Skilled coders manage to downgrade Sony PSP Firmware from 3.03 - 1.5

The folks over at noobz.eu have announced a new method of downgrading PSP firmware from version 3.03 to version 1.5. This method apparently works on all motherboard types and obviously opens up the PSP for use with open-source homebrew software. Our favorite open source game projects include PSP Doom, Beats of Rage (open source Final Fight clone) and PSP Revolution (DDR clone that lets you play your own music).

We currently have a PSP running the original 1.5 firmware, but we will soon be upgrading to Dark Alex’s V3.03OE. Watch this space for our newb’s guide to upgrading.

Notes from the developers:

This downgrader is for v3.03 firmware only. But if you have v2.81 - v3.02, no problem - you can just upgrade to v3.03 to use the downgrader.

You need a copy of the unpatched GTA:Liberty City Stories UMD.  See here for some info on how to check if your version is patched. The most reliable way: the unpatched disks have the v2.0 firmware update on them.

This downgrader is intended to enable homebrew. Homebrew is NOT the same as piracy. Don’t be a thieving loser - buy the games you play.

The downgrader will work on all current PSP hardware (TA-079 - TA-086). Patching of TA-082+ is automatic in the downgrader.

You downgrade at your own risk. There is always a chance of bricking, although we have done everything we can think of to make this process safe.