Table of Contents
Sony PlayStation Vita
Sony's 2nd and final portable console. Releasing on February 15th, 2012 in the USA, the PlayStation Vita was a capable system that was promptly abandoned by Sony within 2 years. Because of Sony's non-support and firm competition in the Nintendo 3DS, the PlayStation Vita only managed to sell 16 million units, effectively becoming a failure. Despite it's failures, the Vita has very capable hardware, containing 512 MB RAM, 128 MB VRAM, a Quad-core ARM Cortex, and a 960×544 capacitive touch screen. With the release of the 2nd model revision, the Vita also gained 1 GB of internal storage, counteracting Sony's awful decision to make the Vita memory cards proprietary and expensive.
Operating Systems (MPCore; PowerVR SGX543MP4+)
Classic Mac OS 7.0.1-8.1 (thru Basilisk II)
This version of Basilisk II is based on Chilly Willy's PSP port v1.1.1
Unsurprisingly, the Basilisk port to the Vita is capable of running several versions of the Classic Mac OS. Here, it actually specifies it’s 7.0.1-8.1, unlike some Basilisk II emulators which don’t clear that up.
Console emulation (potential)
Whether these emulators support operating systems for these consoles is unknown; it must be looked into further. Consoles without meaningful OSes are not included.
https://vitadb.rinnegatamante.it/#/ (emulators in 2nd dropdown)
https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Emulators_on_Vita
https://store.brewology.com/vita/homebrew.php?category=Emulators&orderby=
Atari 2600 - rarch
Atari Lynx – HandyVITA, Handy Adr, rarch
Bandai WonderSwan (Color) - rarch
Coleco ColecoVision – ColEm Adr, rarch
NEC TurboGrafx 16 – PSPHuGo Adr, rarch
Nintendo 64 – DaedalusX64
Nintendo DS – NooDS, DeSmuME-Vita, MelonDS Vita
Nintendo Entertainment System – pNES, NES4Vita, retroarch
Super Nintendo Entertainment System – pSNES, CATSFC, Snes9xvita, retroarch, Snes9x Adr
Nintendo Game Boy (Color) – mGBA, Realboy, PlutoBoy, retroarch, MasterBoy Adr
Nintendo Game Boy Advance – mGBA, UO gpSP Adr, TempGA Adr, retroarch
Nintendo Pokémon Mini - rarch
Nintendo Virtual Boy - rarch
Sega Dreamcast – flycast
Sega Genesis – GenesisPlusGX, retroarch, PicoDrive Adr, rarch
Sega Master System – SMSPlusVita, retroarch, MasterBoy Adr, PicoDrive Adr, SMSPSP Adr, rch
Sega Saturn - retroarch
Sony PlayStation 1 – Adrenaline, PCSX-ReARMed, retroarch
Sony PlayStation 2 – Play!
Sony PlayStation Portable - Adrenaline
There are complaints about retroarch versions above 1.8.x, beware!
Emulation Nest
This device runs an operating system which is known to emulate various devices with EOPs. See the AmigaOS, Classic Mac OS, DOS, MSX, and NEC PC-9801 series pages.
Linux kernel (base)
This is a kernel plugin that lets you run Linux in ARMv7 non-secure System mode.
This project stunningly appears to be mostly dead. Some changes have been made, but the consensus puts this Linux port as being a lot less capable than even the 3DS port.
https://github.com/xerpi/vita-linux-loader
https://www.reddit.com/r/vitahacks/comments/a94fhk/precompiled_vita_linux_loader_and_linux_kernel/
PC emulation (potential)
Whether these emulators support operating systems for these computers is unknown; it must be looked into further. PCs without meaningful OSes are not included.
https://vitadb.rinnegatamante.it/#/ (emulators in 2nd dropdown)
https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Emulators_on_Vita
https://store.brewology.com/vita/homebrew.php?category=Emulators&orderby=
Amstrad CPCs – PSPCap32 Adr.
Atari 8-bits – Atari800 PSP Adr., PSPAtari Adr.
