FPKGi - A Server-Based PS4 & PS5 Content Installer

Note

FPKGi (Fake PKG Installer) is an open-source homebrew app for installing modified .pkg files on the PS4 and PS5. Inspired by the original PKGi for PSP, Vita, and PS3, it enables you to manage and install content via .json files—from your device, a local network, or the web—and supports package downloads from your private server. Designed for educational and personal use, FPKGi promotes game preservation in the PlayStation homebrew scene by streamlining content browsing, downloading, and installation. For best performance, offload your files to a NAS and run a web server with Node.js or Python, then pass the content URL to your .json files.

Important

Use FPKGi responsibly and in accordance with the laws of your country. This tool is intended solely for legal, educational, and personal use. Do not use FPKGi for piracy or any other illegal activities. Always download FPKGi from our official GitHub repository, via pkg-zone.com, or through the Homebrew Store, and avoid third-party sources. We assume no responsibility to any damage from malicious downloads and/or legal issues.

Setup Instructions

Download the Latest Version:

• Get the latest compiled package from the Releases or visit pkg-zone.com.

Install the Package:

• Choose your preferred method to install the package on your console.
• Alternatively, you can install directly from LightningMods' Homebrew Store.

Populate Content

Launch the app to automatically create the necessary directories and .json files in the /user/data/FPKGi/ folder.

Populate Content Locally

Edit the .json files generated at /user/data/FPKGi/ContentJSONs/ to add your content.
You can also generate / populate, and save the necessary .json file here on my site.

Note

Use bytes for "size" and for specifying content's region: "USA", "JAP", "EUR", "ASIA", or null.

Example .json structure:

{
    "DATA": {
        "https://www.example.com/directLinkToContent.pkg": {
            "region": "USA",
            "name": "Content Title",
            "version": "1.00",
            "release": "11-15-2014",
            "size": 1000000000,
            "min_fw": null,
            "cover_url": "https://www.example.com/cover.png"
        }
    }
}

Important

Please ensure the size is as accurate as possible to prevent issues with downloading! The following fields can be
left as null where applicable: "version", "region", "release", "min_fw", and "cover_url" if you decide.

Populate Content Via Web

To enable web population, edit the config.json file located at /user/data/FPKGi/ and enable it in the menu.

Locate and edit the following section:

    "CONTENT_URLS": {
      "PS1": null,
      "PS2": null,
      "PSP": null,
      "games": null,
      "apps": null,
      "updates": null,
      "DLC": null,
      "demos": null,
      "homebrew": null,
      "emulators": null,
      "themes": null
    }

Replace null with URLs pointing to .json files containing your content:

    "CONTENT_URLS": {
      "games": "https://www.example.com/GAMES.json"
    }

Unspecified fields will default to loading content from local .json files.

Controls & Settings

Navigation

• Move Through Items: Use (LS)tick/(RS)tick or use the dpad to navigate.
• Select/Download: Press to select or download content.
• Page & Category Navigation:
  • L1/R1: Changes pages.
  • L2/R2: Changes category.
• View Details: Press to view detailed information about the selected content.

Settings Menu

• Press to open settings.
• Save/Cancel:
  • Press to save current settings changes.
  • Press to toggle menu & not save setting.

• Press the touchpad to search or filter through content by title ID or name.

Features

Core Features

• Search: Quickly find content using keywords.
• Sorting: Organize content by size, name, region, or title ID.
• Filtering: Filter content by type for faster navigation.
• View Options: Toggle between ascending and descending order.

Customization

• Background Music: Toggle the original PKGi background music by nobodo.
• Custom Backgrounds: Add images via URL or locally (supports .png, .bmp, .jpg, and .jpeg).
  • URL Example:

    "background_uri": "https://www.example.com/image.png"

  • Local Example:

    "background_uri": "/user/data/FPKGi/Backgrounds/custom.png"

  • Reset to default:

    "background_uri": null

Download Management

• Background Downloads: Supports simultaneous downloads with automatic installation and rest-mode support.

• Foreground Downloads: Single download support, with a queue feature planned in future updates.
  

  • You can edit the path within the app's settings, or manually through the config.json like so:

  "downloadPath": "/mnt/usb0/"

  "downloadPath": "/user/data/folder/"

  • To reset, simply set null or type the default path:

  "downloadPath": "/user/data/FPKGi/Downloads/"

How to Build

Prerequisites

• Unity Hub & Unity 2017.2.0p1 (or a compatible version)
• PS4 SDK 4.50+ with Unity integration
• PS4 Fake PKG Tools 3.87
• .NET 4.6 Developer Pack

Included Precompiled Dependencies

• Json.Net.Unity3D
• HB Store's API
• UnityOrbisBridge
• UOBWrapper

Build Prerequisites

1. Ensure Prerequisites are Set Up:
   • Install Unity Hub and Unity 2017.2.0p1.
   • Set up the PS4 SDK 4.50 with the matching Unity integration.
   • PS4 Fake PKG Tools 3.87 to replace the build tools within the SDK.
   • Your choice of Visual Studio (Code) with .NET 4.6 Developer Pack.

For more detailed guidance with images, check out RetroGamer74's guide.

Troubleshooting Error Code CE-36441-8

If you encounter this error, follow these steps to resolve it:

Warning

THIS IS NOT A FIX OR RECOMMENDED BUT THIS CAN HELP AS A TEMPORARILY
WORKAROUND UNTIL RESOLVED. PLEASE BE ADVISED AND REVERT THIS AFTER!

1. Enable Debug Menu:

   • Open the GoldHEN menu.
   • Navigate to Debug Settings and enable Full Menu.

2. Configure NP Environment:

   • Go to the PS4's settings.
   • Navigate to Debug Settings > PlayStation Network.
   • Set NP Environment to invalid.

3. Restart the Console.

This solution is sourced from r/ps4homebrew, where several users, including myself, have found it to be effective.

I am planning on looking into an actual fix rather than a work-around for this issue. If you have any ideas,
please make a pull-request of UnityOrbisBridge plugin and I'll gladly look into it and merge into the branch.

Special Thanks

• Original App Creator: Bucanero

• Original PKGi Music: nobodo

  Unity Sources:

  • RetroGamer74 & Lapy055

A huge thank you to the following members of the OOSDK Discord for their support:

• TheMagicalBlob, LightningMods, Al-Azif, Da Puppeh, Kernel Panic, lainofthewired, and others.

For more credits, please check out UnityOrbisBridge. If I've missed anyone, feel free to reach out.

For assistance, please leave an issue and/or join my community Discord server and I'll help you out.

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v2.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.