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HENKaku -- Vita Homebrew and more comes to all 3.60 Vitas

C

Chesskid1

Banned
aYh7nQe.png

henkaku.me/

3.61 is now the latest version of vita firmware, do not update through sony. If you have a vita firmware lower than 3.60, you can manually update it to 3.60 (see the FAQ).

What is HENkaku?

HENkaku is the first ever homebrew enabler for PS Vita and PSTV. It is akin to jailbreaking your iPhone or rooting your Android device.
Homebrew are games and other software not officially approved. For example, VitaDoom is a port of the classic game DOOM and mGBA lets you play Game Boy Advance ROMs. You can find more examples in the showcase.
Best of all, HENkaku is 100% free. No cost. No ads. No “donations”.
Click to expand...

What are the requirements?
You need a PS Vita or PSTV running system firmware 3.60. Unfortunately, it is not possible to run HENkaku on any device running a higher firmware version and it is also not possible to downgrade your system firmware.
You also need a memory card (any size) with at least 10MB of free space. Internal memory on newer devices is currently not supported. In order to transfer homebrew to your device, you also need a FTP client for your computer. We recommend FileZilla. Finally, you need an internet connection to install HENkaku.


  • Vita on firmware 3.60
  • Internet connection
  • FTP client on your PC (FileZilla recommended)
  • Memory card
It is important that you never update your Vita past 3.60 if you ever wish to use HENkaku now or in the future. If you do update, all your installed homebrew will no longer work and you cannot install any homebrew in the future.
Click to expand...

How do I Get It?
Visit https://henkaku.me from the built-in web browser on your PS Vita and press the “Install” button to install HENkaku. You must do this every time you reboot/completely power off the vita.
Click to expand...

How to Install Homebrew
The homebrew package you wish to install should be a file with the .vpk extension.
Make sure Wifi is enabled and you are connected to the same network as the host computer.
Open “molecularShell” by launching the bubble.
Press SELECT to start a FTP server. Please note that the FTP server is not password protected. Only run it on a trusted local network.
Note the IP address displayed in a message popup.
Open your FTP client on the host computer and connect to that IP address. (for FileZilla just type in the vita's IP into the box labeled host)
Navigate to “ux0” (this is the root of your memory card) and you can upload the .vpk package here or in any subdirectory.
Once you upload all the packages you wish to install you can disconnect the client.
Back in molecularShell, press CIRCLE to stop the FTP server.
Navigate to “ux0:” and then to where you placed the packages. To install, select the package and press X.
Click to expand...

You can also use the above method to copy any files you want to your vita. Just copy whatever you need over like you did with the .vpk.

++++mGBA is the current best GBA emulator (scroll down and grab the nightly) (UPDATE: gpSP under retroarch for GBA is now running really great as well) and RetroArch, an all in one emulator supporting tons of system is the best for everything else (SNES, NES, Genesis, NeoGeo, plus many more) You can read a bit more about RetroArch, including a list of supported systems/what works/how well games run/etc here. For SNES, snes9x2005_libretro is recommended. ++++

+Vita Hacking & Homebrew forum on GBATemp
+Software Showcase
+Install Page
+Install Tutorial/FAQ
+HENkaku Devs

