PSP is now also an open-console for developers

Normally, there is nothing to report on the PSP scene for a while, even tho it still a wonderful handheld version of the Playstation and still has some amazing games on it.

But who would have thought that by Geohot releasing the 'root key' for the PS3, he would in fact be causing the latest PSP models to be fully opened to firmware changes and enabling 'homebrew' on it.



It seems Sony loves to have all it's eggs in one basket, even a farmer knows better then that, and it was not long before developers found the PSP keys hidden away inside the PS3 console:

Mathieulh Has Found The PSP Master Keys In PS3!

Quote:
Wow, this just get better not only a major event to the PS3 scene but also now PSP scene! In EFnet IRC #ps3dev chat room, Mathieulh has revealed an info that could break the heart of all the Sony PSP department staff members.

Code:
< @Mathieulh> got the kirk engine keys
< @Mathieulh> thx sony xD
< +rck`d> psp crypto
< @Mathieulh> well it’s in ps3 but it’s psp keys
< @Mathieulh> I can encrypt/sign any psp apps now
< @Mathieulh> lol
< @Mathieulh> yah
< @Mathieulh> has drm keyz too
< @dwrfcrank> Davee: Hey I told you it’s a isolated SPU module >
< @Mathieulh> so you can make your own psn store clone
< @Mathieulh> on psp
I can encrypt/sign anything on psp now.
The key important part of the PSP, the so called "Kirk Keys", which is basically the small hardware crypto engine that is responsible for almost all aspects of the PSP’s security, including decryption of eboots & prx’s, savefile and adhoc encryption, and idstorage verification.

check download page for all files needed

News Source: @Mathieulh (via) Twitter
News Source: Mathieulh Has Found The PSP Master Keys In PS3!

It was not long afterwards before the scene quickly improved the existing PSP tools and released versions for the latest PSP firmwares like v6.31 and v6.35 enabling 'homebrew' and even ISO loaders on most PSP models!

I can confirm this works.

Quote:
Tutorial by greg on January 3, 2011

HEN for 6.31 / 6.35 Installation

1. Download and unzip the appropriate HEN version for your PSP firmware below
2. Download and unzip Half Byte Loader R112 for Minna no Sukkiri
* Copy the “hbl” directory and the “h.bin” file to the root of your device
3. Download and unzip the Minna no Sukkiri PSP Demo
* Unzip UCJS10094.zip (the SAVEDATA exploit) and copy to PSP/SAVEDATA
4. Replace HBL’s “hbl/menu/EBOOT.PBP” with the appropriate HEN version
5. Start up Minna no Sukkiri and enjoy!
Tutorial: HEN Enabler (via) PSP-Hacks
Source: HEN Release (via) wololo.net

Thanks to tthousand for first reporting the news, and to prophour for grabing all the needed files, and now that the PSP scene is heating back up, check out our PSP forum!