THE BUZZ: Sony has pulled another PSP game from the PlayStation Store after hackers found a way to use it to exploit the PlayStation Vita.

Super Collapse allowed the program Vita Half-Byte Loader, by Wololo, to run on the system. It’s an open-source homebrew loader that allows fan-made games and applications to run on PSP and Vita. It is also allows emulators for Game Boy, N64, Mega Drive, NES and SNES to run on the handhelds.

It does not allow pirated games to be played on either system. A statement on the program’s website reads:

“It is super easy for Sony to patch the vulnerabilities used by this tool, given the amount of control they have on the PS Vita. Depending on your game, VHBL runs fine on firmware 1.67, but for all I know it is possible for Sony to patch the game’s vulnerability without a firmware update. So, once again, before buying the game and downloading VHBL, you need to understand that you pay for the game, and VHBL is a bonus that might or might not work.”

“Sony’s strategy so far has been to remove these games from their Store, and put them back once the Vita firmware is patched. Most likely, if you didn’t buy the vulnerable game(s) in time, you will not be able to run VHBL. But we are regularly bringing more exploits to VHBL, so stay tuned on this page for further updates.”

EGM’s TAKE: Sony keep putting a band-aid over a gaping wound. There are obviously several exploitable sections of the Vita accessible via older PSP games. Unless Sony finds a way to stop hackers, it’s only a matter of time before one of them finds a way to play pirated games on the system, similar to what happened with PSP. Hopefully the Vita’s improved security will protect against that, but they do need to address these issues quickly. Hackers will always be one step ahead, that’s how the game works. But Sony must stay alert and keep pulling games,  just to keep the status quo.