WARNING! PS Vita OFW v1.65 is Live! VHBL Loader Dead?!?!

Published on 04-03-2012 03:49 AM

15 Comments

UPDATE: Apparently, it looks like there was a flaw with the initial release of PS Vita's official firmware v1.65. PlayStation has since taken the update down, and will re upload it once the update has been fixed. The problem it seems, is that users can not play adhoc play using there PSP titles anymore; possibly a side effect of Sony trying to block VHBL.

Update 4/3/2012: We identified a symptom that users can not play adhoc play in PSP titles if they download the system software, so we have taken down the system software temporarily. The system software will be available to download again soon.

PlayStation has released the latest firmware update for the PS Vita system. Version 1.65 brings a few minor updates with it, but who knows what else could be hiding in this release. Apparently, reports are coming in that this update blocks the current VHBL (Vita Half-Byte Loader) exploit. Over at Wololo's website, praed0r had this to say:

I just updated to 1.65 f/w.

I knew it might be a problem, but decided I wanted access to PS Store more than I wanted the homebrew stuff.

Result - no more access to homebrew, so DON'T upgrade to 1.65 if you want to keep VHBL working.

Praed0r

PS - The game reports that the save file is corrupted and won't allow the game to run before you allow it to create a new savegame.

I tried re-installing the game and the exploit, the open file manager still allows the exploit to be copied over, but the game still insists the save file is corrupt - so preventing VHBL from initiating.

Got to get to bed now, catch you all later.

Here is some information from the PlayStation Blog:

Hi, everyone. The next PS Vita System Software Update (v1.65) will be released soon and will include the following minor enhancements:

A “Notification Alert” option will be added to Settings, so you can toggle alerts on or off
“After 10 minutes” will be added to the time options under Power Save Settings
An Arrow icon will now appear when PS Vita finds new activities in the LiveArea
Caps Lock will be supported in the On Screen Keyboard

Don’t forget: there are several ways to update the firmware on your PS Vita:

Select “System Update” under the “Settings” menu and download the firmware directly to your PS Vita over Wi-Fi.
Connect your PS Vita to a PS3 or a PC/Mac and update via Content Manager.

Sources:
Wololo's Blog
PS Blog

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_{Tags :

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15 Comments

One2thr456svn - 04-03-2012, 04:29 AM
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And thus, the B.S updates start on the VITA....at least this is NOT mandatory
to access the blocking the store (until $ony reads this) I have not updated it but just download Touch My Katamari demo....

Katsuhiko - 04-03-2012, 05:23 AM
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Update revoked until tomorrow, and yes, it will kill the exploit.

futuretime23 - 04-03-2012, 09:35 AM
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i have a question for sony: SONY Y U HATE VHBL?

Bolec - 04-03-2012, 10:26 AM
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These are just my speculations and they don't have to be true, but maybe there was a way to achieve greater control through this VHBL and that's why Sony blocked it. Why on earth - if there was no threat - would they block the ability to run some homebrew apps and games from PSP? VHBL didn't lead to piracy.

EvilGamer - 04-03-2012, 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Bolec

These are just my speculations and they don't have to be true, but maybe there was a way to achieve greater control through this VHBL and that's why Sony blocked it. Why on earth - if there was no threat - would they block the ability to run some homebrew apps and games from PSP? VHBL didn't lead to piracy.

Simple, it's Homebrew and $ony doesn't like that ANY other software other then 'theirs' will run on a psx console

iLLNESS - 04-03-2012, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Bolec

These are just my speculations and they don't have to be true, but maybe there was a way to achieve greater control through this VHBL and that's why Sony blocked it. Why on earth - if there was no threat - would they block the ability to run some homebrew apps and games from PSP? VHBL didn't lead to piracy.

nah. its simple. sony doesnt give two ****s about gamers... they do this entirely to keep shareholders happy to prevent them from bailing out of sony. give it 20 years when all the people who grew up with modded xbox's and psx's are the ones mostly investing in stocks and we will see an entirely different type of sony. until then, we get this

traube - 04-03-2012, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Bolec

These are just my speculations and they don't have to be true, but maybe there was a way to achieve greater control through this VHBL and that's why Sony blocked it. Why on earth - if there was no threat - would they block the ability to run some homebrew apps and games from PSP? VHBL didn't lead to piracy.

control freaks

yes159 - 04-03-2012, 03:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Bolec

These are just my speculations and they don't have to be true, but maybe there was a way to achieve greater control through this VHBL and that's why Sony blocked it. Why on earth - if there was no threat - would they block the ability to run some homebrew apps and games from PSP? VHBL didn't lead to piracy.

