This guide explains how to rip your PlayStation 3 (PS3) games and use such backups with RPCS3. This process is colloquially referred to as dumping and entails different processes depending on the format in which your game is present. PS3 games are available in two formats: physical Blu-ray discs and digital PSN packages. For Blu-ray discs, dumping refers to decrypting the Blu-ray image and extracting all the files within whereas for PSN packages, it involves downloading the original game (.pkg) file and creating the necessary license (.rap) file.
Overview
Before we begin, please read the Quickstart guide to familiarise yourself with how PS3 games are to be handled. Most of the tools and information covered here are already present there. This guide aims to elaborate on what is present in the Quickstart guide and help users avoid common pitfalls. If you have queries after reading this guide, don't hesitate to come over to our Discord server and interact with the community members to resolve the same.
Broadly, there are two methods of dumping game files for each format. To dump disc games, you can use either a Custom Firmware (CFW) PS3 or a compatible Blu-ray drive with PC. For PSN games, you need a CFW PS3 or Original Firmware (OFW) PS3 to extract the license files. In both cases, using a CFW PS3 is the superior method. Users who wish to use a CFW PS3 should go through r/ps3homebrew's wiki for many CFW related tutorials that are generally updated with accurate information.
Software Distribution laws in your country
When dumping video game software, users are subject to country-specific software distribution laws. RPCS3 is not designed to enable illegal activity. We do not promote piracy nor do we allow it under any circumstances. Please take the time to review copyright and video game software dumping laws and/or policies for your country before proceeding.
By following these instructions, you will do so at your own discretion. Should you follow these instructions against your local law, we shall not be held responsible for your actions.
Dumping Blu-ray discs
As mentioned above, you can dump your disc games using either a CFW PS3 or with a compatible blu-ray drive with a PC. Let's look at each option one by one.
Using CFW PS3 to dump disc games
This method is the more reliable method of dumping disc games as it is guaranteed to work with every PS3 game disc in existence, something which the second method cannot do. However, during the dumping process, you will be limited to the PS3 Blu-ray reader's transfer speeds so the process may take longer than doing the same through a PC. If you have doubts on installing or using any of the tools mentioned below, please read r/ps3homebrew's wiki.
- Install multiMAN file manager.
- Insert your disc into the PS3.
- Highlight the game disc in multiMAN and press Triangle and select Copy.
You can create an ISO or folder layout format of your game files. It is recommended to create a folder layout version of your game instead of an ISO for a smaller file size, due to ISOs copying the entire disc which is either 4.7 GB, 8.5 GB, 25GB, or 50GB. - Choose the location to save your dump. It can be your PS3's internal HDD, an external HDD or even set up an FTP connection between your PlayStation 3 and PC.
Overall, the FTP method will be the fastest option.
- Note: The PlayStation 3 has a maximum file size of 4GB. When dumping games which contain files bigger than 4GB, multiMAN will automatically split those files. When you copy your dump over to your PC, remember to rejoin the split files back together with tools such as ps3merge, otherwise the dump won't work.
Using a compatible Blu-ray drive with PC to dump disc games
This is the second method to dump disc games and will prove useful for people who do not have a CFW PS3 available. However, please note that this method has the following requirements to work:
- A compatible Blu-ray drive is mandatory. This means not every Blu-ray drive can be used but only those that are specifically capable of reading PS3 discs. A list of compatible drives are available on our Quickstart guide. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list but rather a list of drives that are known to work. Drives not present in this list might work if they have a Mediatek chipset and a +6 read offset.
- This method requires an external key for the decryption of the disc. This is only possible if your game has:
- an .ird file available at the Jonny's IRD library that matches your game's title ID.
- a decryption key obtained from Redump. These keys are currently not public but can still be used with out One-click dumper as mentioned below.
If you confirm that you indeed have a compatible Blu-ray drive, you have 3 tools available to dump your disc:
- The first and recommended method is to use 13xforever's One-click PS3 Disc Dumper. As the name suggests it's the easiest tool to use and is currently the only tool that can take advantage of the decryption keys from Redump. Click here for instructions on it's use.
- The second tool is a command-line tool for Linux users called LibRay. It cannot take advantage of Redump's decryption keys, but for any disc that has an .ird file available, it should work without any issues. Click here for instructions on it's use.
- The final tool is a legacy method that was used before the above tools existed and should never be used. But if you're not the type that takes orders from a wiki, click here for instructions on it's use.
Dumping PSN packages
Dumping digital PSN games is a little bit different. There are two files needed to play a PSN game. The first is the actual game file that comes in a .pkg format and the second is the license file that is used to activate the game which needs to be in a .rap format. As mentioned in the overview, you need a CFW PS3 or OFW PS3 to extract the license file of your game. The actual game file can be downloaded directly from your PC. It's also important to note that some games do not have or need a license file (mostly free games and DLCs).
There are 2 tools that can be used to download the game files. The first is a straightforward approach:
- Go to PlayStation Store and log in to your account.
- Open your entitlements information and save it to your PC.
- Use any text editor to search for the game or DLC you want to download.
- Look for the content link inside the particular game's content node and download the game.
To be continued...