The PlayStation Portable is Sony’s first handheld console, designed to compete against Nintendo’s DS. While the PSP never really took off in popularity, it occupied a niche segment that catered to fans of AAA-quality handheld games. When the PS3 was launched in 2006, Sony made sure to include backward compatibility for older consoles.
So, can PSP games be played on PS3? Unfortunately not, since the PS3 uses Blu-Ray discs rather than UMDs and doesn’t have native backward compatibility for PSP games. However, you can download PS1 Classic games to your PS3 and transfer these to your PSP.
The PSP can also use Sony’s Remote Play function, by connecting to an internet network (or local Wi-Fi). Since the PS3 can play PS1 discs via software emulation, you can use this feature to stream PS1 games from your PS3 to your PSP. Remote Play also allows you to view music, photos, and other media stored in your PS3’s HDD, using your PSP.
Can PSP Games Be Played On PS3?
You cannot play PSP discs on PS3, for obvious reasons. First off, they are two very different formats with the PSP disc measuring just 6.4cm in diameter. On top of that, the PS3’s Cell processor is based on an IBM PowerPC architecture with specialized vector processing units.
The PSP runs a MIPS-III processor, so programmers would have to write entirely new code while porting games to the PS3. However, the PS3 is significantly faster than the PSP which allows it to run PSP games via software emulation. Jailbroken PS3s can install launchers that let them play PSP ROMs.
For those among you looking for a more legal route, there are a few options. You can use Remote Play to sync your PSP and PS3 via Wi-Fi. Then, you can insert your PS1 disc into your PS3 and stream the game to your PSP.
This is a very convoluted process and is not the same as playing on an actual PS1. You’ll get worse image quality and high input lag. But it works.
Finally, there is PlayStation Mini. This is a collection of PSP games remade for the PS3 and Vita. You can download Mini games from the PlayStation Store for your PS3.
Does The PS3 Have A Built In PSP Emulator?
The PS3 didn’t have any PSP emulation at launch. It had software emulation for PS1 games and dedicated hardware emulation for PS2 games. With later PS3 models, Sony switched to full software emulation for PS2 games as well.
However, firmware update 3.15 added a PSP emulator to the PS3. This was so the PS3 could run PlayStation Mini games, available on the PlayStation Store. Unfortunately, the PS Mini collection is quite limited and mostly contains 2D games.
Can You Play PSP Games On Other Consoles?
No, you can’t because the PSP doesn’t have crossplay with any other console. Crossplay wasn’t really a thing back then. Even until 2020, Sony and Nintendo were against this feature.
Besides, no other console can run PSP code without an emulator. You can play PS Mini games on the Vita and PS3, but that’s the extent of cross-platform gaming possible with the PSP.
Emulation is the best way to relive PSP games on a modern device. Only digital copies of PSP games can be emulated on PC and Android since Universal Media Disc is a dead format.
Can I Run PSP Games On PS4?
There is no way to play PSP games on PS4, at least legally. With a jailbroken PS4, you can run PSP emulators. As this gentleman demonstrates in his helpful video guide.
But be warned- PS4 jailbreaking is still in its infancy and people are figuring it out as we go. There is a risk of bricking your PS4 while installing custom firmware. And you can’t access Sony’s online services with a modified PS4.
What CPU Is Good For PS3 Emulation?
For the longest time, emulating the PS3 was a fool’s errand simply due to its complexity. The Cell processor doesn’t behave like anything you use in your PC, and making it work on modern hardware is a very challenging task. Hence, you need some beefy components in your PC to play PS3 games via emulation.
It also depends on the game. If you’re playing God of War 3 or Red Dead Redemption, you’ll need a fast i5 or i7. Preferably with 6 cores and SMT/ Hyperthreading.
Ideally, you want something like a Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7 that has 8 cores and 16 threads. Pair this with 16GB of RAM, and a decent GPU, and you’re good to go. You can emulate most PS3 games at 60FPS and high settings.
What Can A Jailbroken PS3 Do?
You can install Linux and turn it into a discount computer. Or, you can use it as a media center for your living room. After all, the PS3 is more than just a game console- it can play movies, and music, and browse the internet.
But we all know why you would want to jailbreak your PS3. So you can emulate NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, Saturn, and PSP games. Plus, you can load games directly from the PS3 HDD without the need for a disc.
Conclusion
I hope this article gave you some insight into how PSP emulation works on a PS3. Emulation with a jailbroken PS3 is the only proper way to play PSP games on that console. Or you can try Sony’s Remote Play feature.
But you still won’t be playing PSP games on the PS3, you’ll just be playing PS1 games that also have PSP ports. There is the PlayStation Mini collection. But it is only a small fraction of the PSP’s game library and is mostly comprised of 2D games.