Usually they dont do the "wait and see" approach if they know that there is an exploit that allows you to run unsigned code. They just patch it up to be on the safe side.

Originally Posted by iLLNESS

nah. its simple. sony doesnt give two ****s about gamers... they do this entirely to keep shareholders happy to prevent them from bailing out of sony. give it 20 years when all the people who grew up with modded xbox's and psx's are the ones mostly investing in stocks and we will see an entirely different type of sony. until then, we get this

If they dont give a shit about gamers (or in other words, their consumers within Sony's gaming division), then they will lose business. If they lose business, then the shareholders wont be happy. So if Sony want to keep their shareholders happy, they got to keep the gamers happy. So they cant give a shit about one part, but care about the other Otherwise it will collapse.

I doubt that most of the people who invest in stocks are people who had modded consoles back in the days. But even so, people invest in compaines that they think will be profitable, i dont think that many serious stock investors decide to invest or not because a company tried to patch things up to stop piracy.

soratheultima - 04-04-2012, 12:14 AM
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You know even if i didn't have VHBL since i live in the us *i know i could have gotten an eu account and did it but i was to lazy* this update was just to... empty i felt suspicious. it had to be something more than just a lame capslock and 3 other lame features so i decided not to update thinking it was going to keep me from ever getting another exploit i was still able to browse the shop and get a last demo so this time i win in my eyes... yet it's sad that sony still hasn't added psx game support i think $ony should stop worrying about a simple psp hack that can only utilize psp homebrew and think about its customers initial happiness i can obviously say that since the playstation store and the playstation network launched sony doesn't give a rats ass about its customers anymore, i wonder if they ever have.

tthousand - 04-04-2012, 12:22 AM
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Sony needs to come up with a downgrader for all the system stuck on the their POS 1.65.

soratheultima - 04-04-2012, 12:46 AM
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Originally Posted by tthousand

Sony needs to come up with a downgrader for all the system stuck on the their POS 1.65.

mhh somethings telling me there is going to be a 1.65.1 or 1.66

Menace - 04-04-2012, 04:32 AM
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update is mandatory....just tried playing online an says i have to update.

well there goes my vita online expierence i guess....i dont have any of the exploited games yet still staying on vulnerable fw is always bettr than updating to sony patched fw.

lets just hope a good hack comes out on 1.6

Turkish-PSG - 04-04-2012, 06:03 AM
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Originally Posted by iLLNESS

nah. its simple. sony doesnt give two ****s about gamers... they do this entirely to keep shareholders happy to prevent them from bailing out of sony. give it 20 years when all the people who grew up with modded xbox's and psx's are the ones mostly investing in stocks and we will see an entirely different type of sony. until then, we get this

Oh really? If Sony doesn't give a sh1t why do they release the most and best games? Its up to us to buy them, not pirate them. And believe me, you will act the same when you have a company, you dont wanna lose money.

ace99 - 04-04-2012, 02:39 PM
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I think that $ony is a bit more obsessed with security after the PSN hacking. I know they are two different things, but they are probably losing more money paying programmers to code these security updates than they do on people wanting to play PSP homebrew and emulators.

But honestly, my 6.60 PRO B9 PSP will do for on-the-go homebrew until the battery dies.

_zaphod_ - 04-07-2012, 11:25 AM
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We have sjeep to thank for Sony starting to care about "harmless homebrew exploits".

Honestly, Sony didn't use to care, until a little homebrew called HDLOADER got developed. Until then their reaction was something akin to "aww, how cute. the people are running widdle homebrews" Now they will fix anything if there's even the slightest hint it could possibly be used to pirate ever.