CHIP-8 – MicroCHIP, Vita-8
Commodore 64 – VICE, VICE PSP Adr., rarch
Commodore 128 - rarch
Commodore Amigas – UAE4ALL(2?)
Commodore PETs – rarch
Commodore Plus/4 – rarch
Commodore VIC-20 - rarch
MSXs - rarch
NEC PC-9801s - retroarch
PICO-8 – FAKE-08
Sinclair ZX Spectrums – ZXVita, Fuse Adr., rarch
x86 – UniPCemu (almost certainly EOPs), rarch
https://superfury.itch.io/unipcemu
https://superfury.itch.io/unipcemu/devlog/296523/unipcemu-is-now-also-released-for-the-ps-vita
There are complaints about retroarch versions above 1.8.x, beware!
Stock OS
Another visually appealing OS from the Sony consoles, and one of the more feature capable ones that doesn’t feel completely sterile.
https://wiki.henkaku.xyz/vita/System_Software
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlFgLRydW4U
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Vita_system_software
VitaDB
VitaShell is an alternative replacement of the PS Vita's LiveArea
A shell replacement that has a nice arrangement of functions, primarily things for a technical purpose, such as FTP integration.
Internet
Stock Browser
The simple browser preinstalled on the PlayStation Vita. Works alright.
Version & Revision Guide
For general information, see the Game Console Revisions Overview.
Versions
There are four versions of this console, arranged chronologically.
Vita PCH-1000 "OLED" with Wi-Fi and 3G (2011-2013)
The fullest-featured version of the PS Vita. Easily identified by it's oval-shaped PS, start, and select buttons, heavier and thicker body, plus a SIM slot on the left side for this version. Featuring an OLED screen, a proprietary charger, and no built in storage, the biggest reason one would prefer a PCH-1000 is for the OLED panel + SIM slot pairing the device features. The OLED screen adds a color depth and screen quality not found on other models, while the SIM card slot/3G introduces a pretty useful mod not possible on the other models (plus GPS?). To be specific, it is possible to mod the SIM slot and turn it into a MicroSD card slot with a relatively simple procedure. Such a mod allows the usage of a cartridge game and MicroSD card at the same time - other models need an SD2Vita which normally occupies the cartridge slot. However, there are some caveats to all of these benefits, as proprietary parts, “early OLED” problems, and generally clunkier ergonomics bring down the 1000 to being pretty evenly matched against it's successor.
Vita PCH-1000 "OLED" with Wi-Fi (2011-2014)
Identical to the Wi-Fi and 3G version of the OLED Vita, except there is no SIM slot on the left side, which makes the MicroSD card mod impossible, or at least extremely difficult.
Vita PCH-2000 "Slim" (2013-2019)
A noteworthy update to the Vita, which improved battery life and ergonomics, changed out the charging port to be standard MicroUSB, added 1GB of internal memory, reduced weight and thickness, yet removed the 1000's forward-thinking OLED panel. Easily identified by the PS, start, and select buttons being perfectly circular. Both the PCH-2000 and PCH-1000 are quite evenly matched as devices, since the loss of the OLED in the 2000 was essentially “made up for” with the introduction of the previously mentioned general improvements found in the 2000.
PlayStation TV (2013-2016)
Differing greatly from other Vita models, the PSTV is a consolized PS Vita. Connects to DualShock 3 or 4 controllers in replacement of the normal Vita's controls. Very easily identified by it's sleek and small “flat plate” form factor that has no screen. The one obvious benefit of the PSTV is that it allows playing Vita games, homebrew, and othersuch software on one's TV. In fact, homebrewing is almost a must for the PSTV, as a large amount of Vita software will refuse to work on the PSTV due to Sony-added limitations that aren't even necessary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_TV
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Vita
https://retrogamebuyer.com/ps-vita-1000-vs-2000/
https://www.reddit.com/r/vita/comments/lw5frh/pros_cons_of_ps_vita_1000_ps_vita_2000/