JStarsReborn 0.5.4

Pre-release / playtest build. If you skipped 0.5.3, everything from it (the Saves page, 60 fps, the 0.5.1 fixes) is included;
see the end of these notes.
Smoother frame pacing (everyone)
Frames used to alternate between 16 and 31 ms because the renderer's frame loop could only wake on Windows' 15.6 ms timer tick, which
felt like stutter even when the fps counter said 60. The runtime now uses 1 ms timer resolution and a high-resolution timer.
On our test PC at 60 fps the 95th-percentile frame time went from 30.6 ms to 17.3 ms (a steady 60 fps now looks like 60 fps). It also
helps at the default 30 fps.
Fewer hitches in battle: shader cache
The first time an effect appears, its shaders have to be compiled, which caused short freezes (30-160 ms) during battles. Compiled
shaders are now kept between sessions and prepared when the game starts, so from the second session on those freezes are gone.
The first session after installing a new version still compiles as it goes (startup takes a little longer from then on).
New: Ultrawide / widescreen (experimental)
Settings > Ultrawide / widescreen. On a screen wider than 16:9 (21:9, 32:9) the game shows more to the left and right instead of
black bars; the vertical view is unchanged. At 3440x1440 the horizontal field of view goes from 60 to about 76 degrees.
The HUD, menus and movies are stretched for now (they are drawn into the same picture). The tested game-only output is 1280x720, scaled to the window.
Applied only after checking the game build; on anything else the game keeps its normal 16:9 picture.
Please report anything that pops in at the screen edges.
New: Fullscreen, with smooth pacing on high-refresh monitors
Settings > Fullscreen opens the game borderless over the whole monitor. Alt+Enter or F11 switches between fullscreen and
the window at any time.
If your monitor runs at 144, 165 or 175 Hz, a steady 60 (or 30) fps can still look like stutter: each frame stays on screen for an
uneven number of refreshes. With Smooth pacing (on by default, under Fullscreen) the monitor switches to 120 Hz while the game is
fullscreen and back when you leave fullscreen or close the game. Turn it off if you use FreeSync/G-Sync and prefer your normal rate.
New: PlayStation controllers work directly
DualSense, DualSense Edge and DualShock 4 work over USB or Bluetooth without DS4Windows or Steam Input: all buttons, analog triggers,
the touchpad click and rumble. Thanks to CLAIREANDLEON for this. Tested with a DualSense over USB; please tell us how Bluetooth and the
DualShock 4 behave. Xbox (XInput) controllers and the keyboard work as before.
Better diagnostic reports
Troubleshooting > Create diagnostic report now includes the start of the game log (GPU and driver details) and your 60 fps /
fullscreen / ultrawide settings for each run, and removes more personal details (folder paths, a custom player name, friends' room
addresses). Please still look at the report before sharing it.
Also fixed
A minimized game no longer slows down.
From 0.5.3 (if you skipped it)
Saves page: import a save (file or folder), unlock every character in one click (J-Points 999,999), restore backups.
60 fps (experimental): Settings > 60 fps. Battle speed is correct; some animations or effects may still be off.
Online room search crash fixed (joining a room is still not implemented), real-time audio priority for the "choppy audio"
reports, and error dialogs return to the menu instead of closing the game.
New: AMD FSR 1 upscaling (on by default)
The game draws its picture at 1280x720. Settings > AMD FSR 1 upscaling scales it to your window with AMD's FSR 1 and sharpens
it, instead of plain stretching, for a noticeably crisper image on 1440p and 4K screens.
Known issue: frame timing
Frame pacing is much better than in 0.5.3, but motion can still look uneven at times (single missed refreshes, and a few shaders
that still compile during battles). What we know and what would help is in
issue #6. A diagnostic report from your PC is the most useful thing to attach.
Not in this build yet
FSR 4 and frame generation need motion vectors (how every pixel moved since the last frame), and this game never draws them;
they would have to be reconstructed, which is ongoing work. That is why this build has FSR 1, which needs only the picture.
Online matches between two players do not work yet.
Please attach a report when something goes wrong
Launcher > Troubleshooting > Create diagnostic report… and attach the zip (it removes your user name and computer name).
Requirements
Windows 10/11 x64, a Vulkan 1.3 GPU driver, and your own legally obtained, decrypted dump of J-Stars Victory VS+ CUSA01593 v01.02.
No game files, keys or firmware are included. See DISCLAIMER.txt. Piracy is not supported.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's publisher, developer or rights holders. Provided as is, without warranty.

