Minecraft Vita is out now. A guide on how to get Minecraft or any game on a lower firmware for dummies!
Its finally here! If you’re on a lower firmware then here is the low down on how to get it!
Minecraft Vita has finally arrived on the Playstation Vita. Minecraft Vita edition has been long awaited; its the first mobile version that utilizes physical controls and is a straight port of the console versions (Xbox 360/PS3). The game is out now for North America and launches tomorrow for other various regions. The game is available on PSN along with various texture packs and add-ons. It costs $19.99 for the Vita version and for that entry cost you also get the PS3 version. If you get either the Vita or PS3 version that will also net you eligibility to only pay $5 for the PS4 version.
Sounds awesome right? Well, if you’re on the latest Vita firmware 3.30 then you’re ready to start crafting. You can download it via the Playstation Store right now.
However, if you’re one of the many, many, people holding out on a lower firmware for various reasons then you’d realize that you do not have access to PSN. You may think you are not able to download it and might be contemplating updating for it or another recent game. Well, don’t!
There are multiple (widely unknown) methods to downloading games while on a lower firmware! In celebration of Minecraft release for Vita I decided it would be a good time to make a follow up to my popular For Dummies guide for lower firmwares. So here is For Dummies 2! I’ll detail those below so that you’ll be on your way to crafting in no time!
Lower PSVita firmwares For Dummies 2: Downloading Minecraft (or any other games) on lower firmwares.
*Disclaimer: These methods can be used to download ANY content from PSN, it works not just for Minecraft. The methods described will work but may not work in the future. This is extremely true for the proxy tricks which usually only work for a short period after a firmware update. Method 3 will allow you to play online or use the online features of games (like with Minecraft where you can transfer your PS3 map to and from the Vita) until it stops working!
Method 1 (The PS3 Open CMA trick)
This first method is one that I originally described in my first Lower PSVita Firmwares for Dummies guide. If you’re interested or in need of other clever tips and tricks for lower firmwares make sure to bookmark that guide. It goes over various obstacles such as watching Netflix, activating or linking a Vita to PSN and more.
This simple method requires a PS3, PC and Open CMA to work.
Quick Tip!: Open CMA is basically the Sony Content Manager Assistant for Windows but modified to block the mandatory Vita firmware updates so you can continue to use it. Also be sure to check out QCMA and Yifanlu’s libVitaMTP which are vastly superior, open source, content managers for the Vita.
For this trick we will need Open CMA though.
- Look in the Playstation Store for the game you want that is working on your OFW.
- Download it to your PS3 and leave it in the bubble.
- Connect your PS Vita with your PC via Open CMA.
- Remove the Vita’s USB cable and plug it on to your PS3 (Leave the usb still plugged into the port that’s on the Vita.) (Don’t close out the error message if you get one, until its plugged into the PS3)
- Copy game (or other content) on to your Vita.
That’s it! Very simple trick right? This trick has worked perfect regardless of past mandatory firmware updates and should continue to do so.
Method 2 (Download Queue Trick)
This trick is even more simple than the first one, but it only works for so long after updates: act fast! As of writing this it works fine!
- Visit the Playstation Store website: https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com (Make sure its the right store for your region.)
- Buy the game or content you’re interested in.
- Hover over your PSN ID at the top right corner and navigate to your Download list.
- Hit the download button! This will add it to your download queue and will be subsequently downloaded to the appropriate devices.
- If your Vita is on and it doesn’t start to download: restart it after adding to the queue. It will start to download as soon as the Vita turns on. Just check the notification center to check!
Method 3 (The Vita Proxy Trick)
This method is fairly simple and is another method that only works for so long. This trick utilizes a proxy program via your PC to access the Playstation Network. I’ll brush over the general basics. Some of these programs have deeper options that you can use but for the most part you don’t need to toy with those. Just make sure to take a look at the instructions for each one.
- Download an appropriate proxy program. Certain applications are designed to specifically work better with the Vita.
Some recommended programs are:
- Start your program of choice. Go into your Vita settings.
- Go to Network>Wifi Settings>
- Chose your Wifi connection and then go under Advanced Settings. Tap on Proxy Server and then hit use.
- After than you’ll see two fields show up underneath called “Address” and “Port”
- Enter the corresponding information for these fields. The address and port you need to use will be displayed by your proxy program on your PC.
- Done! Afterwards navigate back and head into the store. Just note that it may take multiple attempts to download something. If you get an error when downloading a game, try again or disconnect and reconnect.
Alternative Options for getting Minecraft
If you still want to get Minecraft and for some reason don’t do the above steps, then the obvious other option is to get the retail version. The retail version will be released on November 11th for the same price. If you go physical there will also be a voucher code for a digital copy of the Vita/PS3 version included!
