob bringing that up then you are an imbecille. GoBob was using that as information to back up what he was saying (which WAS relevant to what you were saying and your idiotic attempts to try to get PSPFanboy to censor themselves). But now I'm sure things are just getting way too confusing for you so I will leave you alone to sulk in your ignorance.

Kade Storm @ Jul 26th 2007 7:30PM

Brettjr, please move to North Korea, ASAP, and never come back.

dg10050 @ Jul 26th 2007 9:19PM

Hehe. :) I just love it when people are like "OMG LOLZ. ONE TIME I PORTED THE CODE OF HALF LIFE TOO TO THE PSP'S PROCESSOR BUT I DON'T WANT TO GIV IT TO NO-ONE BECAUSE IT WOULD HERT SONY BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE PIRATE GAMES USING BRAIN CONTROL WAVES AND THAT WOULD MAKE SONY STOP MAKING THE ASOMEST GAMES EVER. SO I R UBER H4XX0R AND U R LAEM CAUSE U SUX AND CANT HACK AS GUD AS I CAN! MAYBE YOU NOOBZ SHOULD DO SUM RESEARCH ON THE INTERWEB SO YOU CAN HACK GOOD AND BE LEET LIKE I AM, ONLY YOU'LL NEVER ACTUALLY BE AS LEET AS ME BECAUSE I'M THE MOST LEET PERSON EVER."
Please Brettjr, continue this enlightening conversation so that us noobs may possibly gain some more insight into what I'm sure is the mind of one of the future's most famous 1337 g4m3rz.

GoBob @ Jul 26th 2007 10:01PM

@dg10050

Nah, let's just let it drop.

Back to the subject, I'm surprised that m33 made a new CFW release. I suspect that this is more of a way for them to prove themselves to the scene(putting out a new CFW about a day after an official release), than anything else.

rockeranimefreak @ Jul 26th 2007 10:08PM

submited this WEEKS ago.....

merc25 @ Jul 26th 2007 10:34PM

I would refrain from upgrading just yet, DA and his bud beta-tested more than this group. M33 will put their CFW on the web as soon as they finished with no bug testing, the last one(M33 3.51) had 7 minor updates before it was perfect.

I am waiting on other CFW makers to publish their CFW, before I decide which one I'll stick with.

Songsblade @ Jul 26th 2007 10:46PM

So far i've tested the CFW_3.52 on my psp and it looks and feels stable.No wierd shut-downs though i haven't tried playing any ps1 games yet.And like mzh333,i still buy though its pretty rare now,original games(i collect the Legend of heroes series btw..sad but true).The one other reason i love having CFW and homebrew is the applications written for the psp.

the_ballon_man @ Jul 26th 2007 11:34PM

ty so much andrew!!! your just great!!! this is awsome i will be upgrading my psp to this. Is there a recovery feature?
L8er andrew

Chito @ Sep 14th 2007 6:34PM

Do you know when the custom firmware for the 3.71 version is going to be release..??

aelsahn @ Sep 23rd 2007 10:49PM

I now have fw 3.52 on my psp, I wanted to use the M33 but from what I understand that the fw must be 1.50 to begin with, do the M33, then upgrade to 3.52 afterwards. So what if I already have 3.52, can I still do it? I just got my psp, so I'm totally new here, so please take it easy with me. Thanks