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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

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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

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  • 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

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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

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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

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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

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

How to Manage DLC

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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

  • Folder: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/GAME
    • Create a GAME folder if one does not exist already
    • Place DLC folder (to enable additional music tracks) in this folder
  • Folder: /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/seplugins
    • Create a seplugins folder if one does not exist already
    • Place plugin contents directly into this folder
  • File: game.txt, placed in /home/deck/.var/app/org.ppsspp.PPSSPP/config/ppsspp/PSP/seplugins
    • Create a game.txt file and place in this folder
    • Contents of the game.txt file: ms0:/seplugins/nploader.prx 1

PPSSPP Hotkeys

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PPSSPP comes with a Steam Input profile for Hotkeys. Activate the Steam Input profile by clicking the Game Controller icon in Game Mode, change the template to Emudeck - PPSSPP Standalone. The hotkeys below can only be used if you have the Steam Input profile active.

Hotkey PPSSPP
Quick Menu Steam + DPad Left
Quick Menu Left Trackpad Radial Menu
Save State Left Trackpad Radial Menu
Load State Left Trackpad Radial Menu
Next Save Slot Left Trackpad Radial Menu
Fast Forward Left Trackpad Radial Menu

Note:

PPSSPP Tips and Tricks

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How to Install Custom Textures

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 /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 TEXTURES folder here, casing matters
  3. In the TEXTURES folder, create a folder matching 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. Place the texture folder (containing the texture files) directly in this newly created folder
    1. Example (Using Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep):
  5. Your texture pack will now be applied

How to Use Cheats

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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

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  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
    • Each version will have a long accompanying alphanumeric string (the “commit” code). Copy the string for the version you want to downgrade to.
  3. 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.
    • If this line does not work, you may need to type:
      • sudo flatpak update --commit=put_commit_code_here org.ppsspp.PPSSPP