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Vita3K - General Guide

Vita3k logo

Vita3K is an experimental open-source Sony PlayStation Vita emulator.

⚠️ Bleeding-Edge Emulator ⚠️

This emulator is under rapid development and considered bleeding edge. It may be unstable, may not operate at maximum performance across all hardware configurations, may lack certain standard features available in other components, and may be incompatible with portions of the supported game library.

Resource Link
Vita3K - Game Compatibility and ID List Link
Vita3K - Github Link
Vita3K - Homebrew Compatibility and ID List Link
Vita3K - Quickstart Guide Link
Vita3K - Webpage Link
Vita3K - Wiki Link

Where to put the games?

Vita3K games should be put into the retrodeck/roms/psvita/ directory.

What file formats are supported?

File Format Description
.psvita PSVita file

Does Vita3K require BIOS or Firmware?

Yes, it requires firmware.

It also requires license and keys files play games.

Firmware files

File Description
PSVUPDAT.PUP Main PSVita system firmware.
PSP2UPDAT.PUP Firmware font package required for proper UI rendering.

Install Vita3K firmware from RetroDECK Configurator

  1. Open Vita3K RetroDECK Configurator - RetroDECK: Tools - Install: Vita3K Firmware.
  2. Press OK and this will download the Vita3K Firmware.

Manual Download

You can also install them manually:

Open Vita3K from the Configurator and press File - Install Firmware to install the downloaded firmware.

Licence Files and Keys

To play many commercial PSVita games, Vita3K requires license files or keys:

Type Description Installation Method
.bin / .rif Standard license files for purchased games File → Install License → Select work.bin / .rif
zRif License key for some digital games File → Install License → Enter zRif

Note: Make sure the license files or zRif keys match the game you intend to play. Incorrect files will prevent the game from launching.

Directory structure

Type Directory Comment
Config ~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/config/Vita3K/config.yml
Data ~/.var/app/net.retrodeck.retrodeck/data/Vita3K/
Lang retrodeck/storage/Vita3K/lang Vita3K/lang
Patch retrodeck/storage/Vita3K/patch Vita3K/patch
ROMs retrodeck/roms/psvita/
Saves retrodeck/saves/psvita/vita3k/
Shaders retrodeck/shaders/vita3k/ Vita3K/shaders
Storage retrodeck/storage/Vita3K/ ux0 and more
Texture Packs retrodeck/texture_packs/Vita3K/import Vita3K/ux0/textures/import

How-to: Get the Title ID

  1. Open the Vita3K emulator via Configurator
  2. The third column contains the Title ID of the game you just installed (this is unique to every game).

Another method is to check the: Vita3K Game Compatibility and ID List.

Example:

Tales of Innocence R Title ID is PCSG00009

Getting Games to Show Up in RetroDECK

This guide uses Tales of Innocence R as an example. Before starting, make sure you know how to obtain the game’s Title ID above.

Step 1: Install the Game

Open the Vita3K emulator through the RetroDECK Configurator.

Go to File and choose the appropriate install option:

  • Install .pkg
  • Install .zip, .vpk

After installation, you may delete the original package file if desired. Only the installed game files (and later the .psvita file) are needed.

Example:

Tales of Innocence R is a .pkg file, so select Install .pkg and navigate to its location.

Step 1a: Add Licences

If Vita3K prompts for a license file or key, provide one of the following:

  • A .bin or .rif license file
  • A valid zRif key entered directly into the prompt

Step 1b: Install DLCs and Patches

Install DLC and game patches the same way as the base game by repeating Step 1-1b using their corresponding file type:

• .pkg • .zip • .vpk

Step 2: Create the .psvita File

  1. Create a new empty .psvita file inside: retrodeck/roms/psvita/
  2. Name the file after your game title (avoid special characters such as / \ () [] < > , .).
  3. The final path should look like: retrodeck/roms/psvita/<GameNameHere>.psvita

Example:

retrodeck/roms/psvita/Tales of Innocence R.psvita

Step 3: Add the Game’s Title ID

  1. Open the newly created .psvita file in a text editor.
  2. In the first line, type the Title ID only no spaces, no extra lines.

Example: The file Tales of Innocence R.psvita contains:

PCSG00009

Step 4: Restart RetroDECK

  1. Close Vita3K, the RetroDECK Configurator, and RetroDECK itself.
  2. Relaunch RetroDECK.
  3. Your game should now appear in the ES-DE frontend and be playable.

Adding Texture Packs

Follow these steps to install custom textures for your games in Vita3K.

This guide uses Tales of Innocence R as an example. Before starting, make sure you know how to obtain the game’s Title ID above.

Step 1: Preparing the Texture Packs

Place your downloaded texture pack folder, the one containing the actual texture files into:

retrodeck/texture_packs/Vita3K/import/

Ensure the folder name matches the games TITLE ID.

Directory structure example:

retrodeck/texture_packs/Vita3K/import/<TITLE ID>/<TEXTURES>

Tales of Innocence R example:

retrodeck/texture_packs/Vita3K/import/PCSG00009/<Tales of Innocence R TEXTURES>

Step 2: Importing Textures

Open Vita3K within the RetroDECK Configurator.

Global

  1. Go to Configuration → Settings → GPU → Texture Replacement.
  2. Set Import Textures to Enable.
  3. Select Save and Exit to apply the changes.

Per-Game

  1. Right-click a game inside Vita3K.
  2. Choose Custom Config → Create → GPU → Texture Replacement.
  3. Set Import Textures to Enable.
  4. Select Save and Exit to apply the changes.

Configuring Language Settings

Vita3K GUI Language

  1. Open Vita3K via the RetroDECK Configurator.
  2. Go to Configuration → Settings → GUI.
  3. Set GUI Language to your preferred language.
  4. Close Vita3K.

In-Game Language

  1. Open Vita3K via the RetroDECK Configurator and launch the 🧰 Settings app.
  2. Go to Language → System Language and select your preferred language.
  3. Close Vita3K.