PSP 2.00 update out in Japan; European PSPs will be 2.00

By Tom Bramwell Published 27 July, 2005

Updated. 2.00 adds web browser.

As promised at last week's PlayStation Meeting in Japan, Sony has released a free 2.00 upgrade for Japanese PSP handhelds adding an internet browser, support for photo sharing via wireless network and the facility to set background images on the main PSP interface among other things.

An American version is expected in due course, while European PSP owners will find that their consoles come with version 2.00 installed as standard on the console's September 1st launch.

Earlier we reported that our shiny new "hot off the production line" European PSP comes preloaded with 1.52 firmware, however Sony has since been in touch to tell us that all European models will ship with version 2.00 pre-installed. Eagle-eyed readers will note that that means European PSPs will be protected against current PSP hackers and pirates from day one.

Japanese and American production lines had to be updated recently to combat the phenomenon, with mandatory updates hastily stuffed in around the margins of new games in those territories in an effort to prevent further abuses.

The Japanese 2.00 update is available through Sony's official website (if you scroll down, you can click a "Download" button to collect the "EBOOT.PBP" file you need). It can be loaded on to Japanese PSPs by creating the directory \PSP\GAME\UPDATE on your Memory Stick Duo and then using the PSP's "GAME" menu to launch the update.

You can transfer the file to your Memory Stick Duo using an appropriate USB cable (such as one bundled with a Sony CyberShot digital camera) and a PSP set up in USB Connection mode. There are also options on the Sony website for direct download, although we haven't investigated those. Whichever option you go for, you do so at your own risk!

For a rundown of what the 2.00 upgrade offers, we suggest you have a look at last week's coverage. We'll be tinkering with ours today, but we're unlikely to get too excited unless our PSPs blow up in the process. In which case we'll take some photos (and cry).

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (49) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • abeit #1 7 years ago

    You know the best thing about the PSP is playing the snes roms, by using the emulator

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #2 7 years ago

    I prefer playing SNES games on my SNES. Earthbound r0x0r.

  • tonynibbles #3 7 years ago

    /so confused!

    I dont know what to do. Continue playing Mercury (from UMD of course), using VNC on psp and playing SNES classics like Mario Kart and Mario World. Or say damn it and get the awesomer web browser update.

    Meh.

    /Cries
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/05 @ 10:14

  • Ceatlan #4 7 years ago

    You can also just download it directly using the PSP's 'Network Update' function.

    (So long as you have a wireless internet connection that it is).

  • ProfessorLesser #5 7 years ago

    Heh.

  • martyngates #6 7 years ago

    /shakes first at the gods

    why do you mock me? why cant i have both?

    /fires up wipeout pure, uses its brwoser

  • jellyhead #7 7 years ago

    You CAN have both Martyn, just buy another PSP.
    What would Sony do? :)

  • Danj #8 7 years ago

    Hmm, I tried updating but even though I plugged the mains adapter in it still whined about having a low battery. So I've had to leave it on charge for a bit.

  • jellyhead #9 7 years ago

    The PSP is a bit paranoid about it's power levels when it comes to doing an update. My one is the same. Fair enough really, if it goes pear shaped then the PSP is knackered. Betterr safe than sorry.

  • Beano #10 7 years ago

    The JAP 2.0 firmware works on US PSP's also, so I expect it to work on EURO PSP's aswell :)

    The 2.0 firmware will propabaly be available in september as an official update for EURO PSP aswell.

  • Beano #11 7 years ago

    "The PSP is a bit paranoid about it's power levels when it comes to doing an update."

    Better be on the safe side than the risk of a dead PSP after a failed update, eh ?

    :)

  • davesy #12 7 years ago

    i'll download the update tonight then!! good job i put my PSP on charge last night..

  • Lutz #13 7 years ago

    Odd...

    /was told that Uk PSP ships at 2.0

  • PES_Fanboy #14 7 years ago

    Wow, a reason to buy a PSP, before PES comes out ;)

    I have been looking for something to browse the interweb with, anyone successfully done theirs over?

    Is there a way to 'back up' the previous firmware, so you can have best of both worlds?

    Having said that, I bet $ony haven't made provision for anyone to downgrade back to 1.51...damn them!

  • prettyboytim #15 7 years ago

    Wow, a reason to buy a PSP, before PES comes out ;)

    World Tour Soccer?

  • captain-future #16 7 years ago

    once again, just a little addition from me.

    Eagle-eyed readers will note that that means European PSPs will be protected against current PSP hackers and pirates and civil liberties from day one.

