For PS3 saves, the old workflow had a PC in the middle: copy the save to USB, decrypt and re-sign it in Bruteforce Save Data, copy it back. Apollo Save Tool collapsed that loop onto the console. Both deserve an accurate description.
What Each Tool Is
| Apollo Save Tool (PS3) | Bruteforce Save Data | |
|---|---|---|
| Author | bucanero | aldostools |
| Runs on | The PS3 itself (CFW or HEN) | Windows PC |
| Price | Free, GPL-3.0 | Free |
| Core jobs | PFD re-signing, SFO unlock, cheats, trophies, licences, PS1/PS2 conversion | Decrypt/re-encrypt saves, re-signing, cheat application, checksum fixing |
| Patch format | Applies BSD-format patches natively (plus Save Wizard & Game Genie) | The original home of the BSD patch format |
The Relationship Between Them
This isn’t a rivalry so much as a handoff. Apollo’s Patch Engine fully supports the Bruteforce Save Data patch format — the community’s BSD cheat definitions apply inside Apollo on the console. And on feature scope Apollo went further than the PC tool ever did: trophy re-signing and import/export, offline account activation and licence management, PS1/PS2 .PSV conversion, and an in-app Online Database.
When the PC Tool Still Makes Sense
- Your PS3 workflow already lives on the PC and your saves never touch the console between edits.
- You’re working through a large backlog of saves in a desktop file manager.
- Historical note: BSD is a community-maintained classic with no recent releases — treat downloads of it from random sites with the same checksum suspicion as any old binary.
Verdict
On-console convenience wins for most PS3 owners today: Apollo re-signs in place (guide), patches with BSD codes without the PC round-trip, and handles trophies and licences BSD never touched. BSD remains the respected ancestor whose patch library Apollo proudly speaks.
Related Guides
Download Apollo · PS3 hub · Re-sign PS3 saves · Apollo vs Artemis