Ark Psp - Gamebrew

Introducing the new, updated, and modern Custom Firmware for the PSP and PS Vita's ePSP - ARK CFW. Designed with simplicity and packed with exclusive features, ARK CFW revitalizes the PSP experience. As the successor to PRO and ME, ARK now stands as the most comprehensive CFW for the PSP, combining all the functionalities of traditional CFW with innovative, one-of-a-kind features that cannot be found elsewhere.

• Core system heavily updated from traditional CFW with new exclusive features.
• Inferno 2 Driver compatible with all formats (ISO, CSO, ZSO, JSO, CSOv2 and DAX).
• Popcorn controller for custom PS1 games. Compatible with PopsLoader V3 and V4i.
• Built-in No-DRM engine Stargate, fixes many anti-CFW games. Compatible with npdrm_free by qwikrazor87.
• Plugin support for PSP games, PS1 games and VSH (XMB), including the ability to enable and disable plugins per-game.
• Region Free playback of UMD Video on all PSP models. Change the region of your UMD drive on-the-fly.
• Compatible with all PSP models on firmwares 6.60 and 6.61.
• Compatible with all PS Vita models on firmware 2.10 up to 3.74, either official firmware or via Adrenaline.
• Compatible with 6.60 Testing Tool Firmware and Testkit Units.
• Compatible with 6.60 Development Tool Firmware and Devkit Units.
• Can be fully installed and booted on memory stick in compatible models via Time Machine.
• Can be used to unbrick any PSP using Despertar del Cementerio in combination with a Pandora or Baryon Sweeper.
• Minimalistic: only 6 files installed on PSP flash, CFW extensions are installed on memory stick.
• Resistant to soft-bricks, easy to recover from bad configurations with a new and improved Recovery app.
• Custom game launcher with built-in game categories, file browser, FTP server and client, modernized look and more.
• Fully configurable via the XMB.
• Compatible with PRO Online and Xlink Kai.
• Compatible with Legacy Homebrew via eLoader and Leda. Compatible with the KXploit format.
• Compatible with cIPL and Infinity 2 bootloaders for permanent CFW.

Compiling ARK ( For Developers )

Build script will allow you to use the correct SDK that ARK was built with.

• Docker container: docker pull

These are utlized either with cloning the repo or using the Docker container

• Release: ./build.sh
• Debug: ./build.sh --debug
• Manually: install the oldest possible SDK (ideally the one used to compile M33), then run make

Use -h or --help to show all available flags

On PSP

Online PSP Installer

For an easy deployment of ARK on a PSP connected to the internet, you can follow this video

Manual installation

The instructions are as follows:

• Move or copy ARK_01234 folder into /PSP/SAVEDATA/ folder.
• Move or copy ARK_Loader folder into /PSP/GAME/ folder.
• Launch ARK Loader. It will install ARK modules on PSP Flash and boot the CFW.

Live CFW

• Delete FLASH0.ARK from /PSP/SAVEDATA/ARK_01234 to prevent flashing files every time you reload the CFW.
• Run ARK Loader when you boot up the system after you've fully turned off or hard reboot the device to re-enable ARK.

Permanent CFW via new cIPL

• Works on 1K models, 2K models and early 3K models (1g, 2g and 3g).
• Only works on 6.61. Does NOT work with Testing Tool or Development Tool firmwares.
• cIPL will not install if not compatible, so no risk if running it even if you're unsure what specific model you're using - if not compatible, use Infinity 2 instead.
• Move or copy ARK_newIPL folder to /PSP/GAME/ and run the program.
• Press the corresponding button in the installation page to install the cIPL patch.
• Warning: unlike classic cIPL, the new method can't be easily uninstalled.

