The PlayStation Portable (PSP) emulator, PPSSPP, has been released on the iOS App Store, developed by Henrik Rydgård. This emulator, which has been in development for over a decade, is now available for free download on iPhones and iPads. There is also a $4.99 version for those who wish to support the project financially.
In a blog post, Rydgård mentioned that the App Store-approved version has some limitations compared to earlier builds distributed through exploits. Notably, Apple’s restrictions prevent the use of Just-in-Time (JIT) recompilers, which improve performance by re-translating code for the operating system. Despite this, Rydgård reassures users that iOS devices are generally fast enough to handle most PSP games. Additionally, iPad Magic Keyboard support had to be removed due to reliance on an undocumented API but will be reintroduced later. The RetroAchievements feature is also temporarily disabled, with plans for reimplementation with an improved login interface. Vulkan graphics API support is another feature that will be reintroduced, potentially with a native Metal backend.
Popular PSP games recommended by Verge staff include Valkyria Chronicles II, Patapon, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, and Lumines. These titles highlight the rich gaming experiences available on the PSP.
PPSSPP is compatible with iOS 12 and up, iPadOS 12 and up, and can also be played on the Vision Pro. While the emulator is free, the paid version, available for $4.99, is intended to support Rydgård’s ongoing development efforts. The paid version went live on May 16th.