+HENkaku's statement on piracy
6TLfXFn.png


FAQ (thanks Joey Ravn!)
What can I do with HENkaku?
  • HENkaku is a native Vita exploit that allows for full control of the system. There is full on vita game piracy because of a program called Vitamin (Discussion of Vitamin is okay, discussion of how to run / install games created with Vitamin or where to obtain them from others is not.). PSP games work as well. There are many emulators available, such as GBA, SNES, etc. Game modding is available, such as Persona 4 Golden & Final Fantasy X undubs. People have expressed interest in translating japanese only games to english (such as Phantasy Star Nova). Moonlight (PC game streaming to Vita via NVIDIA gamestream) was ported as well.
What firmware do I need to use this?
  • 3.60. You have to be on 3.60.
Can I manually update to 3.60 from a lower firmware??
Can I use this on previous firmwares?
  • Nope.
Can I use this with future firmwares?
  • No, since it's probably going to get "fixed" (i.e. patched) very soon.
Having to reinstall this every time I turn off my Vita blows! How can I make it permanent?
  • You can't, at least not yet. That's just the way it goes. However, there is an offline installer for when you don't have an active internet connection.
Is there a way to get my purchased games onto my 3.60 vita?
  • Yes, but it requires a PS3, click here then how to get new content on your vita.
Do I lose access to PSN and the PSN Store by installing this exploit?
  • Yes, accessing the PSN store (through the vita) requires you to update the firmware. You have to decide between playing online with the vita and HENkaku.
Can I play Vita game backups with this?
  • Yes, a program called vitamin, which is a vita game dumper was released. It dumps games into installable .vpks. Discussion of Vitamin is okay, discussion of how to run / install games created with Vitamin or where to obtain them from others is not.
Can I play PSX game rips with this?
  • No, but older vita hacks have allowed it. I would expect it in the near future.
Can I play PSP game rips with this?
  • Yes, Adrenaline has been released which allows you to play PSP backups. There is an easyinstaller for adrenaline available here. I used this video guide and had no problems.
Will Sony ban me if I use this?
  • Short answer: probably not.
  • Long answer: probably not, since they have never banned anyone for using ePSP exploits, which were also shown in the Activity Log. If you're scared about being banned, don't install this and wait to see how it all develops in the next few weeks.
Can I use this to get rid of the infamous whitelist on PSTV?
Click to expand...

Make sure to disable system updates via Settings -> System -> Auto-Start Settings --> Uncheck Download Update File for System Software
 
Tizoc

Tizoc

Member
Funnily enough i lost my vita's usb cable but i have the charger
Gonna grab a new one soon and see if my vita can run this
 
Necro900

Necro900

Member
So this actually makes use of PSV's processing power? Unlike the "psp side" hack we had before.

If so.. daamn, homebrew on psv is going to explode!
 
K

KeyChainDude

Member
I really wanted to know a better explanation of how this one works, but I understand the need for secrecy for now.

Well, whatever lets me play my copy of Crisis Core on my Vita!
 
K

kadotsu

Banned
I know how shitty it will be when the pirates get to it but the only thing I can think of is a P4G Undub and a possible Phantasy Star V translation patch.
 
V

Visualante2

Member
Will be interesting to see how Sony responds to this. I can't imagine they have many firmware updates left in them. I suppose we should expect them to lock everyone out of the PlayStation Store in the next few weeks with an update?
 
O

oti

Banned
kadotsu said:
I know how shitty it will be when the pirates get to it but the only thing I can think of is a P4G Undub and a possible Phantasy Star V translation patch.
Click to expand...

What are the average sales on this nowadays anyway. Not that piracy isn't awful but how much is there to lose for publishers? For Indies it will suck of course.
 
N

Noisepurge

Member
now do i need to buy another Vita for this...

Visit https://henkaku.xyz from the built-in web browser on your PS Vita and press the “Install” button to install HENkaku. You must do this every time you reboot the console–that is, every time you turn the console off and on again.
Click to expand...

eh...
 
H

hodgy100

Member
I've not used my vita for aaages, re-purposing it for emulator use is super tempting.

Needs a dreamcast emulator so i can play my favourite unappreciated console on my favourite unappreciated handheld.
 
P

Pancakes R Us

Member
Damnit, I have to get my PS TV out the attic.

Hmmm...I may just order a PS Vita from Play Asia. I feel like I should have one Vita for Homebrew and another for normal day to day play.

Someone sort out an N64 emulator for this! I want to play Yoshi's Story on the go!
 
T

thomasmahler

Moon Studios
Seems like .velf packages only produce an error message. I tried RealBoy, which has a .vpk package, but upon launching it, it tells me something about a PSPCore Error... yay.
 
Audioboxer

Audioboxer

Member
Visualante2 said:
Will be interesting to see how Sony responds to this. I can't imagine they have many firmware updates left in them. I suppose we should expect them to lock everyone out of the PlayStation Store in the next few weeks with an update?
Click to expand...

Oh trust me 3.61 will be out in a few days. The device could be discontinued and the engineers would rise from the graves to release 3.61.

Stability update with nothing other than to patch this is a certainty.
 
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