Permanent CFW via classic cIPL

• Only works on 1K models and early 2K models (those compatible with Pandora).
• Works on 6.60 and 6.61, including Testing Tool firmware. Does NOT work with Development Tool firmware.
• cIPL will not install if not compatible, so no risk if running it even if you're unsure what specific model you're using - if not compatible, use Infinity 2 instead.
• Move or copy ARK cIPL folder to /PSP/GAME/ and run the program.
• Press the corresponding button in the installation page to install or remove the cIPL patch.

Permanent CFW via Infinity

*RECOMMNEDED* If already using another CFW with Infinity < 2.0.5, use chronoswitch to reinstall 6.60/6.61 OFW (Offical Firmware). If you do not when launching Infinity it can just lock your PSP up causing Infinity to not work properly (not harmful, just not properly). Then proceed with intructions. You can still bi/tri boot your CFW afterwards.

• Works on all PSP models on 6.60 or 6.61 firmwares.
• Copy or move the EBOOT.PBP (or EBOOT_GO.PBP renamed to EBOOT.PBP if using a PSP Go) from the Infinity folder found in the ARK download into /PSP/GAME/UPDATE.
• Run theInfinity app using Official Firmware to run the initial installation. If you previously had and older Infinity installed when prompted to update please do, as our Infinity version includes the ARK patches to autoboot.
• Run Infinity a second time to configure autoboot by selecting ARK within the Infinity app. Run the ARK CFW again to activate. ARK will now be automatically activated on boot up.

Full Flash Installation

• This allows you to install and use all of ARK's features from flash0, allowing you to entirely remove the ARK_01234 savedata folder or memory stick.
• Copy ARK_Full_Installer to /PSP/GAME/ and run it from ARK.
• It will install the necessary modules into the console's flash.
• This installation will make use of Classic Recovery Menu when the regular one is not available.
• Custom Firmware settings and other Custom Firmware files are installed in ms0:/SEPLUGINS/, which is used as the default ARK path when no savedata folder is available.

Time Machine and Despertar del Cementerio

• Time Machine allows to boot the 6.61 firmware and ARK entirely from the Memory Stick.
• Despertar del Cementerio allows to revive a bricked PSP when used in combination with a Pandora or Baryon Sweeper.
• To install DC-ARK you must first format the memory stick leaving enough space for the boot sector. You can use PSP Tool to do this.
• You also need to be running a CFW to install DC-ARK (ARK itself or any other).
• Copy the ARK_DC folder to the /PSP/GAME/ folder and run the installer from the XMB.
• Follow the instructions to install DC-ARK and create a magic memory stick.
• On compatible models, use Advanced VSH Menu to create a Pandora battery.
• Use a Pandora or Baryon Sweeper in combination with your newly created Magic Memory Stick to boot up Despertar del Cementerio.
• From here you can either boot ARK from memory stick, install 6.61 Firmware with ARK on the Nand or install 6.61 Official Firmware.
• Note that installing 6.61 firmware with ARK requires a cIPL-compatible PSP (1K and early 2K).

On PS Vita

Standalone via FastARK

• Works on Firmware 3.60 up to 3.74, requires Henkaku/h-encore or any native hack.
• Recommended: download a PSP game from PSN (demo of Ape Quest, Locoroco, etc) to have a valid PSP license available during installation.
• Once installed, it will work on Official Firmware as long as the console has a valid PSP license obtained from PSN.
• Download and install latest ArkFast from this link: .
• Press start button to install the Sasuke Commander minigame with ARK.
• If out of date with latest release, use the updater built into the launcher.
• To use right analog stick (i.e. gta_remastered plugin): ArkRightAnalog Vita
• To exit from a game or homebrew back to the custom launcher, press L+R+Down+Start. Works on PSP too.
• Some features are not available in standalone installations, mainly the official Sony XMB and limitations with PS1 games.
• If you get a kernel exploit error, simply close the app and open it again.

