PS4 PKG Tool v1.8.0

Added features

shadPS4 Manager

PS4 PKG Tool now includes a dedicated shadPS4 Manager for setting up shadPS4 and managing installed games.

• Install the recommended shadPS4 build, choose a core version, or adopt an existing installation.
• Optionally install QtLauncher for graphics, controller and audio configuration.
• Install base-game and update PKGs to a configured shadPS4 game library.
• Launch installed games from the Manager or directly from the PKG list.
• View installed-game title, version, compatibility status, size and recent test results.
• Manage shadPS4 builds, switch active builds safely and check for updates on demand.
• Browse, back up and restore shadPS4 save data.
• Show shadPS4 compatibility data in the PKG list, with platform selection and filtering.

Setup and play a game

1. Open Tools > shadPS4 Manager and choose Install shadPS4.
2. Choose the recommended build, a specific core version, or an existing shadPS4 installation.
3. Select a managed-build location and a shadPS4 game-library directory. Optionally install QtLauncher.
4. In the PKG list, select a base-game PKG and any matching update PKG, then choose Install to shadPS4.
5. The selected packages are added to the Tasks tab with the base game ordered before its update. Updates merge into the installed base-game folder and update the displayed version.
6. Open shadPS4 Manager > Games, select the installed game and choose Launch.

Compatibility status is informative only. It does not guarantee that every game, update, configuration or PC will run correctly.

Test games and create compatibility reports

• Use Add Feedback in shadPS4 Manager > Games after testing a game.
• Record the observed status: Nothing, Boots, Menus, In-Game or Playable, plus notes and error details.
• Saved results appear in the game's local test history and recent-results views.
• Use Create Report to prepare a shadPS4 compatibility report from a saved result.
• The report builder pre-fills game and test information, supports Markdown preview and copies the finished report for submission.

Theme

Choose a DarkUI theme in Program Settings to customize the application's appearance. The selected theme is saved and applied across the app.

OrbisPkgTool integration

OrbisPkgTool is the project's native C# PS4 fake-PKG engine. It is a managed replacement for Sony's orbis-pub-cmd.exe and handles supported PKG, PFS, PFSC and PARAM.SFO data, including the required PKG cryptography.

Experimental: Packages generated by OrbisPkgTool have been validated and compared on PC, but they have not been tested on a jailbroken PS4. A successful build or validation does not guarantee that a package will install, launch or play correctly on real hardware. Keep backups and use generated packages at your own risk.

PS4 PKG Tool uses OrbisPkgTool in-process for:

• Reading package metadata and PARAM.SFO data.
• Listing files inside a PKG.
• Full PKG extraction with progress and cancellation.
• Installing games to shadPS4.
• Validating, building, repacking and merging supported fake PKGs.
• Combining a base PKG with its latest update into one merged Game PKG.

Unicode package and destination paths work directly for normal reads and extraction. Program Settings includes an optional OrbisPkgTool temporary-work directory.

Successful repacks clean their work directory when safe. Failed repacks, or repacks whose output remains inside the work directory, keep the work data so the output or diagnostic files are not deleted.

Task Queue

Long-running package work can now be queued and processed sequentially from the Tasks tab.

• Full Extract, Merge PKG, PKG to FFPFSC and Install to shadPS4 run through the queue.
• The queue supports automatic or manual processing and retains tasks between launches.
• Full Extract, PKG to FFPFSC and shadPS4 installation support multiple selected PKGs. shadPS4 installs base packages before updates.

Experimental PKG to FFPFSC conversion

PS4 PKG Tool can convert PS4 PKGs into FFPFSC images for installation testing on jailbroken PS5 systems with ShadowMountPlus.

• Conversion supports one or more selected PKGs and runs through the Task Queue.
• This feature is experimental and has not been broadly tested on real PS5 hardware. Keep the original PKG and verify converted output before relying on it.

Game asset preview

The File Browser now supports game-asset browsing and previewing directly from a PKG.

