# PSP-Archive/ARK-4

Next Generation Custom Firmware for the PSP and Vita's ePSP.

Repository: https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-4
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/ark-4
Language: C
License Family: other
Topics: firmware
Archived: true
Last push: 2026-08-02T16:07:02+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 10/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 95, release rhythm 84, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2061, "days_push": 31, "days_rel": 111, "gap_med": 2.0, "n_releases_24m": 47}
- flags: archived, no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1875, forks 86 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:47.654127+00:00)

## What it is
ARK-4 is a next-generation custom firmware (CFW) for the Sony PSP and the PS Vita's ePSP mode, succeeding the classic PRO and ME firmwares. It supports homebrew and plugins, ISO loading, PS1 games, permanent installation via cIPL, and over-the-air updates.

## Use cases
- install custom firmware on a PSP
- run homebrew games and apps on PSP or PS Vita
- play ISO backups and PS1 games on PSP
- unbrick a PSP with Despertar del Cementerio
- make custom firmware permanent with cIPL
- keep PSP homebrew experience modern with OTA updates

## When to choose
- you want the most feature-complete CFW for PSP or Vita ePSP
- you need legacy 1.50 homebrew and plugin compatibility
- you want OTA updates and a custom game launcher

## When to avoid
- you own a Strider2 model which is unsupported
- you want official Sony firmware features only
- you are looking for ARK-5, the newer successor

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: maintenance
- function: embedded, plugin-system, developer-tools
- domain: gaming-tools, embedded-systems, hardware
- platform: embedded, cross-platform
- tags: custom-firmware, psp, ps-vita, homebrew, epsp, retro-gaming

## Member repositories
- PSP-Archive/ARK-4 (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:47.654127+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:14:45.319472+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/PSP-Archive/ARK-4 (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:47.654127+00:00, sha ccbb5e159cbd)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.