Online Setup (PPSSPP)

This is a guide on how to set up Dissidia 012 online play with a PPSSPP emulator on Windows PC and Android platforms. The methods involve sharing an IP address provided by an online connectivity program Radmin, Hamachi or ZeroTier One.

For Android specific instructions, please refer to the appropriate section below.

Requirements

• A PPSSPP emulator build capable of online play (builds from version 1.1.1 onward support this)
• 1 desktop client for online connectivity (Radmin, Hamachi or ZeroTier One)
• The Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final Fantasy game (same regional version for all players)

Be sure to adjust the controls and graphics settings to ensure a smooth experience.

Preparations

• You must use the same emulator version. For example the players should only use version 1.12.3. If you only intend to play privately and not in communities, the latest PPSSPP emulator build works too. Just make sure all participating players have that version.

NOTE: PPSSPP comes with x32 bit and x64 bit executables. Please ensure that all participants are using either 32-bit or 64-bit when playing. Using 32-bit and 64-bit executables together has been a common cause of desynchronisation.

• Game version from the same region. A European version (ULES01505) cannot play with an American version (ULUS10566), so the North American version can only connect with North American copies of the game. The Discord community uses the North American version (ULUS10566). If you are unsure about the game version you have, run it on the emulator and look at the top of the emulator window, it will display the identifed game's name and its region ID.

• Disable firewalls on your computer or make a whitelist exception for the emulator.

• In PPSSPP's networking settings, ensure that the port offset is set to 5000.

• In PPSSPP's networking settings, refresh the mac address by clicking on it a couple times.

• If you have other VPN programs like Hamachi or Radmin, please make sure they do not operate at the same time. This applies if ZeroTier is used as well.

• The emulator's "confirm" button is set to X in the emulator's "System" settings.

• Some people may fail to connect to one another if they have an empty name on their friend card in the game. Please make sure to have a name on your friend card.

• If players are still failing to connect after the above issues have been addressed, enabling the "enable UPnP" option for both players can also work. This should be reserved as a last resort, though.

Radmin / Hamachi

Radmin is currently the primary way of connecting online with players in the Discord community. Both Radmin and Hamachi function very similiarly and thus the instructions will be shared for both programs.

Video tutorial (with Hamachi). Same principles, but the program is different.

• Install Radmin and follow the instructions by the installer
• Start Radmin and press the big red button to "turn on" online connectivity
• All participating players must be in the same network in order to connect with each other.
• To create a network, move your cursor to the Network field near the top of Radmin, and click "Create network"
• Input a name and a password for the network and share the credentials with any relevant players
• To join a network, move your cursor to the Network field near the top of Radmin, click "Join network" and input the credentials
• Players should now be in the same network. Radmin shows all users within the network, their name and their designated Radmin IP address used for connecting on PPSSPP.

PPSSPP networking settings (shared)

Players should do the following steps regardless of whether they will act as a host for online sessions or not.

Under the "Networking" tab in the PPSSPP settings, do the following:

• Enable networking/WLAN
• Click on the "Change MAC address" a couple times to avoid a duplicate address from the tournament pack
• Port offset should be set to 5000. Never change this.

PPSSPP networking settings (host)

The following steps should be only be done by the player who will act as a host. Only one host is required for any session. This is necessary so that players can connect with the host or other players.

Under the "Networking" tab in the emulator's settings, do the following:

• Enable built-in PRO ad hoc server
• Insert your Radmin IP into the "Change PRO ad hoc server IP address"
• Enter an online lobby or group battle menu to initiate online on your emulator.
• Now that online has been activated, let the other player(s) know when you are in a lobby or have a group battle room ready. Communicate your Radmin IP to other player(s) if necessary.

PPSSPP networking settings (join)

The following steps should be done by players who do not act as a host for the session.

• Insert the host's Radmin IP into the "Change PRO ad hoc server IP address" field.
• Wait for the host to enter the online lobby selection, an online lobby itself (e.g. Cornelia or Zanarkand) or create a group battle room before attempting to join.
• If playing in group battle, everyone else must use the same IP address the host provides.

ZeroTier One

ZeroTier One is an alternative to Radmin or Hamachi which is primarily used on Android, but may yield different results in connectivity and connection stability. If the aforementioned options fail on PC, try this program instead. Note that it is possible Radmin etc. can conflict with ZeroTier One.

• Follow the prompts on the screen to install the program successfully.
• Run the program, copy and paste 8056c2e21c000001 and click "Join". You should be part of the "earth.zerotier.net" server now.
• You can check your Zero Tier IP at the bottom right corner of the program or in the Windows taskbar, under the "Managed IPs" row. There may be a "/[number]" (e.g /7) at the end of the IP, this must not be included when adding it to PPSSP's networking settings.
• ZTO will run in the background, you do not have to worry about it any further once it's on.
• Follow the host / join procedures explained above.

