PlayStation Portal Hack Lets It Play PSP Games

Highlights

• Google engineers hacked the PlayStation Portal to play PSP games natively, expanding its utility beyond just remote controlling PS5 consoles.
• Limited curated PSP games are playable via streaming on PlayStation Portal, but hacking allows access to the full library without the internet.
• Despite rumors of a new PlayStation handheld, Sony has not announced new hardware, but the success of the Portal hints at a potential market.

One Google engineer is showing off a PlayStation Portal hack that allows the device to play PSP games. The PlayStation Portal is designed to be a handheld device that remotely controls the user’s PS5 console, but that hasn’t stopped enthusiasts from trying to expand upon the accessory’s utility.

Despite limited use cases, the PlayStation Portal has garnered solid reviews and struggled to stay in stock for long at popular retailers. The eye-catching form factor has proven to be the most ergonomic method for Remote Play, a service that has been around since the PS3.

PlayStation Portal Shown Running PSP Games Natively

Google engineer Andy Nguyen has taken to social media to show off their hacked PlayStation Portal device running PSP emulation software PPSSPP. After “more than a month of hard work,” and help from another Google engineer, Calle Svensson, Nguyen’s PlayStation Portal can play PSP titles natively. The image Nguyen shared shows the Portal running the acclaimed PSP title Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.

Thanks in large part to PlayStation Plus’ Premium tier, subscribers can already play PSP games on their stock PlayStation Portal. That being said, this limited selection of curated PSP titles available is only playable via streaming through Remote Play. Hacking the PlayStation Portal to run PSP emulation software natively on the device means no internet connection is required. Not to mention, this opens up the Portal to play the entire library of PSP titles potentially, not just the ones curated for PlayStation Plus or the PlayStation Store. Unfortunately for fans excited about getting their hands on this hack, Nguyen has stated, “There’s no release planned in the near future,” as there is still plenty of work to be done. Given the success of the post, however, the team may share some demonstration videos as early as this weekend.

Despite rumors that a new PlayStation handheld is in development, Sony has yet to announce any new hardware. After the failure of the PSP’s successor, the PS Vita, Sony has more or less removed itself from the portable gaming market. That said, the success of the PlayStation Portal may lend credence to reports that suggest a new dedicated handheld device is on the way.

The success of the Nintendo Switch and various handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally proves that there is a market for portable gaming devices. Rumors have even circulated that Microsoft could be planning a handheld Xbox console. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer even stoked the Xbox handheld rumors through recent social media activity.