Standalone via NoPspEmuDrm

• Works on Firmware 3.60 up to 3.74, requires Henkaku/h-encore or any native hack.
• Download and install latest NoPspEmuDrm from here: NoPspEmuDrm Vita
• Download and install latest VitaShell from here: VitaShell
• Copy ARK_01234 folder to ux0:pspemu/PSP/SAVEDATA/.
• Copy K.BIN from PSVita/Standalone/ into ARK_01234.
• Copy NPUZ01234 from PSVita/Standalone/ into ux0:pspemu/PSP/GAME/.
• Open VitaShell and use the Refresh Live Area function for the ARK bubble to appear.
• To use right analog stick (i.e. gta_remastered plugin): ArkRightAnalog Vita
• To exit from a game or homebrew back to the custom launcher, press L+R+Down+Start. Works on PSP too.
• Some features are not available in standalone installations, mainly the official Sony XMB and limitations with PS1 games.
• If you get a kernel exploit error, simply close the app and open it again.

Standalone via ChovySign

• Works on Official Firmware 2.10 up to 3.74, doesn't require Henkaku/h-encore or any native hack.
• NOTE: you might need henkaku/h-encore to facilitate the installation process, but it won't be needed anymore after installing.
• Requires ChovySign: Chovy-sign Vita
• Download a legit PSP game from PSN, the free demo of Ape Quest or LocoRoco Midnight Carnival is recommended.
• Follow the instructions from the official ChovySign project to sign ark_loader.iso from the PSVita/Standalone folder.
• This will generate an installable ARK Loader in QCMA's folder as NPUZ01234 (i.e. /Documents/PS Vita/PGAME/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/NPUZ01234).
• Follow these instructions to install PBOOT.PBP from PSVita/Standalone/NPUZ01234 to the loader generated by ChovySign:
• Install the ARK_01234 savedata folder into /Documents/PS Vita/PSAVEDATA/xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/.
• Copy K.BIN from PSVita/Standalone folder into ARK_01234 savedata folder.
• Transfer the generated ARK Loader and ARK_01234 savedata folders using QCMA.
• To use right analog stick (i.e. gta_remastered plugin): ArkRightAnalog Vita
• To exit from a game or homebrew back to the custom launcher, press L+R+Down+Start. Works on PSP too.
• Some features are not available in standalone installations, mainly the official Sony XMB and limitations with PS1 games.
• If you get a kernel exploit error, simply close the app and open it again.
• If you are running an old firmware (<3.60), you will need a specialized K.BIN, either build one yourself or open an Feature Request.

Adrenaline

• Works on Firmware 3.60 up to 3.74, requires Henkaku/h-encore and Adrenaline (Adrenaline Vita).
• Install ARK_01234 folder into /PSP/SAVEDATA/ folder.
• Install ARK_Loader folder into /PSP/GAME/ folder.
• Copy K.BIN from PSVita/Adrenaline folder into ARK_Loader game folder.
• Use Adrenaline Bubbles Manager to create an autoboot bubble for ARK Loader: Adrenaline Bubble Manager Vita
• Note: this does not permanently modify Adrenaline in any way.

Legacy Game Exploits (PSP & Vita)

• Considering the savedata exploit loads H.BIN from the savedata path.
• Copy every file from ARK_01234 except PARAM.SFO, SAVEDATA.BIN and K.BIN (ICON0.PNG can also be ignored), into the hacked savedata folder.
• You need to have a K.BIN if you are running on an ancient Vita firmware (there's plenty of kernel exploit sources in ARK-2 and ARK-3 for reference).
• Run the game and trigger the exploit as normal, it should load ARK.
• If you have issues with stability, it might be necessary to run freemem() algorithm in the kernel exploit file (K.BIN).

Update ARK

There are three ways to update ARK:

• Option 1: Use the System Update feature in the XMB. Requires your PSP/Vita to be connected to the internet.
• Option 2: Copy the UPDATE folder to /PSP/GAME/ and run it.
• Option 3: Copy ARK_01234 folder and (on PSP) run ARK Loader again to install new flash0 files.