PS4:Ripping PS4 Game Backups

Dumping is the process of decrypting and extracting files from a game disc or *digital installation in order to preserve the contents for archival or further use.

This is necessary for proper preservation due to the contents of the discs (a .pkg and a license) being encrypted in a way that's not easily cracked through brute-force methods.

The dumped game data can also be repackaged in to a "fakesigned" version of the original disc's pkg (referred to as a fpkg/ fake pkg), eliminating the need for the disc when launching the game in case the disc is damaged, or has since degraded.

This process is the only way of preserving games for which the passcode or other decryption keys aren't available.

• *digital games in this case will refer to any retail (non-fpkg) game pkg that is not on a game disc; like any downloaded on to the PS4 from the PlayStation before the console stopped being updated

• Note that the keystone file is required for the decryption/encryption of save data, so the same keystone used to create a save file must be present in the repackaged game in order to read the save file; otherwise, the PS4 will simply see it as corrupted data.

Dumping games and updates from a PS4 to an external drive

• In order to dump an application, you must be able to fully launch it. This means you will not be able to dump any digital packages for which you do not have the license. (This isn't an issue for discs, as they come with their own license)

Preperation

1. Jailbreak your PS4 using a Homebrew Enabler like GoldHEN, or the simpler ps4-hen-vtx.
2. On the PC, format a USB HDD to exFAT. Note that it must be at least twice as big as the game to ensure you have enough space.
3. If dumping a disc, make sure the game is fully installed, and the ps4 isn't still copying other data in the background.

What is a gp4 and why it is needed

• During steps of dumping and building in this guide you will need to generate a gp4 file.
• You can generate it in the final step of dumping when prompted or later on your PC.
• A gp4 file is a blueprint for the pkg building process it lists all the files to be included in the pkg.
• Along with information about pkg file compression and security like its passcode or what type of package it is.

Using Itemzflow

• This is now the preferred method to dump games or other apps on PS4, as everything happens on the PS4; no payloads, and no Internet Browser; as well as removing the need to manually decrypt trophies to fix NP errors in certain cases.
• If dumping a disc, ensure that it isn't scratched or dirty before you insert it in to the PS4. Similarly, avoid using a PS4 with a particularly worn or dirty disc drive if possible.
• To download the latest patch for disc/digital games before dumping, use the Orbis Patches website.
• If the disc you are dumping has a separate installation disc, you will need to manually install each individual language from the install disc. Otherwise, the dumper will try to dump the non-existant files and get stuck, forcing you to abort and restart the process. To do this, simply change the game's language while running the play disc until the game no longer prompts you to install any of the languages

1. Insert the disc in to your PS4.
2. Download and install Itemzflow on your PS4.
3. Open Itemzflow.
4. Plug-in the exFAT USB Drive. Make sure the game isn't running.
5. Choose whether or not to download game covers if you have an active internet connection (Covers are not required).
6. Select your game and then select Dump.

• It will give you a list of Dump options. Choose whichever you please.
  • Dump all - Dumps the Base game + available Patches and any loaded DLC.
  • Dump all + GP4FV - Unclear what this does.
  • Dump Base Game Only - Dumps only the base game.
  • Dump Patch Only - Dumps only the installed Update.
  • Dump Remaster Only - Dumps only available Remasters.
  • Dump DLC Only - Dumps Only Available DLC.

1. Game should now launch partially launch then take you back to Itemzflow.
2. Dumping should now start, follow the progress bar and wait.
3. Build the gp4 on the console after dumping finishes when it prompts you to or on pc later.

Dumping Remastered Packages

Remastered packages are the type of packages that combine the main game and updates into one. This is different from usual cases where you would find one package for the main game and another for the updates. Remastered packages are not referring to remastered games.