  • Abscido #17 7 years ago

    I know nothing is final in the world of hacking and emulation, but does 1.52 really make it that difficult for people to homebrew, etc? Or is it just a matter of months before everything becomes available for 1.52 as well?

  • tonynibbles #18 7 years ago

    As I've said before, I think Sony have gone about it the wrong way.

    They should've done what they did with PS2. And made a dev kit available, like the Linux kit.
    Why dont they release a UMD dev kit and USB/PC software to develop on your PC and run from memory stick?
    I'm sure if they did it properly they could prevent people running games from iso rips and then homebrewers could produce quality applications for everyone to benefit from. Perhaps if you could only run them with a dev UMD - Sony could even make money. I'd prefer that tbh - make it easier for people, but charge the price of a game.

  • DaM #19 7 years ago

    I agree, the main attraction to me is the homebrew, I am not interested in pirate games... Although I am confident that the hackers will finds away around 1.52 and 2 eventually, if newer games require bios updates, then surely people wanting to retain homebrew capability will be forced to get pirate cracked games?

    I almost got a GP32 several times...would love a PSP with all the extra functionality, Sony should come up with a way of allowing it, if they can find some way of making money from it....with homebrew it could become the new ipod....which must be good for Sony.

  • SirScratchalot #20 7 years ago

    Wonder if that would lead to a legal hell for sony though... Can you imagine the reactions from Nintendo and Sega once their precious back catalog was emulated as part of "official" psp homebrew.

  • tonynibbles #21 7 years ago

    Yeh emus etc might be a problem - but I personally am really interested in homebrew as opposed to emus.

    It could potentially be like Apple OSX Tiger Widgets' Sony could have a site of PSP widgets from developers and you could download them as apps to run off memory stick.

    So much potential...

  • Rudi_halfmann #22 7 years ago

    Just a quick question, where do you get the emulators for SNES games from?!
    Cheers!

  • Kon #23 7 years ago

    I'm thinking about upgrading my japanese PSP, as i don't really care much about the homebrew/emulation bit.

    Can anyone help me out and tell me what language options does this new update have?
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/05 @ 13:56

  • Feanor #24 7 years ago

    I can't clarify, but I suggest it's safer to wait till the the American Sony site offers the 2.0 download.

  • tonynibbles #25 7 years ago

    The update has an agreement in it that talks about US law...

  • Danj #26 7 years ago

    "Can anyone help me out and tell me what language options does this new update have?"

    It does have English language in it if that's what you're worried about. In fact it has all the same languages as the previous firmware, but with Korean added.

    By the way, does anyone know where I can find an easy-to-use H.264 encoder? I want to try out the new video feature so I can find out whether or not it's true that you can use the full resolution now. Sony Japan have updated Image Converter 2 to version 2.2 (or "Plus";) as they call it, but unsurprisingly you need to have a Japanese "My Sony ID" to be able to get it. Quicktime 7 Preview has H.264 support but it's super slow.

  • Xerx3s #27 7 years ago

    Hmmm. No. Still no reason to get this fridge.

    /goes back to his lynx. ;p

  • tonynibbles #28 7 years ago

    H264 Encoder? Download or buy Quicktime 7 Pro.

    Best option - you'll be able to encode easily for PSP too. And its dead cheap.
    Edited by 1 at 27/07/05 @ 14:42

  • onyxbox #29 7 years ago

    I've just installed it on my US PSP so it seems to work fine :-D

    no horror story here !!!!

  • GadgetGirl #30 7 years ago

    Happy to say no problems reported here, all went to plan and even got to surf my home site of Thumb Bandits for the first time on my PSP.. very surreal.

    http://www.thumbbandits.com/for um/uploads/GirlyGamer/PSP_Thumb_Bandits_Browse.JPG

    Anyone tried to use a forum on it? I wanted to post on TB as an example but it kept saying low memory?

    Thanks
    Tracy
    xx

  • andy-w #31 7 years ago

    just installed on us psp! infact writing this very message using the browser!

  • laur #32 7 years ago

    Onyxbox:
    Could you clarify how you managed to get it running?

  • onyxbox #33 7 years ago

    There is no region information in any of the menu's / system settings or about screen. The only thing it does say is:

    System Software: Version 2.00

    The box that my PSP came in has a REGION: 1 stamp on it but the PSP itself has no region markings on it (not even under the battery).