• Three-pane browser: file tree, file list and preview area.
• Preview supported images, textures, audio, text and bounded hex data.
• Browse supported Unity bundles and serialized .assets files.
• Unity assets show their individual objects first, allowing a specific asset to be selected for preview or texture export.
• Browse supported Unreal PAK and package layouts.

PKG Viewer

PKG Viewer is the standalone viewer for a single .pkg file. Launch PS4 PKG Tool with one PKG file path to open that package directly.

• Package overview, PARAM.SFO data, header/build information and entry lists.
• Trophy and artwork views.
• Full extraction, artwork export and change-info viewing.
• The same three-pane File Browser and asset-preview workflow as the main app.
• Passcode prompt support for protected packages.

File Explorer integration

Enable File Explorer Integration in Program Settings to add a PS4 PKG Tool submenu to the Windows right-click menu for .pkg files. The submenu accepts one or more selected packages; Rename and Copy work with multiple packages, while Validate, Extract and Install to shadPS4 currently handle one package at a time.

• Rename with curated naming formats or a custom format.
• Copy Title, Title ID or Content ID.
• Validate a PKG.
• Extract a PKG with passcode prompting, progress and cancellation.
• Install a PKG to shadPS4 with the same progress flow as the app.

PKG library and management

• Save and load individual PKG manifests.
• Clear the current list without deleting PKGs or the cached manifest.
• Check update PKGs that do not have a loaded base game.
• Organize PKGs by title, title ID, category, region or type.
• Rename packages by install priority and with naming presets.
• Merge a selected base PKG and update PKG.
• Refresh the shadPS4 game list from the Manager.
• Use aligned context actions in both the table and grouped PKG views.
• Export the loaded File Browser tree.

Improvements

• Faster PKG metadata and icon loading.
• Faster selection of larger installed shadPS4 games.
• Trophy archive entries are streamed during archive extraction instead of being buffered all at once.
• Replaced preview images are disposed correctly.

Added settings and interface options

• Added theme selection and reorganized Program Settings.
• Added an optional OrbisPkgTool temporary directory setting.
• Added clearer Compatibility Platform settings for shadPS4 and PS5 backward compatibility data.

Fixed issues

• Required Firmware now reads PARAM.SFO > PUBTOOLINFO > SDK_VER correctly.
• Base-game and update metadata is consistent across directory scans, manifests and dropped PKGs.
• A saved directory with no PKGs no longer prevents other saved directories from loading.
• Fixed File Browser preview state and Back-to-list navigation.
• Fixed errors while typing in the File Browser filter box.
• Fixed inconsistent disabled actions when launching with an empty library.
• Fixed stale package information, artwork and title text remaining after the library becomes empty.

PS4 PKG Tool v1.7.1

Fixed

• View PKG Files and Extract no longer fail with "Access to the path is denied" for PKGs on the C: drive. The temp rename used the drive root before, which needs admin on C:. It now picks a writable spot on the same drive.
• PKGs in folders with special characters work again. Some game folders use characters like the wide colon in "11-11： Memories Retold", which the tool behind the scenes can't read. The app now moves the file to a plain-named spot, does its job, and puts it back, so those games work too.
• Dropping multiple folders at once no longer races and loses files. One dialog lists all the folders, and they scan one after another.

Improved

• If the PKG's own folder uses only normal characters (letters, numbers, dashes), the file is renamed in place, instant, nothing extra created. A temporary folder is only used when the folder has special characters, and it's cleaned up when done.

