Skip to content

PPSSPP is a Playstation Portable emulator.

Website: https://www.ppsspp.org/

GitHub: https://github.com/hrydgard/ppsspp

Compatibility List: https://forums.ppsspp.org/showthread.php?tid=1473

This page is for PPSSPP, a standalone emulator. This page is not for the PPSSPP RetroArch core. For more information on RetroArch and the PPSSPP RetroArch core, visit the RetroArch Page.

PPSSPP Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started with PPSSPP

  2. PPSSPP Tips and Tricks

Getting Started with PPSSPP

Back to the Top

PPSSPP is a fairly straight-forward emulator to set up. Place your ROMs in Emulation/roms/psp. No additional setup is required. Read the Configuration section to learn more about PPSSPP and its folder locations.

To launch your ROMs in game mode, use Steam ROM Manager and use one of the following parsers to play your PSP ROMs:

  • EmulationStation-DE
  • Sony PlayStation Portable - PPSSPP
  • Emulators

PPSSPP Configuration

Back to the Top

  • Type of Emulator: Flatpak
  • Config Location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP
  • Memstick Location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP
    • The PSP folder at the end of this path is equivalent to the Memstick folder
  • ROM Location: Emulation/roms/psp
  • PPSSPP does not require any additional BIOS or firmware
  • Saves:
    • Symlink: Emulation/saves/ppsspp/saves
    • Target: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/SAVEDATA
  • Save States:
    • Symlink: Emulation/saves/ppsspp/states/
    • Target: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/PPSSPP_STATE

Note: ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click "view hidden files" to see these folders.

Works With

  • Steam ROM Manager
  • EmulationStation-DE

PPSSPP Folder Locations

Back to the Top

These file locations apply regardless of where you chose to install EmuDeck (to your internal SSD, to your SD Card, or elsewhere). Some emulator configuration files will be located on the internal SSD as listed below.

$HOME refers to your home folder. If you are on a Steam Deck, this folder will be named /home/deck (you will likely not see deck in the file path when navigating using the file manager).

Paths beginning with Emulation/.. correspond to your EmuDeck install location. If you installed on an SD Card, your path may be /run/media/mmcblk0p1/Emulation/roms/... If you installed on your internal SSD, your path may be /home/deck/Emulation/roms/..

Note: Folders with a . (.var, .local, .config, etc.) at the beginning are hidden by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click Show Hidden Files to see these folders.

$HOME/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP

org.ppsspp.PPSSPP
├── cache
├── config
│   ├── ppsspp
│   │   └── PSP
│   │       ├── CHEATS
│   │       ├── GAME
│   │       ├── PPSSPP_STATE
│   │       ├── SAVEDATA
│   │       ├── SYSTEM
│   │       │   ├── controls.ini
│   │       │   └── ppsspp.ini
│   │       └── TEXTURES
│   ├── pulse
│   │   └── cookie
│   └── user-dirs.dirs
└── data

How to Update PPSSPP

Back to the Top

How to Update PPSSPP

  • Update through Discover (Shopping bag icon)
  • Through the Update your Emulators & Tools section on the Manage Emulators page in the EmuDeck application

How to Launch PPSSPP in Desktop Mode

Back to the Top

How to Launch PPSSPP in Desktop Mode

  • Launch PPSSPP from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
  • Launch the script from Emulation/tools/launchers, ppsspp.sh
  • Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam ROM Manager

PPSSPP File Formats

Back to the Top

  • .elf
  • .cso
  • .iso
  • .pbp
  • .prx

How to Manage DLC

Back to the Top

Preface

The PPSSPP Flatpak (installed by EmuDeck) does not use a named Memstick folder to manage its contents. Instead, the Memstick folder is located here: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP.

How to Manage DLC

  1. In the Memstick folder, create two folders: GAME and SAVEDATA
    • If these folders exist, skip this step
  2. Determine which type of DLC you have
    • DLC Type 1: GAME DLC
      • If the DLC folder includes PARAM.PBP, you have GAME DLC
    • DLC Type 2: SAVEDATA DLC
      • If the DLC folder includes PARAM.SFO, you have SAVEDATA DLC
  3. Place the DLC into the matching folder
    • GAME DLC are placed here: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/GAME
    • Example (for the game Persona 2: Innocent Sin):
    • SAVEDATA DLC are placed here: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/SAVEDATA
      • Example (for the game EXIT):

IMPORTANT

  • Some DLC content cannot be accessed until finishing the game
  • Some DLC content can be accessed in different or hidden parts of the settings menu

Rock Band Unplugged DLC and Music Management

Rock Band Unplugged requires additional configuration to enable DLC and additional music tracks properly.