  • tonynibbles #34 7 years ago

    Cool - so Andy W has it working on US psp too? nice

  • GadgetGirl #35 7 years ago

    Does Andy W own a US UMD he can check is still working on his updated machine just to ensure the region hasn't been changed to Japanese before I urge someone to update their US machine as they own a few movies that are US Region 1.
    Thanks

  • onyxbox #36 7 years ago

    Could you clarify how you managed to get it running?

    I carried out the following:

    1) Download the EBOOT.PBP file
    2) Connected the PSP to my PC via USB
    3) Activated USB mode on the PSP
    4) Open windows explorer on the PC and browse the PSP Drive
    5) Navigate to \PSP\GAME folder (on the PSP)
    6) Created a folder called UPDATE
    7) Copy the EBOOT.PBP file into \PSP\GAME\UPDATE folder
    8) Disconnect the USB
    9) Using the PSP navigate to the GAME menu
    10) Scroll down the GAME menu and run the UPDATE
    11) Followed instructions.

    Hope this helps.

  • laur #37 7 years ago

    Cool, thanks. That's exactly what I tried earlier when it didn't work, but I'll try again anyway.
    If it did change the region, that would be good, would it not? Then you could play UMDs bought in Europe, couldn't you?

  • GadgetGirl #38 7 years ago

    We own a lot of US UMD Films, so not so good for those of us who were happy with one US and one JAP machine in the house thus covering both regions.

  • andy-w #39 7 years ago

    Well i've tried the sampler disc, which says it is region 1, and that still works. Don't have any movies to try, sorry.

  • GadgetGirl #40 7 years ago

    Thanks Andy np, I'm sure someone will in the next few hours to clarify.
    Incidentally I don't have a USB connector for my PSP and did the update wirelessly. Just did network update and it found the update for me, then it asked me to install and I said yes and that was that.. no faffling with files. Better for those with a wireless connection perhaps?

  • Beano #41 7 years ago

    "Can you clarify this? Are you saying that you can install japanese firmware on a US PSP? Will this alter the region code?"

    I know for sure the JAP 2.0 firmware works on both US and US PSP consoles. I don't about previous firmware release though.

    However, this will not change regional coding for games or UMD videos, or swap X and O button functions.

  • Hyme #42 7 years ago

    I will upgrade my PSP to the new 2.0 Jap version. But, since it is a U.S. PSP, will it screw it up? Also, how does one configure the PSP to use the browser on free WiFi connections?

  • DodgyG #43 7 years ago

    Update works fine, monging from the PSP really needs a keyboard though...

  • Jerklobster #44 7 years ago

    Nice to know that European owners will be prevented, sorry, "protected" from copying games they already own to their memory sticks. Good old Sony, always looking out for us over here. What would we do without their considerate September launch and £35 price tags for games?

    Oh yeah that's right - import. Lumines and Mercury off a memory stick? Yes thanks! I've bought 7 PSP games to date and have NO intention of pirating any - so why the hell shouldn't I run them from my memory stick and save on both battery life and frustration? Hell, games like FIFA and Midnight Club Dub whatever might actually be playable for once if you run them from a stick! I've got FIFA but gave up on it due to the unbearable UMD access pauses. Pehaps if I get it running on my card i'll actually get some sodding value from money from it.

    If Sony want to diffuse some of the bad vibes surrounding the European PSP launch then they might want to consider devising a legal, secure way for games to be purchased and copied to memory cards - or perhaps bought and downloaded online. iTunes didn't exactly turn out badly for Apple after all!


  • FWB #45 7 years ago

    It cums in white.

  • Tommyc352 #46 7 years ago

    Well i tried it on my Jap PSP worked fine. Was impressed by the web browser.
    Turned it on this morning, and the web browser doesnt work! wtf! I just get a blank screen with an arrow in the top left corner, and it doesnt attempt to connect to my wifi connection...

    Yes did make sure the network connection worked with the wifi - so its just a browser issue!
    Edited by 1 at 29/07/05 @ 06:23

  • Danj #47 7 years ago

    Tommyc352 - are you sure you didn't accidentally knock the wifi switch off? Also, check that the PSP is not in Wifi Power Save mode.

  • Tommyc352 #48 7 years ago

    Ill have a look when i get back home, I know its not the wifi switch as i tested that straight away. Ive got Wipeout as well so ill see if the browser works on that or not.

    Worst case scenario i guess ill have to manually dl the firmware and see if that works. Ill keep you guys posted - esp if u havent updated yet!

  • Tommyc352 #49 7 years ago

    Just an update - a reformat did the job, so its all working fine