PlayStation Portable¶
Play PSP games from Roms/Sony Playstation Portable (PSP)/. PSP is built in:
there is nothing to install, and no BIOS or firmware file is needed.
PSP gets the same features as the other systems:
- the in-game menu with save states (slots with previews), auto-resume and the Game Switcher
- fast-forward, screenshots, shaders and screen effects
- playtime tracking and ambient LEDs
- RetroAchievements and cheats through NX Redux
Upgrading from the Xtras PSP emulator
Older versions installed a standalone PPSSPP from the Xtras
store. Updating NX Redux removes it and moves your in-game saves
across automatically, along with texture packs, installed DLC and
homebrew (GAME), plugins and screenshots. Its own settings and cheat
files are kept in Saves/PSP/standalone-backup/ rather than deleted.
Save states made with the standalone PPSSPP can't be loaded. Save your progress in-game before updating if you rely on a save state.
More detail
PSP games run on PPSSPP, bundled as a libretro core and played inside NX Redux's own emulator, like most other systems. That's why it gets the same features.
Controls¶
The face buttons map to the PSP buttons by position:
| Device button | PSP button |
|---|---|
Bottom (B on the cap) |
Cross (✕) |
Right (A on the cap) |
Circle (○) |
Left (Y on the cap) |
Square (□) |
Top (X on the cap) |
Triangle (△) |
| Device control | PSP control |
|---|---|
| D-pad | D-pad |
| Left stick | Analog stick |
L1 / R1 |
L / R |
| START / SELECT | START / SELECT |
In PSP system dialogs (saving, loading, entering a name) ✕ confirms. To use ○ instead, change Confirmation Button in the Emulator Options.
The mapping is the same under either Button Layout. Only the in-game menu's confirm and back follow that setting.
Game files¶
PSP games can be .iso, .cso, .chd or .pbp (PSN downloads and
homebrew). .chd and .cso are compressed and save space.
Saves¶
In-game saves are stored in Saves/PSP/SAVEDATA/, one folder per game (the
same folders a real PSP keeps in PSP/SAVEDATA on its memory stick), so you can
copy saves to and from a PSP or another emulator.
Firmware files
The first time you play, PPSSPP copies some system files from the game
disc into Saves/PSP/NAND/ (about 57 MB). Leave that folder in place.
Performance¶
Best on the Smart Pro S
The Smart Pro S runs every PSP game tested at full speed, including Tekken 6 at 2× Rendering Resolution. The Brick, Brick Hammer, Brick Pro and Smart Pro share a slower chip: most games still run at full speed there, but the heaviest 3D games don't.
Measured at the default resolution while playing:
| Game | Brick | Smart Pro S |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Slug XX | Full speed | Full speed |
| Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception | Full speed (first mission) | Full speed |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories | About 88% on foot | Full speed |
| Tekken 6 | About 78% in fights; menus at full speed | Full speed, also at 2× |
To get a heavy game to full speed on the Brick, set Frameskip to 1 for
that game in Emulator Options. It then shows
30 frames per second at full speed (Tekken 6 measured about 99%). Leave it off
for other games: skipping frames halves the frame rate even when a game keeps
up, so it is off by default.
- Rendering Resolution is the PSP's native 480×272 (1×) by default. 2× (960×544) looks sharper and runs at full speed on the Smart Pro S. Higher settings aren't offered: they exceed the screen and only cost speed and heat.
- Frameskip, Auto Frameskip and the other PPSSPP options are in Emulator Options, for all games or per game.
Reset Game
Reset Game restarts the game, but the restarted game may stop responding to the buttons. Quit and launch the game again instead.