PS4 PKG Tool v1.7

PS4 PKG Tool v1.7

Added

• Fast startup with manifest cache. Your library loads instantly from a cached manifest. At startup choose between loading the cache, scanning configured folders, or starting empty. #33
• Startup dialog: Manifest load, directory scan, or empty list with drag-and-drop. #33
• File menu actions for all three modes: Load from saved directory, Load from manifest, Save manifest, Empty list. #33
• Grouped list view. PKGs can be grouped by Title, Title ID, Category, System Version, or PKG Type. Group headers have a right-click menu with Rename by Install Priority that renames every PKG in the group. #33
• Grouped list view synced both ways with the main grid. Click in either view highlights in the other.
• Title column added to the main grid, so game names are visible without clicking a row. #62
• Drag and drop PKG container folders onto the main window to load them. #49
• Latest Update column on the main screen, showing the newest available update version for each PKG without opening the Update tab. #35
• Rename by Install Priority. Files are grouped by Title ID and renamed with sequence prefixes: 00 - Base, 01 - Update. Add-on and App PKGs are skipped. Available in both the table context menu and the grouped view. #70
• Move PKG to single folder. Puts all selected PKGs flat into one output folder.
• Copy title and copy filename in the grid context menu.
• Download Official Update moved from a dedicated tab to a standalone form.
• Tabbed log panel at the bottom of the main window. Info, warnings, and errors all go to the Log tab.
• Extraction locks the app. Only the stop button and progress bar stay active during extraction. #76
• Trophy metadata viewer. After building the NP Communication ID cache in Program Settings, trophy names, descriptions, grades (Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum), hidden status, and group info are shown in the Trophies tab.
• Report Bug button in About. Opens the GitHub issues page.

Improved

• Temp extraction paths moved to short system temp folder. Games with deep internal structures no longer hit path-length limits. #76
• Grouped view mirrors the filter from the table tab and controls both views.
• File Browser tree and list view rebuilt with DarkUI controls. File population is faster and extraction from the tree is more reliable.
• Extraction, file renaming, and PKG scanning speed improved. DataTable uses bulk loading and batched grid updates.

Fixed

• Firmware 10.x displayed as "1.05" or "A.32". Now parses using byte extraction instead of hex substring. #63
• PS5 BC, PSVR, PS4 Pro Enhanced, and Latest Update columns visible on first launch when they should be hidden.
• Stale PKG details appearing in the panel during rapid row selection. #74
• Exception thrown when sorting by filename and typing in the filter search box. #65
• Recursive search checkbox now matches the app's behavior. Unchecking it scans only the current directory. #60
• Move by Title, Category, Type, Region, and Title Id all broken by a case mismatch. Only Flat mode worked.
• Corrupt PKG no longer aborts the entire directory scan. It is skipped and the scan continues.

Removed

• Refresh PKG list, Open App Data Folder, and more removed from the grid context menu.
• Tool menu removed from the toolbar.
• Refresh PKG list removed from the File menu. Use Load from saved directory or Load from manifest instead.

Changed

• Moved to .NET 10 from .NET 7.
• Data folder renamed from PS4PKGToolTemp to AppData. Existing v1.6 settings need manual copy.
• Now bundled with PS4 Fake PKG Tools.
• View and Extract tab renamed to File Browser.
• Additional Info tab renamed to PKG Internal.

PS4 PKG Tool v1.6

• Migrated PS4 PKG Tool and related libraries to .NET 7.
• Added option to fully extract PKG files in the View and Extract tab.
• Enabled multiple selection for PKG operations. (Issue #46)
• Fixed error reading PKG file for Homebrew Store and Remote Package Installer. (Issue #52)
• Fixed error reading PKG in flash drive. (Issue #50)
• Fixed error reading PKG in root directory. (Issue #40)
• Added "(Patch)" tags to the filename of the patch PKG during PKG renaming to prevent naming conflicts.
• Enabled multiple file selection to extract PKG files.
• Added naming placeholders: {SYSTEM_VERSION}, {VERSION}. (Issue #41)
• Added custom color for PKG labels in grid view based on PKG category (Game, Patch, Addon, App).
• Added an option to move PKG files into separate folders based on title and its category (Game, Patch, Addon, App). Folder name format: Title (Title Id). (Issue #57)
• Added a Backport column in grid view, allowing users to add backport labels/remarks to PKG files (Experimental).
• Added an option to check for duplicated PKG files.
• Added PKG filtering by App.
• Improved PKG file list view and extraction.
• Improved logging.
• Moved PKG renaming custom names into program settings.
• Changed the naming placeholder.
• Changed the PS4 PKG Tool temporary folder name to "PS4PKGToolTemp," which will now be created in the local program directory.
• Program configuration is now stored in "Settings.conf" in the "PS4PKGToolTemp" folder.
• Changed UI style.
• PS5 Backward Compatibility check is now an option. Users are required to download the PS5 Backward Compatibility Status JSON manually in program settings to use the PS5 Backward Compatibility check. The PS5 Backward Compatibility JSON file ("ps5bc.json") will be downloaded to "PS4PKGToolTemp."
• PS4 PKG Tool is no longer bundled with Sony's publishing tool and "curl.exe." Users are required to place the required files in "PS4PKGToolTemp" manually.
• Removed the tool strip menu icon (Project was crashed and lost some icons. Decided to remove all).
• View PKG Change Info option is now enabled for PKG categories.

