Abstract:
The PlayStation 3’s official digital storefront has been largely deprecated. As a result, custom shop utilities like pkgi (PlayStation 3 Known Games Installer) and its forks (e.g., PS2CV, PKGi PS3) have become essential for digital preservation and game access. While pkgi allows direct downloads from Sony’s servers, its interface is fundamentally a database browser. A critical user experience feature is the “Top” section—displaying most-downloaded or most-popular titles. This paper explains how to enable and configure the Top section using the config.txt file.
The config.txt file is the gateway to PKGi’s functionality. By mastering its syntax and understanding how line order controls the interface—placing your most-valued source at the top—you take full command of your PS3 homebrew experience. Whether you’re restoring a digital collection or exploring fan-made content, a well-configured config.txt ensures PKGi works efficiently, putting the titles you need front and center.
config.txt Template (Put the Best on Top)Below is a professionally curated config.txt designed to maximize speed and prioritization. Copy this directly into your file. Notice how the top of the file contains the rarest content. pkgi ps3 configtxt top
# PKGi PS3 Config File - OPTIMIZED FOR TOP LOADING
# Last Updated: 2026
B. Merged TSV for Single-Click Top Access
Instead of using PKGi’s multi-database view, merge your three favorite repos into one master.tsv file. Point your config.txt to that single URL.
- Result: All games from all sources are in one list, sorted alphabetically. The first game in that TSV file (e.g.,
!!_SUPER_MARIO_!!) will appear at the top.
How to Create and Transfer the File
If you are setting this up for the first time, follow these steps: Part 4: The Ultimate config
- On your PC: Open Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac).
- Paste the Content: Copy the database links provided above (or your custom source links) into the text file.
- Save: Save the file as
config.txt. Ensure it is not saved as config.txt.txt (a common error if "Hide extensions" is on in Windows).
- Transfer:
- USB Method: Copy the file to the root of your FAT32 formatted USB drive. Plug it into the PS3.
- FTP Method: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to connect to your PS3 and upload the file to
/dev_hdd0/.
- Launch: Open pkgi-ps3 on your console. It should automatically detect the file and prompt you to refresh the database.
Explanation of top settings
| Setting | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| url_games | Points to the games database (CSV) |
| url_dlc | Points to DLC database |
| url_updates | Points to game updates database |
| download_dir | Where PKGi downloads PKG files before install |
| install_dir | Usually same as download_dir |
| show_unlock | 1 = show unlock (PSN license bypass) content |
| show_ps2, show_psp, etc. | Filter which types appear in PKGi |
| order_by | Sort by title, size, region, id, etc. |
| order_direction | asc or desc |
Purpose of config.txt
The config.txt file tells PKGi where to find the PKG (installable package) files and their associated databases. Without it, PKGi has no sources to query. Typically, the file resides on the root of a USB drive (formatted as FAT32) or on the PS3’s internal hard drive under /dev_hdd0/game/PKGi/. When you launch PKGi, it reads config.txt and populates its interface with available titles. Result: All games from all sources are in
Creating the File from Scratch
Open Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac - set to Plain Text). You will save it as config.txt (not .txt.txt). The structure is rigid:
url http://example.com/games.tsv
url_psx http://example.com/psx.tsv
url_dlc http://example.com/dlc.tsv
url_psp http://example.com/psp.tsv
But a basic config.txt often fails to impress. To get the "top" effect, you need advanced entries.
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