You should be for warned though that it is possible the physical copy may have a firmware restriction and make you update. This is something Sony does regularly for their games to get people more up-to-date firmwares for people without internet access. However, usually these restrictions require a much lower firmware than the recent. With the popularity of Minecraft it could be 3.30 but we can not be sure until it is out!
Alright that’s all! Hope you guys enjoyed part 2 of my For Dummies guide. Happy crafting!
I think your only talking to those who have firmware 3.18. Method 1, 2 & 3 does not work on very old firmware other than the one after the latest. You should have already known that.
I mean “before the latest”
and I mean Methods 2 & 3 only.
These methods still work and I only described the bare bones methods. There are some instances where they dont below the firmware right below the latest. There isnt strong consistency but they work; all depends on Sony’s servers and when a new push shuts them down (ref. Method 1 and 2).
Most people are not any lower than 3.18 considering recent events so this is a generalized tutorial geared to that demographic but doesn’t alienate everyone else.
It should also be noted that for Method 3 you can do some tinkering with the xml files on lower firmwares also. Again consistency isnt great but has been proven to work in the past.
When I said “Ref. Method 1 and 2” I meant “2 and 3”.
I’m on FW 3.18. I tried using Charles Proxy but nothing appears on my session list. I keep getting error nw-10743-5 when I try to connect with my Vita. As for VitaUpdateBlocker, I put the IP address and Port # that is displayed on the app but it says “Blocking non-related traffic is DISABLED.” I’m still new to these proxy methods and would like some guidance on what I’m doing wrong
Well, would it ask you to update the vita if its a newer game, even if you transfer it via open cma?
It sucks that being on 3.18 with TN-V means yes I now have Minecraft but if I want to use an existing PS3 world or swap saves between them then TOUGH – that action requires you to Update The Software 🙁
Roll on TN-V for 3:30!!!
A kernel exploit isn’t released on every firmware. If fact around here the trend is to release one once a year. So GL with that.
uSE A pROXY 8 ITESTED WITH
Opps! That went wrong.
Use a proxy (i tested with Vita Update Blocker) as explained above. Restart your Vita and run Minecraft (keep proxy on during the whole process). Now you can connect to PSN and download/upload saves.
This will stop working at some point, so better be quick!
Nice guide!
I wonder though, is there a demo out in any of the regions and if so, it should be installable via Package Installer, right?
Yes it is. The link is in the forums in a thread named “List of installable Vita PKGs + Downloads Attachment(s) “
How very nice, thank you!
Can you play online without updating?
If you are using the proxy trick you can indeed play online. But again the method only works for so long and you may experience various interruption while playing.
When are they going to make it so we don’t have to buy the game? You know a free download so we can pirate it. Who is going to buy this when you can steal for free?
Sigh… Enjoy the demo for now if you can’t shell out the cash.
buy retail, use digital code, sell the game card, done.
Nobody here is going to help you pirate games deadbeat.
The irony is, that the recent Blog post does exactly that.
You might argue that using a glitch to download a game for free is not pirating, but i don’t think there’s a difference. Just my opinion.
Here’s an alternate guide for people that want to play Minecraft on their Vitas.
1) Power on your Vita
2) Check that you have enough free space on your memory card
3) Walk outside
4) Stand in the middle of the street and wait for natural selection to start working again
Hello and thanks for this guide. Question on the physical games, I saw you noted that those might have restrictions and force updates, do you know if these tricks would bypass that? and is the restriction built into the physical game, like say i buy a second hand copy of a game from last year, is the game itself restricted to work only on 2.61 and higher (just an example), also if this is the case is there some kind of list that says which physical games work on which FW?
here it is http://wololo.net/talk/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=14537
“Lower PSVita firmwares For Dummies”
Doesn’t this sound just like tutorial for how to lower ps vita firmware?
I already own Minecraft on PC, so I’ll just wait until it is free for ps plus
Whoops! Made a typo
Thanks. Method 2 is working great after a restart! Very simple.
nothing works for firmware 3.10 shame on you man for not telling us this before having us deal with such bullsh…
shame on you! not to mention some of these methods are very old and you make them sound like they’re new.
I cant predict the future. If they were old then you should’ve known, right?
Its called a For Dummies guide for a reason; its for people not well versed in the scene. Never said they were entirely new.
Vita update blocker is no longer working for me.
Can a PS3 download and transfer vita games, I don’t want to Google this i wanna hear it from the pros
Wait a second I’m confused. I thought PS Store games had firmware requirements as well? So like even if you use a bypass method to download the games on a lower firmware, they might not work if they require a higher firmware?