How to Configure the Memstick Folder for Rock Band Unplugged

  1. In /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp, create a GAME folder if one does not exist already
  2. Place DLC folder (to enable additional music tracks) in /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/GAME
  3. In /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp, create a seplugins folder if one does not exist already
  4. In /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/seplugins, right click anywhere, click Create New, Text File, and name it game.txt
  5. Open game.txt with a text editor of your choice and write ms0:/seplugins/nploader.prx 1, save and exit out of game.txt
  6. Open https://github.com/codestation/nploader in a browser of your choice, click the green Code button, click Download ZIP, extract to a folder of your choice
  7. Move the contents of the extracted folder in Step 6 directly to /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/seplugins
  8. Rock Band Unplugged DLC and additional music are now enabled

PPSSPP Hotkeys

Back to the Top

Hotkey PPSSPP
Quick Menu Steam + DPad Left
Quick Menu Select + R3
Save State Select + R1
Load State Select + L1
Next Save State Slot Start + R1
Previous Save State Slot Start + L1
Fast Forward Select + R2
Rewind Select + R2
Screenshot Select + B
Stop Emulation Start + Select

PPSSPP Tips and Tricks

Back to the Top

How to Install Custom Textures

Back to the Top

Preface

The PPSSPP Flatpak (installed by EmuDeck) does not use a named Memstick folder to manage its contents. Instead, the Memstick folder is located here: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP.

Texture Pack Sources

This list is not exhaustive

How to Install Custom Textures

  1. In Desktop Mode, open PPSSPP, click the Games tab, click the Gear icon, Toggle Show ID.
    • How to Install Custom Textures: PPSSPP-1
  2. Click the "three lines" icon to the left of the Gear icon. Note down the Game ID to the right of your game
    • How to Install Custom Textures: PPSSPP-2
  3. In PPSSPP, click the Settings button, click the Tools tab,, click Developer tools, check Replace textures
    • This option is enabled by default but if texture packs are not loading properly, you may want to double check that this setting is enabled
  4. In Desktop Mode, open the /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/ folder
    • ~/.var is a hidden folder by default, click the Hamburger menu in the top right of the file explorer, click Show Hidden Files
  5. If one does not exist already, create a TEXTURES folder here, casing matters
  6. In the TEXTURES folder, create a folder matching your Game ID
    • Using Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars as an example:
      • How to Install Custom Textures: PPSSPP-2
  7. Place your texture folders and files directly in the newly created GAME ID folder
    • Using Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars as an example:
      • How to Install Custom Textures: PPSSPP-4
  8. Your texture pack will now be installed

How to Install Custom Shaders

Preface

The PPSSPP Flatpak (installed by EmuDeck) does not use a named Memstick folder to manage its contents. Instead, the Memstick folder is located here: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP.

Shader Sources

This list is not exhaustive

How to Install Custom Shaders

  1. In Desktop Mode, open the /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/ folder
    • Directories with a . in front of their name, like /home/deck/.steam, are hidden by default. In Dolphin (a file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right and toggle on Show Hidden Files. The setting may vary depending on which file manager you are using.
  2. If one does not exist already, create a shaders folder here, casing matters
    • Shaders or SHADERS will not work, it must be named shaders
  3. In the shaders folder, place your custom shader files
  4. To enable the new custom shaders, open PPSSPP, click Settings, click the Graphics tab on the left, click Display layout & effects, click the + button under Postprocessing shaders and select your preferred custom shader

How to Create Custom Shader INI Files

Typically, the shader packs linked above will include a master INI file which will contain a set of good defaults that expand the repository of shaders you can use in PPSSPP. However, you can create custom INI files to mix and match shaders. This section will cover how to do that.

  1. Right click anywhere in the shaders folder, click Create New > Text File
  2. Name the newly created text file matching your shader file or something descriptive (For example CRT-Bloom.ini)
  3. Right click the newly created text file, click Open with Kate or a text editor of your choice

  4. Use the following format:

    [SHADERNAME]
Name=SHADERNAME
Fragment=SHADER.FSH
Vertex=VERTEX.FSH

  5. For example:

    [CRT-Bloom]
Name=CRT-Bloom
Fragment=crt.fsh
Vertex=aa2obl.vsh

  6. Your custom shader will now be created. To enable it, open PPSSPP, click Settings, click the Graphics tab on the left, click Display layout & effects, click the + button under Postprocessing shaders and select your newly created custom shader

How to Use Cheats

Back to the Top

Preface

The PPSSPP Flatpak (installed by EmuDeck) does not use a named Memstick folder to manage its contents. Instead, the Memstick folder is located here: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP.