The dumping process is the same as before. The difference would be after inserting the HDD back to the PC, the patch folder would be empty. If you try to build the fpkg, orbis-pub-gen would give a error saying that remastered packages are not supported. To fix that:

1. In the FPKG Tools folder, open orbis-pub-sfo.exe then hit File > Open.
2. Open in the extracted game's folder > sce_sys > param.sfo.
3. Once opened, simply uncheck For the Remaster Package. Then hit File > Save.
4. A error will appear, but don't worry, the changes will be still applied. You can continue building the fpkg using orbis-pub-gen.exe as above.

Dumping DLC

DLC on the PS4 comes in two categories: on-disc DLC and extra content DLC. Extra content DLC usually come in form of map packs, extra campaign or any additional content that is not present in the main game files. On-Disc DLC, as the name implies, already are on the disc/main game files.

Dumping Extra Content DLC

This type of DLC comes from PS Store. In order to dump it, you have to have the DLC installed and ready to start on your PS4.

1. Jailbreak your PS4 using GoldHEN. Navigate to Settings > GoldHEN > Enable FTP server. Take note of your PS4's IP Address.
2. Load the game and keep it on the main menu.
3. On your PS4, open FileZilla. Input the PS4's IP Address for the host name and 2121 for the port.
4. Navigate to /MNT/SANDBOX/PFSMNT/ and locate the -ac folder associated with your game's CUSA ID.
5. Copy all the files to your PC.
6. Open orbis-pub-sfo and create a new SFO with the following:
   • Core Settings > Category: PS4 Additional Content
   • Core Settings > Content ID: your games id (format: EP0123-CUSAXXXXX_YY-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ-ac)
   • Title Text > AC Title: the game's name
   • File > Save (Save it to EP0123-CUSAXXXXX_YY-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ-ac/sce_sys/param.sfo)

• Open orbis-pub-gen and create a new pkg with the following:

1. • File > New Project > Additional Content Package With Extra Data
   • Double click Image0 > drag and drop your DLC directory into this. Close the window.
   • Click Command > Project Settings > go to Package tab > set Content ID (same as: EP0123-CUSAXXXXX_YY-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ) > set Passcode and Entitlement Key to 00000000000000000000000000000000 (32 x 0's).
   • Click Command > Build Image > specify output path > click Build.
2. Install the pkg via Package Installer.

Dumping On-Disc DLC

1. Download and extract psDLC.
2. Search your game's DLC on the PS Store on a web browser, https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0001-PPSA01491_00-DLCEXPANSION0001 as a example. Take note of the address, for the example UP0001-PPSA01491_00-DLCEXPANSION0001 is the DLC name. UP = US version, EU = Europe version, JP = Japan version.
3. Launch psDLC.exe. In Manual Input tab, paste the DLC name. Select Create fpkg.
4. In the fake_dlc_pkg folder, you will see the unlocker.
5. Install the pkg via Package Installer.

Dumping using dumper payload from a web host

1. Download and save dumper.cfg to the root of the USB drive.
   • Make sure it is saved as a .cfg file and not .txt!
2. Open the file using a text editor of your choice, like Notepad.
3. Default settings should be fine but edit it according to your liking.
   • split: this option will tell the dumper what to dump to the USB Drive.
   • split=0: Dump both base game and patch in to one folder, merging the contents.
   • split=1: Dump only the base game
   • split=2: Dump only the patch
   • split=3: Dump both base game and patch in to two separate folders
   • notify=value: This option sets the interval in seconds between dumping progress notifications. Setting it to `0` disables these notifications.
   • shutdown=value: This option will shutdown the console after dumping. 0 = disabled, 1 = enabled.
4. Insert the USB Drive into the PS4 and load your game. Note: Keep the game somewhere that it won't be streaming any data, or doing anything resource-intensive. The main menu/title screen is almost always a good option.
5. Hit the PS button on your controller to go the homescreen without closing the game.
6. Open PS4's internet browser and navigate to the exploit host of your choosing.
7. Select your firmware and select the Dumping/App Dumper Option.
8. Ignore any "Not Enough Memory" errors you encounter by hitting OK, these are normal and not actually memory related, it's just the error that gets thrown.
9. Once it has loaded, the dumping process has started. Wait and have patience. Games on PS4 are huge, so it will take a long time.
10. Once it's completed, a pop-up saying "You're all set!" should appear.

