New games requiring FW 2.8 and 2.81 are coming out already, and since LCS was almost the first game to use FW 2.0, we can expect VCS to require FW 2.8 or 2.81.
Firmware 2.8 has very limited homebrew capabilities, does not have kernel mode, can't downgrade and can't run DevHook. FW 2.81 has zero homebrew. This is not likely to change anytime soon.
If we want to use cheats on VCS, we're going to have to stay on FW 2.71 or lower and run it through DevHook. FW 2.8 cannot run DevHook because the kernel mode exploit has been patched.
Currently DevHook can't emulate FW 2.8, but it can emulate FW 2.71 and fake a higher version, and according to this:
http://www.psp-hacks.com/2006/10/20/...uiring-fw-281/
they had a patch out for Star Trek Tactical Assault to fix the incompatibilities almost as soon as it came out. Hopefully it'll be the same way with VCS.
To summarize, if you want to be able to use cheats on VCS like we did with CheatDevice on LCS, you'll need to stay on FW 2.71 or lower. Hopefully there will be a patch a few days after release to make VCS run in DevHook.
Firmware versions
FW 2.71 - kernel mode, can downgrade or run DevHook emulation
FW 2.8 - user mode only
FW 2.81 - no homebrew at all, you are screwed
Firmware exploit history
11-27-05 GTA exploit discovered by edisoncarter
11-29-05 FW 2.6
03-25-06 FW 2.7 - GTA exploit patched (thanks Sony for 4 months!)
06-01-06 FW 2.71
06-28-06 sceKernelLoadExec kernel mode exploit discovered by HitchHikr
07-27-06 FW 2.8 - kernel mode exploit patched (1 month later)
08-21-06 TIFF exploit discovered by NOPx86
09-07-06 FW 2.81 - TIFF exploit patched (17 days later)
