How did they actually do it?
The modders had to:
The result was a "Frankenstein" patch. If the PSP’s CPU lagged, the commentary would glitch—playing a goal celebration sound during a throw-in. But that wasn't a bug. That was character.
Problem: The game crashes when selecting Arabic. Solution: You need to disable "High Quality Audio" in the PSP settings. Go to Recovery Menu (CFW) > Advanced > Audio > Set to "Low."
Problem: The commentator is silent for 10 minutes, then speaks. Solution: This is a buffer issue. In PPSSPP, change the Audio Latency to "Low." On real hardware, defragment your memory stick.
Problem: Player names are still English. Solution: You must delete the old "Edit Data" file from your PSP Saved Data folder. The patch comes with its own save file for name mapping.
Cairo, 2021. The PlayStation 5 is a scalper’s trophy. FIFA 22 (now EA Sports FC) is pushing hyper-motion technology. Yet, in the back rooms of internet cafes in Casablanca, on chipped PSPs in Riyadh, and on emulators running on cheap Android phones in Baghdad, a different football match is kicking off. pes 2013 arabic commentary patch psp 2021
It is Pro Evolution Soccer 2013. And the crowd is losing its mind.
But the real magic isn’t the dated polygons or the stiff animations. It’s the voice coming out of the tinny speaker: The Arabic Commentary Patch.
Before discussing the patch, we must acknowledge the base game. PES 2013 on PSP is often considered the last "great" iteration before Konami shifted focus to mobile devices. It features:
By 2021, most official updates were dead. The community, however, was not. The Arabic Commentary Patch emerged as a passion project to modernize the game for North African and Middle Eastern audiences.
The 2021 version is not an official Konami release. It is a fan-made mod that extracts audio files from newer PES titles (like PES 2017 or 2020 on PC/PS4) that feature official Arabic commentary, converts them, and injects them into the PSP’s .cpk audio archives.
The "2021" label typically indicates:
The PES 2013 Arabic Commentary Patch PSP 2021 is a popular community-driven mod that updates the classic Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) with modern 2021 rosters and authentic Arabic broadcasting. Core Features
Legendary Arabic Commentary: This patch typically replaces the default English audio with high-energy commentary from iconic Arab voices like Raouf Khlif. This adds a significant layer of immersion and realism, especially when playing with Middle Eastern teams.
2021 Season Updates: While the base game is from 2013, the patch includes updated 2021 rosters, kits, and player transfers, effectively modernizing the title for fans of the "next season" era.
Graphical Enhancements: Many versions of this patch include updated stadium textures, realistic grass, and high-definition player faces (faces are often installed via specific files like DT0C).
Team and League Expansion: It often adds teams and leagues that were not in the original 2013 release, frequently focusing on the Egyptian League or other Arab regional competitions. Installation Overview
To get this feature running on your PSP or PPSSPP emulator, follow these general steps: How did they actually do it
Locate Installation Directory: Find your game files, typically located in your PSP's ISO folder or your emulator's directory.
Apply Commentary Files: For PC versions, commentary is often patched by replacing specific .img files in the img folder. On PSP, this is usually part of a pre-patched ISO or an Option File.
Language Settings: After installing the files, you may need to go to Game Settings > Language and select the new commentary option to activate it.
Option Files: If using an Option File for the 2021 updates, copy the SAVEDATA folder from the patch into your PSP's SAVEDATA directory to load the updated kits and players.
For a deep dive into the specific files and community downloads, you can check guides from community reviewers on YouTube or dedicated fan pages on Facebook.