The code regarding the Remote Package Installer was modified/updated but never tested as I don't have an exploited PS4 console in hand. Please report any bugs at https://github.com/pearlxcore/PS4-PKG-Tool/issues.

PS4 PKG Tool v1.5

• Fixed size column sorting
• Fixed region column sorting
• Fixed typo
• Fixed 'No PKG found' error when choosing root directory for PKG location
• Added 'Clear all' button to clear all PKG location
• Added new option to move PKG to separate folder by :
  • Category (Game/Patch/Addon)
  • Type (Official/Fake)
  • Region
• Added option to rename PKG to a user defined format using placeholders. For example _TITLE_ - (_TITLEID_) [_CATEGORY_] [_REGION_] => AFFECTED - The Manor - (CUSA10801) [Game] [EU]. Special characters are not allowed

_TITLE_
_TITLEID_
_VERSION_
_CATEGORY_
_CONTENTID_
_CONTENTID2_
_REGION_

• Visual fix - Changed Tabpage control type
• Updated PS5 backward compatibility database

PS4 PKG Tool v1.4

• Added x64 version.
• Updated PS5 backward compatibility database as for 30/01/2021.
• Fixed error when renaming pkg title containing invalid characters.
• Fixed minor bug.

PS4 PKG Tool v1.3

• Added changelog viewer for patch PKG
• Added filter PKG by category (Game/Patch/Addon/Unknown)
• Added more title info : PS VR, PS4 Pro Enhanced and PS5 Backward Compatible (Thanks to andshrew)
• Added file search option for file viewer
• Improved ui
• Fixed minor bugs

PS4 PKG Tool v1.2

• Changed UI.
• Reduced program size.
• Added PKG viewer to view/extract PKG content.
• Added new PKG info : PKG header & PUBTOOLINFO
• Added options to uninstall patch, DLC & theme PKG.
• Added program log.
• Fixed "PKG already installed" error while attempting to install patch PKG.
• Fixed minor bugs

PS4 PKG Tool v1.1

Changelog :

• 'Hardisk Free Space' now displaying every available/connected hardisk partition.
• Added new program settings UI.
• Added pkg sender tool to send PKG to PS4 via network. (Compatible with any PS4 firmware capable running Flatz's Remote Package Installer app). Splitted update PKG is not supported at this moment.
• Added option to delete PKG.
• Added option for recursive directory scan for selected PS4 PKG folder.
• Added new PKG renaming format, 'longname' CONTENT_ID.
• Fixed "Illegal characters path" error while renaming PKG.
• Fixed some bug.

How to use Remote Package Installer feature in PS4 PKG Tool :

• Open program settings.
• Set PC and PS4 IP address.
• Install node.js and http-server module. (Make sure Node.js allowed through firewall)
• If you unable to install http-server via PS4 PKG Tool, restart PS4 PKG Tool and try reinstall the module or you can install it manually using command 'npm install http-server -g' on command prompt.
• Save and Exit program settings.
• Launch Remote Package Installer apps on your PS4.
• Select PKG you wish to install, right-click and select 'Send PKG to PS4'.

Sorry for the increase of program size. I embedded some external tool into this program mainly for Remote PKG Installer.
There wil be bug while using Remote Package Installer feature. Report it here https://github.com/pearlxcore/PS4-PKG-Tool/issues. Try my best to fix it ;(

PS4 PKG Tool v1.0