UPDATE: For PSP2000 and 3000 users, the latest version of HBL is WAY better if you have firmware 6.10 OR LESS. Unlike what this post says, if you update, I now recommend to update to 6.00 or 6.10. I am really sorry for this, I of course didn’t expect that kind of thing to happen when I wrote this article. Regarding Kernel exploits, my statement remains true. I stil believe that hackers will always focus on newest firmwares.

Lots of people have been staying on lower firmwares in the hope that a kernel hack would be released for firmwares 5.55, or 5.70, or 6.00, or whatever…

In the meantime, HBL gets extensively tested on firmware 6.20, and it feels more games are compatible on this firmware than on old ones. This is quite surprising to me, but, well, honestly, we test our work on 5.00 m33 and 6.20, so that might be true.

So we get more and more questions : “should I upgrade to 6.20 or stay in X.XX?”

A few months ago, I would have said: “don’t upgrade, who knows, maybe a kernel exploit for your firmware will be found tomorrow!”, but today my answer is: if you have a PSP with a firmware between 5.05 and 6.20, I suggest you upgrade to 6.20. HBL apparently works better on it, and I don’t picture any hacker releasing a kernel hack for 5.XX firmwares anytime soon. I believe hackers will focus on 6.30 and maybe 6.20, but it’s not worth staying in 5.XX anymore (unless you’re below 5.03, in which case you can get ChikHEN).

For those who are worried, undisclosed kernel exploits still exist in 6.30 (And no, I don’t know where they are), so you are not giving up on everything by upgrading to 6.20.

Now, as far as 6.30 is concerned…well that’s another story. It’s a choice between homebrew and official contents, it’s a matter of personal opinion. However, as far as I know it is still possible to stay in 6.20 and buy official games, through Media Go, although I haven’t tried.