JStarsReborn 0.5.3

Pre-release / playtest build.

New: Saves page in the launcher

• Unlock every character: one click, no PowerShell. Every character is unlocked and owned and J-Points are set to 999,999. Thanks to
  CLAIREANDLEON for working out the save format (tools/save_editor).
• Import a save: choose a SAVE-DATA.DAT, or a folder that contains one: another JStarsReborn install, a shadPS4 user folder, or a
  decrypted PS4 save. The save is checked before it is used. Encrypted PS4 saves have to be decrypted first (for example with Apollo Save
  Tool on a PS4).
• Restore: every change backs up your current save first, and any backup can be restored from the same page.
• Start the game once so it creates its save, and close the game before using the page.

Also in this build (from 0.5.2)

• 60 fps (experimental) in Settings; online room-search crash fixed; audio feed priority; errors return to the menu.

Requirements

Windows 10/11 x64, a Vulkan 1.3 GPU driver, and your own legally obtained, decrypted dump of J-Stars Victory VS+ CUSA01593 v01.02.
No game files, keys or firmware are included. See DISCLAIMER.txt. Piracy is not supported.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by the game's publisher, developer or rights holders. Provided as is, without warranty.

JStarsReborn 0.5.1

JStarsReborn v0.5.1 — Networking & Stability Update

JStarsReborn v0.5.1 is here! This release marks another step toward bringing J-Stars Victory VS+ to PC with modern compatibility, restored online functionality, and future modding support.

What's New in v0.5.1

• Networking Improvements: Implemented a functional socket layer with support for P2P datagram communication.
• Online Infrastructure: Added virtual-port multiplexing to support multiple communication channels.
• Sign-In Fixes: Resolved account authentication issues that previously prevented the game from progressing through initialization.
• Matchmaking Progress: Advanced the networking implementation toward matchmaking initialization.
• Compatibility Improvements: Refined platform API handling and internal communication.
• Debugging & Stability: Expanded diagnostic tracing and networking tests to help identify and resolve issues.

Known Limitations

JStarsReborn remains under active development. Online matchmaking and multiplayer gameplay are not yet confirmed fully functional. Additional compatibility fixes, performance improvements, and testing are still required.

What's Next?

Development will continue focusing on:

• Restoring functional online multiplayer and matchmaking.
• Improving stability and compatibility with modern PC hardware.
• Expanding modding capabilities and customization.
• Developing support for enhanced visuals and higher-resolution textures.
• Resolving remaining crashes and platform compatibility issues.

Support the Project

JStarsReborn is an ongoing effort to give J-Stars Victory VS+ a new life on PC. Bug reports, testing feedback, and contributions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for supporting JStarsReborn!

Disclaimer: JStarsReborn is an unofficial fan project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bandai Namco Entertainment or the original rights holders.

JStarsReborn 0.4.0

JStarsReborn 0.4.0 for Windows x64. Unofficial fan project: a launcher and runtime that run your own decrypted copy of J-Stars Victory VS+ (PS4, CUSA01593, version 01.02) on Windows, with a Vulkan renderer derived from shadPS4.

You need your own game. This download contains no game code, assets, keys or firmware. Use only a dump you made yourself from a copy of the game you legally own. Piracy is not supported in any form. Please read DISCLAIMER.md.

How to use: unzip anywhere, start JStarsReborn.exe, choose your game folder (the one with eboot.bin, sce_sys and sce_module), press Play. An Xbox-compatible controller is recommended; the keyboard works when no controller is connected.

What works: the title, the game's own save data, the menus and Free Battle matches with a controller, on an AMD RX 9070 XT test PC.

Known limitations: movies are skipped; trophies and online features are not available; only version 01.02 is supported; modes other than Free Battle and the J-Adventure map are untested; keyboard play and the audio have not been confirmed by a tester yet. Full list in CHANGELOG.md.

Checksums: every file is listed in SHA256SUMS.txt inside the ZIP. License: GPL-2.0-or-later; complete source is included in the ZIP and in this repository.