Or have I been mistaken all this time, and it’s only physical copies that have such a restriction?
can anyone confirm this.
from twitter
1. download psv, ps3 and ps4 minecraft demo
2.buy the ps3 game (0.00 euro)
3.download the ps vita version
@the_zett
Works perfectly, thanks for sharing it as I wouldn’t have had any idea otherwise.
Doesn’t work in North America
Thanks! Playing full version on my 3.18 now 🙂
heh it seems sony never patched same one tricks 😀 it’s like they comming back in every 3 updates or something ….
Aww, I did the PS3 trick for this yesterday before I knew about the download queue trick. That would have saved me a lot of time…
Not sure how long this will last as it is a glitch, so get in while the going is good.
You must do this on a browser on your PC, using the PS store on your console won’t work.
1. Go to link and add the demo/trial to cart and pay £0.00.
2. Do the same for Vita version here – https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-gb/games/minecraft-playstationvita-edition/cid=EP4433-PCSB00560_00-MINECRAFTVIT0000
3. On the PS3 game page the full paid for version has for some reason become free, so add that to cart and pay £0.00.
4. As it is cross buy, Vita (PS4 still needs upgrade but only £3.69) is unlocked for download for absolutely nothing.
Actually you can get all PS3,Vita,PS4 for free with the Europe PSN MC glitch.
I tried on PS4 but it still says “Unlock game” in the main menu. Even tried restoring licenses without success. But like previous poster said, you can get the PS4 version for only £3.69 when you own the other versions, so it’s still cheaper.
Same thing on my end. I even hit that unlock game button and it took me to the store, but it just showed me that I’ve already downlaoded it and there’s not even an upgrade option. Oh, well, didn’t really care anyway and was just grabbing it because it was free. Is it the same problem on Vita?
Minecraft PS3/4/Vita FREE GLITCH
This glitch’ll probably only last an hour so hurry
Use each individual link or it won’t work
1. Click here. Click Try free demo and complete the order
https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-gb/games/minecraft-playstation3-edition/cid=EP4433-NPEB01899_00-TRIALUPGRADE0001
2. Try free demo and complete the order
https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-gb/games/minecraft-playstationvita-edition/cid=EP4433-PCSB00560_00-MINECRAFTVIT0000
3. Buy for free
https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-gb/games/minecraft-playstation3-edition/cid=EP4433-NPEB01899_00-TRIALUPGRADE0001
4. Buy for free
https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-gb/games/minecraft-playstation4-edition/cid=EP4433-CUSA00265_00-MINECRAFTPS40000
now i can play my ps plus game!!!!!! thx
Method 2 worked great, thanks, already own ps3 version!!
I am still on 1.81 and first method dont work I can send files like photos an video from my ps vita but I can’t send no think to my vita my ps3 is 4.65 of
E-80558325
I’ve switched accounts again from US to EU. I can access the PSN using vitaupdateblocker. But now I need to activate my PS Vita. I can’t seem to get it to work. all I get is an error: nw-8942-3 Can someone help me ? 🙁
I’m on 3.01 and unfortunately none of those methods work…
@Dmaskell92 its working!
I can transfer games and saves from the 8gb memory card to the new 16 gb memory card but now i have another problem please help if here is a solution for it
my Vita is not linked to PSN anymore!
Proxy trick dont working anymore?
Is there a way to log in to psn on 3.18 without update to 3.30?
Please Help if somebody can.
I love to learn new stuff about vita but need some help please because i dont understand some things!
Im registred on Wololo/talk too as member:
edu307
hi just wondering if any of the proxy methods are still working on 3.18 or if the download queue trick is still working as i can seem to get ether to work but mayb because im doing something wrong ?
vitaupdate blocker only spoofs to 3.18 gutted i have game on my download list and queued but can get ether method to work ill have to go use my brothers ps3 and try that i spose
i managed to add the game to my download list and have it queued to download but no notification on my vita
i have the game queued and on my download list but no notification on my vita and cant get a proxy trick to work 🙁
I just completely didn’t follow instructions for Method 1 and used QCMA instead of the patch. It worked, and I have minecraft on my vita now. For anyone who wanted to know – yeah, qcma works. Of course, I’m on linux so that may have something to do with why it worked.
I have vita on 3.10 without ps3. How I can download Minecraft?
method 2 & 3 does not work for me.
fw 3.18
I have a PS tv and I set it up but it’s on 3.30, has anyone done the following methods? If so which? Thanks
it needs version 3.15 in case anyone wants to know
Are you talking about the digital or the physical version?
I recently got Minecraft and Pix the Cat using the remote download method, however this method doesn’t seems to work anymore (as of November 5th)… I didn’t manage to any proxy method to work, either, and I don’t have a PS3. Everything is now patched then?
Oh well. Have to be on 3.15 for both copy’s. I’m on 3.01.
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