PSPUpdates (plus quite a few other PSP related websites) have got details of a new piece of homebrew software for those PSP owners running firmware 1.5.

The software, called Device Hook enables those PSP’s running firmware 1.5 to emulate later firmware versions. At the moment it will emulate version 2.5, but I would expect later versions to eventually be cracked, allowing PSP owners unwilling to upgrade their PSP to utilise the facilities of the later firmware versions without losing out on the benefits of running firmware 1.5.

So what does this mean? Well, if you own a PSP with firmware 1.5, at the moment you are limited to running games that do not require later firmware versions. PSP games such as Grand Theft Auto, and pretty much all the recent games released, all require that you update your firmware to the latest available. With the Device Hook, if a game requires that yout PSP has firmware 2.5 or less, you can fool the system into thinking that it is running that firmware version without the need to physically update the PSP.

The Device Hook also enables the web browser that firmware 2.5 enjoys, as well as Wi-Fi support for games such as GTA.

While this software has some real plus points, such as giving PSP owners the freedom to choose how they use their PSP, and whether they want to upgrade the firmware version or not, it also opens the door to software piracy. The Device Hook allows you to play games protected by Sony (via the firmware version check) directly from the Memory Stick Pro Duo. In other words, games you don’t necessarily own, but can obtain via ISO downloads etc.

While playing games from the Memory Stick Duo does have some benefits, such as lower power consumption and quicker loading times, its unlikey that most PSP owners will be soley playing games they legally own. There are of course legal implications about even ripping games you own to play off a Memory Stick Pro Duo, with legal clauses placed on games now that forbid reverse engineering of the product.

Whatever your view on software piracy, the Device Hook should be applauded for allowing PSP owners the freedom to decide what firmware version they wish to use.