Building the dumped contents into a FAKE pkg

1. Insert the HDD back to a PC. You should have a few folders and a .complete file. You can remove the .complete file.
2. Download and extract:
   • FAKE PKG Tools
   • LibOrbisPKG - homebrew alternative also for MacOS and Linux
3. Optionally skip this if you previously allowed Itemzflow to build the gp4 and continue from Open orbis-pub-gen.exe.

• • Open the GP4 Generator. In the CUSAxxxx directory put the directory of the -app folder on your external HDD. Ex: E:/CUSA43953-app.
  • Select Generate GP4 and wait for it to finish.
  • After it completes, a "Done" should appear at the bottom. Select Save GP4 and save it to the root of the folder it was built from.
  • Repeat the process if you have -patch folder and other.

1. Open orbis-pub-gen.exe.
2. Select the CUSAxxx-app.gp4/CUSAxxx.gp4 previously made and select Build. Set the output folder and select Build again.
3. For the game patch select the CUSAxxx-patch.gp4//CUSAxxx.gp4 previously made.
4. Then click on the Setting with a gear at the top left and go to the option Patch and at Application Package select the base game pkg then press OK (select the base game pkg even if you see the field has an auto generated path)
5. After that select Build. Set the output folder and select Build again.

• Install the pkg/s on your PS4 via Settings > GoldHEN > Package Installer or Debug Settings (if desired).

Fixing NP Errors

NP errors are usually related to encrypted trophies. A quick summary, is when you don't try to fix them, when you make the fpkg and try to launch them a error will immediately appear with a random NP-xxxx code. Not all games will need this fix, but most game updates/patches will, so it's better to keep it save and see if you need this patch or not.

1. Download and install:
   • HxD Editor
   • FileZilla FTP Client OR WinSCP
2. Open HxD and open trophy00.trp from your extracted game's folder > sce_sys > trophy AND from the extracted patch folder > sce_sys > trophy.
   • In the decoded text section, if you can clearly read the contents (ex: TROPHYCONF.ESM, TROP.ESM, etc), then you have an unencrypted file. In this case, you don't have to do anything.
   • In the decoded text section, if you see gibberish or scrambled text (ex: d%ns8c), then you have a encrypted file. In this case, you need to apply the fix.
     1. To fix this issue you need to FTP to your PS4. Navigate on your PS4 to Settings > GoldHEN > Enable FTP Server. Take note of your PS4's IP Address from the incoming notification.
     2. In FileZilla's/WinSCP's Host section, input your PS4's IP Address. (Found at [Settings -> System -> System Information -> IP Address] on the ps4) #*# in the Port section, input 2121.
     3. Navigate to '/user/trophy/conf'.
     4. Depending on your number of installed games, you should see a bunch of folders with their own unique ID.
     5. To find out your game's ID, in your extracted game's folder (or patch if it's the one with the unencrypted file), navigate to extracted folder > sce_sys and open npbind.dat using HxD. In the decoded text section, your game's ID will show.
     6. Back in FileZilla/WinSCP, open your game's ID folder and copy TROPHY.TRP file to sce_sys > trophy folder.
     7. Simply delete the encrypted one and rename the file we just copied to trophy00.trp.
3. Repeat the process if you have -patch folder and other.
4. Open orbis-pub-gen.exe.
5. Select CUSAxxx-app.gp4 made and select Build. Set the output folder and select Build again.
6. Repeat for the CUSAxxx-patch.gp4.
7. Install the pkg on your PS4 via Settings > GoldHEN > Package Installer (if desired).