Android

For mobile devices with an Android operating system, the procedure remains largely the same. Most, if not all instructions from PC apply. The host and join hierarchy also works the same way.

Please note that using wireless connections may cause lag during online play. Furthermore, game speed may suffer if the mobile device is not powerful enough to run the game.

• Launch ZeroTier and join the server 8056c2e21c58fb08
• Once you have joined the server, tap the server's name and check the "Managed IPs" section. Your ZeroTier IP should be there if the connection works. It might have a "/xx" number, that part is not needed for PPSSPP.
• After that, follow the network setting instructions outlined in the Radmin / Hamachi section.

Requirements

• Download the latest PPSSPP version from the Google Play store
• Download the latest ZeroTier version from the Google Play store
• A mobile device powerful enough to run the game at full speed.

PC and Android Crossplay

As of PPSSPP version 1.15.4, it is possible for PC and Android users to play the game together. The PPSSPP version 1.17.1 is known to have good performance and as of July 25th 2024, it is the latest version.

Preparations (PC and Android)

These instructions apply to users of PC and Android, they must be done to ensure compatibility.

• Download the latest version of ZeroTier One from their official website (PC) or Google Play Store (Android).

• Download PPSSPP 1.17.1 from the official download page in the "previous releases" section. PC users should download a zip or an installer and Android users should download the APK.

• In order to connect, both platforms must use Zero Tier. Connect to the 8056c2e21c58fb08 server that's already used by Android users.

• In PPSSPP settings, go to Tools, Developer tools and find "JIT debug tools" under "general" section.

In JIT debug tools, check the boxes for the following options:

• VFPU_VEC
• VFPU_MTX_VTFM
• VFPU_MTX_VMSCL
• VFPU_MTX_VMMUL
• VFPU_MTX_VMMOV
• VFPU_COMP

Afterwards, follow the general preparations and the host / join procedures for ZeroTier One.

Preparations (Android)

In the system section of settings:

• Uncheck "Fast memory (unstable)"
• Check "Force real clock sync (slower, less lag)"

How to use your own save file

Find your own save file in the emulator's directory (if it is already there), ppsspp/memstick/PSP/SAVEDATA. American version save file is named "ULUS10566GameDataxx" (xx being numbers), European version save is named "ULES01505GameDataxx" etc. Copy that, paste it into the tournament pack's save file directory: ppsspp/memstick/PSP/SAVEDATA.

Local play

More recent builds of PPSSPP also support online play locally via multiple emulator instances. This means players can play together with only one computer without using Hamachi, Radmin or ZeroTier One.

Note that the second player may not have sound playback.

• Enable built in pro ad hoc server in PPSSPP network settings
• Launch your first PPSSPP instance, go to the game and then change the pro ad hoc ip to localhost (just type in "localhost" without spaces or quotes)
• Launch your second PPSSPP instance from the same executable or shortcut, it should say "instance: 2" in brackets.
• The second PPSSPP instance shares ALL of your saved settings. You may have to adjust controller settings for it to avoid inputting for both players simultaneously and avoid issues when issuing battle requests in online lobbies.

Troubleshooting

Connecting to online lobby takes a long time

One or more settings are wrong. If the emulator does not display a notification for network connectivity (e.g. Network initialized), it means the host is not online or

White screen

When loading into character select, the game may get stuck on a white screen.

• If you have changed network settings, try closing PPSSPP and then try again.
• It may be a firewall issue. Add a firewall exception for PPSSPP either in Windows Defender Firewall or Radmin. Checking boxes for both public and private network options is okay. If you cannot find Windows firewall settings, try the control panel or the search function on the operating system.

Game modifications

Audio (undub), texture and HUD modifications work fine. 3D model swaps do not work however and will result in a network desync. Please make sure you do not have 3D model mods installed.

Network sync failed

• Make sure you do not have 3D model hacks or replacements installed in the game or as DLC.
• The players are connecting with 32-bit and 64-bit PPSSPP exe at the same time. Either use 32-bit or 64-bit, but do not mix and match them.

Game disconnects during EX Burst

Your emulator's "confirm" button setting is different from the opponent. Please check the "Confirmation button" setting in "System" section and make sure all players have it set to X only.

Different confirm buttons will cause a match to end via a desynchronisation in online play when performing EX Bursts with Gilgamesh, Gabranth, Tifa and other characters whose EX Bursts are influenced by this setting.