Playstation Vita Vita3K Instructions - RetroGFX/UnofficialOS GitHub Wiki

Vita/Vita3K instructions

Initial Setup

First thing that needs to be done to get Vita3k prepared for Firmware and Game installation is to go into the Tools section, and run the Start Vita3k script. This will create the config file and the folder structure for the following steps. You can create the user account and select your preferred language now.

Firmware Setup

NOTE: "Vita3K requires official PS VITA firmware to be installed through before you can run games. It also requires an additional fonts package."

  1. Download the latest official PS VITA firmware from Sony's PS VITA System Software page. (The downloaded file will be named PSVUPDAT.PUP)
  2. Download the additional PS VITA font firmware package from the Playstation server page. (The downloaded file will be named PSP2UPDAT.PUP)
  3. Move both files to /roms/bios/vita3k/bios
  4. Go to Tools and run Install Vita3K Firmware.
  5. All installed firmware will go inside the internal Vita3K folder structure in /roms/psvita/vita3k.

Game Setup

Game Format For Installation

Games must be in .zip format, decrypted, and named with the Title ID for the install script to install them correctly. More information can be found on the Vita3K FAQ page and the compatibility page. The following example is for Mortal Kombat with the Title ID of PCSE00023. The contents of the .zip will be as follows:

/roms/psvita/
    └─ PCSE00023.zip/
        └─ PCSE00023/
            ├─ Asset/
            ├─ Config/
            ├─ Localization/
            ├─ Movies/
            ├─ SaveGameArt/
            ├─ sce_module/
            ├─ sce_pfs/
            ├─ sce_sys/
            ├─ Splash/
            ├─ eboot.bin
            └─ VITATOC.txt

Install The Game

  1. Place the .zip file in /roms/psvita/.
  2. Go to Tools and to the Install vita3K Content script and run it. The game will now install. Be patient, this can take a few minutes.
  3. When installation is complete, the games will be installed into the internal Vita3K folders located in /roms/psvita/vita3k. The game .zip file will be deleted automatically and the .psvita file created for EmulationStation and scraping.
  4. The game should boot when finished. To exit the Vita3K emulator, press "L1" + "SELECT" + "START" at the same time.
  5. If you exit the game, and it doesn't show up in EmulationStation, press "START", and go to Game Settings > Update Gamelist, or reboot the device.

EmulationStation Game Launching

These steps are only required if you manually install the game files into Vita3K, or for whatever reason your newly installed game doesn't show up in EmulationStation.

Scanning Previously Installed Games

Go to Tools and then run the Scan Vita3K Games script. EmulationStation will restart, and your game will show up in the PS Vita gamelist.

Manual Steps

You can manually create a .psvita file to represent your installed game.

  1. Create a file in /roms/psvita called [Game Name].psvita where "[Game Name]" is a readable name for your game. (this will help with scraping)
  2. Edit that file and on the first line paste the Title ID of the game that you noted from the steps above.
/roms/psvita/
    └─ Mortal Kombat.psvita
        └─ PCSE00023
  1. Save the file.
  2. Refresh EmulationStation by pressing "START" to open the Main Menu then select Game Settings > Update Gamelists.

Once done you should be able to launch your PS Vita game directly from the EmulationStation PS Vita gamelist.