Cheat Sources

This list is not exhaustive

How to Use a cheats.db File

  1. In Desktop Mode, open /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/
    1. ~/.var is an invisible folder by default, click the Hamburger menu in the top right of the file explorer, click Show Hidden Files
  2. Create a Cheats folder here, casing matters
    1. If one exists, skip this step
  3. Place a cheat.db file in this folder
  4. Open PPSSPP, click Settings, select System, scroll down and check Enable cheats
  5. In Game Mode, open a game and either press the Escape Key hotkey: Steam + DPad Left or use the PPSSPP Steam Input Profile to open the Quick Menu
    1. Global Hotkeys
    2. PPSSPP Hotkeys
  6. Select Import from cheat.db, and check the cheat(s) you would like to enable
  7. Return to game and your cheat(s) should now be enabled

How to use Cheat Codes

  1. In Desktop Mode, open /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/
    1. ~/.var is an invisible folder by default, click the Hamburger menu in the top right of the file explorer, click Show Hidden Files
  2. Create a Cheats folder here, casing matters
    1. If one exists, skip this step
  3. Locate your Game ID
    1. To find your Game ID, open PPSSPP, click the Games tab, click the Gear icon, Toggle Show ID
    3. Note down the Game ID to the right of your game
  4. In the Cheats folder, create a file matching your Game ID with an .ini file extension
    1. Skip this step if an .ini file already exists matching your Game ID
    2. Example (Using Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - ULUS10160.ini):
  5. Open the .ini file and add your cheat to the bottom of the file
    1. Example (Using a 60 FPS cheat for Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories):
  6. Save and close out of the .ini file
  7. In Game Mode, open a game and either press the Escape Key hotkey: Steam + DPad Left or use the PPSSPP Steam Input Profile to open the Quick Menu
    1. Global Hotkeys
    2. PPSSPP Hotkeys
  8. Select Cheats on the right
  9. scroll down the list of cheats and enable the cheat(s) you added to the .ini file
  10. Return to game and your cheat(s) should now be enabled

How to Roll Back PPSSPP to an Older Version

Back to the Top

If you do not have access to a mouse and keyboard for the below section, use L2 to right click and R2 to left click. Alternatively, remote into your Steam Deck using one of the methods found in the FAQ, How do I remotely control my Steam Deck?.

  1. In Desktop Mode, open Konsole
  2. To see a list of prior versions of the emulator, type:
    • flatpak remote-info --log flathub org.ppsspp.PPSSPP
  3. If Konsole prompts you to select system or user, enter 2 to select user
  4. Konsole will list a list of previous versions for the flatpak. The important line for each version is the Commit: line. The Commit: line will have a long accompanying alphanumeric string (the “commit” code). Copy the string for the version you want to downgrade to.
    • Using Citra as an example:
      • How to Roll Back Flatpaks: 1
  5. To downgrade to the version you want:
    • flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here org.ppsspp.PPSSPP
    • Replace put_commit_code_here with the actual code you located in Step 2.
      • Using Citra as an example:
        • How to Roll Back Flatpaks: 2

If the above steps did not work and you are getting an error message along the lines of Flatpak not installed, your Flatpak is likely installed at the system level instead. Select one of the below solutions:

Solution 1: Open the EmuDeck application, click the Manage Emulators page, select the emulator in question, and click Reinstall / Update.

Solution 2: Add sudo in front of the commands written in Step 2 and Step 5. In Step 2, write sudo flatpak remote-info --log flathub org.ppsspp.PPSSPP and in Step 5, write sudo flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here org.ppsspp.PPSSPP.

How to Use the Original PSP Font

Back to the Top

Legally, PPSSPP cannot use the original PPSSPP font and instead uses an open source font, "Roboto-Condensed". However, switching to the original PPSSPP font is easy.

Before proceeding with the below steps, dump the original font from a PSP. You can find the font in the flash0/font folder.

  1. Open the /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP folder
    • ~/.var is a hidden folder by default, click the Hamburger menu in the top right of the file explorer, click Show Hidden Files
  2. Create a flash0 folder in /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP
  3. Create a font folder in /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/flash0
  4. Place your fonts in /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/flash0/font
  5. Your fonts are now installed

How to Configure Language Settings

Back to the Top

UI

  1. In Desktop Mode, open PPSSPP
  2. On the right, click Settings
  3. Click the System tab
  4. To the right of Language, select your preferred language in the drop-down menu

In-Game

  1. In Desktop Mode, open the /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/SYSTEM folder
  2. Right click ppsspp.ini and click Open with Kate or a text editor of your choice
  3. Under the [SystemParam] section, locate Language = 1
  4. Replace 1 with your preferred language:
    • JAPANESE 0
    • ENGLISH 1
    • FRENCH 2
    • SPANISH 3
    • GERMAN 4
    • ITALIAN 5
    • DUTCH 6
    • PORTUGUESE 7
    • RUSSIAN 8
    • KOREAN 9
    • CHINESE_TRADITIONAL 10
    • CHINESE_SIMPLIFIED 11
  5. Save and exit out of the text file