PPSSPP 1.20: the best PSP emulator gets even better with portrait mode and DualSense

RetroVault Team 03 Mar 2026 235 views 0 comments

PPSSPP 1.20 arrived at the beginning of March with an impressive list of new features: native portrait mode on mobile, DualSense support, relay servers for multiplayer, and tons of game fixes. Version 1.20.3 finalizes everything.

style="user-select: auto;">Henrik Rydgård never stops. PPSSPP, the reference PSP emulator, has just crossed the milestone of version 1.20,and it's a nice update. Quickly followed by 1.20.1, 1.20.2 and now 1.20.3, the project is now consolidating its next stage.

📱Portrait mode, finally really thought for mobile

The PSP was a landscape mode console. Result: since its beginnings, PPSSPP displayed a portrait mode interface a bit randomly, just compressed horizontally. Version 1.20 changes that radically: menus, overlays, and touch controls rearrange themselves neatly when you turn the phone. It's available on iOS, Android, and other mobile platforms.

🎮 DualSense finally natively supported on Windows

The PS5 controller had erratic behaviors under PPSSPP on Windows. 1.20 brings full native support:DualShock 4, DualSense, and even the Switch Pro Controllernow work properly, with the bonus of support for DualSense's tilt inputs. To play Gran Turismo on PSP with your PS5 controller, now is the time.

🌐 Ad Hoc Multiplayer: relay servers change everything

The PSP's Ad Hoc mode allowed local multiplayer between two PSPs. On emulator, it was complicated to set up. Version 1.20 introduces relay servers to facilitate these connections, you no longer need to be on the same local network. The Syphon Filter games return to multiplayer, and the server is also improved in 1.20.2.

🎯 Notable game fixes

Tony Hawk's Project 8 - music works again
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories - save issue resolved
Tales of Phantasia X - fixed graphics glitches
Power Stone 2 - random speedups during cutscenes disappeared
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - custom radio stations in AT3 format are working again
7th Dragon - crash fixed

7th Dragon - crash fixed

📁 File management via local network

A little practical new feature: you can now send files to PPSSPP via HTTP on your local network. No more plugging the cable or using a file manager to transfer your PSP ROMs to mobile.

📥 Download PPSSPP 1.20.3

Available for free on ppsspp.org for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. The Android version is gradually deployed on the Play Store to detect possible crashes before wide distribution. style="user-select: auto;">What about the PSP ROMs that come with it? You know the address. 😏