VitaStick – Use your Vita as a USB controller!
The plugin frenzy has continued, this time to save you a penny on buying a USB controller. Cheaper USB controllers tend to have bad build quality or a bad d-pad/analogue stick so this one is more for people who feel like saving a buck. Developer ‘xerpi’, who’s developed ds3vita and ds4vita amongst other things has come up with VitaStick for us all.
What is VitaStick?
VitaStick is yet another plugin that makes our Vita even more useful. The controller is relatively unique because it’s seen by the computer as a generic USB gamepad so that it should work without any issues on most OSes released in the past decade (and a half). This plugin is of course a taiHEN plugin that could save you a buck if you like the Vita’s control scheme. Installation, is quite simple too so it’s not very hard to just try it out.
How do I install it?
First of all, you need to download the latest version of the plugin. Apart from installing it in the kernel section of taiHEN’s ‘config,txt’, you need to install the companion homebrew that comes with it in order to be able to use it. As with all other VPKs, you need to install via VitaShell. After that you need to load the plugin (either by reloading config.txt) via Molecular Shell OR by rebooting and reapplying taiHEN. Then, just open the VPK you just installed (i.e VitaStick) and connect your Vita via USB to your computer and hope for the best 😉 The developer suggests you put the plugin in another directory that’s not ‘ux0:/plugins’. The VitaStick homebrew also takes the job of lowering the CPU clock as to save battery while using it.
Conclusion
As always, make sure you get the files from a verified source and have fun with your Vita as a controller! Follow the links below for the full instructions and download links.
Latest version (0.3): https://github.com/xerpi/vitastick/releases/tag/0.3
Readme: https://github.com/xerpi/vitastick/blob/master/README.md
Finally! I was starting to bother the VitaPad developer asking about that feature :v thanks a lot xerpi
works perfectly! tnks xerpi
Does this make the Vita appear as an HID game controller or as an XInput device?
you can use x360ce to imitate directinput, its way easy
Hey i have a question, irrelevant to this post but, very important. Do all black ps vitas still ship with or below 3.60 or do the new black ones have 3.63? I cant find a credible source.
I would prefer to get a new ps vita rather than a used one, that is why I ask.
While it’s not within the scope of this article, all boxed Vitas in Europe/NA should be on 3.60 or below. Buy a bundle if you’re paranoid. Don’t buy a refurb Vita from Sony. Used Vitas aren’t too bad considering that a battery replacement isn’t too hard.
Can I plug it to my Android Tablet to play games?
Interesting idea, try it. ^^
Xerpi does indeed do great things but personally i think its wiser to use a wired xbox 360 controller (25€) and spare my analog stick and buttons for playing on the vita itself
It would be so nice to have a plugin like in the good old psp era where you could connect your PS Vita to your PC to Play your Games on your Monitor!
But its actualy impossible 🙁
its called video out or AV out in the psp’s case
Great feature. Would be awesome to use a PS Vita connected to a computer and use it’s (touch)screen also. Nice alternative to the Wii U Controller for CEMU or as the second screen for DS Emulation… ^^
I wonder if they’re working on wireless capabilities. That would be insanely great.
Doesn’t work for me. Does this interfere with QCMA drivers?
Holy ***! It works *** PERFECTLY! I just tried it with a special version of ZSNES I use with a friend on my Hackintosh, and it works a charm! Very reliable too! Thanks Xerpi!!!
please help
error
(c2-12828-1)
saved core file succeeded.
ux0:data/psp2core-1498213138-0x0000053945-eboot.bin.psp2dmp
be sure to write:
ux0:tai/vitastick.skprx
below the first “*KERNEL” on the “config.txt” text file
then “reload taihen config.txt” from settings or just restart the vita.
If that didn’t work try reinstalling/updating henkaku(taihen) via the vita browser
and same for the offline installer(email app).
Deference to op , some superb selective information .