diff --git a/rpcs3/Crypto/unpkg.cpp b/rpcs3/Crypto/unpkg.cpp
index a89447d096..dc5ff63866 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Crypto/unpkg.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Crypto/unpkg.cpp
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ package_error package_reader::check_target_app_version()
 			const auto category = psf::get_string(psf, "CATEGORY", "");
 			const auto title_id = psf::get_string(psf, "TITLE_ID", "");
 			const auto app_ver = psf::get_string(psf, "APP_VER", "");
-			auto target_app_ver = psf::get_string(psf, "TARGET_APP_VER", "");
+			const auto target_app_ver = psf::get_string(psf, "TARGET_APP_VER", "");
 
 			if (category != "GD")
 			{
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ package_error package_reader::check_target_app_version()
 				return package_error::no_error;
 			}
 
-			const fs::file installed_sfo_file(Emu.GetHddDir() + "game/" + title_id + "/PARAM.SFO");
+			const fs::file installed_sfo_file(Emu.GetHddDir() + "game/" + std::string(title_id) + "/PARAM.SFO");
 			if (!installed_sfo_file)
 			{
 				if (!target_app_ver.empty())
@@ -587,9 +587,9 @@ package_error package_reader::check_target_app_version()
 			}
 
 			std::add_pointer_t<char> ev0, ev1;
-			const double old_version = std::strtod(installed_app_ver.c_str(), &ev0);
+			const double old_version = std::strtod(installed_app_ver.data(), &ev0);
 
-			if (installed_app_ver.c_str() + installed_app_ver.size() != ev0)
+			if (installed_app_ver.data() + installed_app_ver.size() != ev0)
 			{
 				pkg_log.error("Failed to convert the installed app version to double (%s)", installed_app_ver);
 				return package_error::other;
@@ -599,9 +599,9 @@ package_error package_reader::check_target_app_version()
 			{
 				// This is most likely the first patch. Let's make sure its version is high enough for the installed game.
 
-				const double new_version = std::strtod(app_ver.c_str(), &ev1);
+				const double new_version = std::strtod(app_ver.data(), &ev1);
 
-				if (app_ver.c_str() + app_ver.size() != ev1)
+				if (app_ver.data() + app_ver.size() != ev1)
 				{
 					pkg_log.error("Failed to convert the package's app version to double (%s)", app_ver);
 					return package_error::other;
@@ -619,9 +619,9 @@ package_error package_reader::check_target_app_version()
 
 			// Check if the installed app version matches the target app version
 
-			const double target_version = std::strtod(target_app_ver.c_str(), &ev1);
+			const double target_version = std::strtod(target_app_ver.data(), &ev1);
 
-			if (target_app_ver.c_str() + target_app_ver.size() != ev1)
+			if (target_app_ver.data() + target_app_ver.size() != ev1)
 			{
 				pkg_log.error("Failed to convert the package's target app version to double (%s)", target_app_ver);
 				return package_error::other;
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellGame.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellGame.cpp
index 9d59ce42bc..117a065bfb 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellGame.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Cell/Modules/cellGame.cpp
@@ -876,7 +876,7 @@ error_code cellGameGetParamString(s32 id, vm::ptr<char> buf, u32 bufsize)
 		return CELL_GAME_ERROR_NOTSUPPORTED;
 	}
 
-	const std::string value = psf::get_string(prm->sfo, std::string(key.name));
+	const auto value = psf::get_string(prm->sfo, std::string(key.name));
 
 	if (value.empty() && !prm->sfo.count(std::string(key.name)))
 	{
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
index 029f4eb4a0..0c63ef72f0 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/System.cpp
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ std::string Emulator::GetSfoDirFromGamePath(const std::string& game_path, const
 				if (entry.is_directory && fs::is_file(sfo_path))
 				{
 					const auto psf           = psf::load_object(fs::file(sfo_path));
-					const std::string serial = get_string(psf, "TITLE_ID");
+					const auto serial = psf::get_string(psf, "TITLE_ID");
 					if (serial == title_id)
 					{
 						return game_path + "/" + entry.name;
@@ -775,8 +775,9 @@ std::string Emulator::GetSfoDirFromGamePath(const std::string& game_path, const
 
 	const auto psf = psf::load_object(fs::file(game_path + "/PARAM.SFO"));
 
-	const std::string category   = get_string(psf, "CATEGORY");
-	const std::string content_id = get_string(psf, "CONTENT_ID");
+	const auto category = psf::get_string(psf, "CATEGORY");
+	const auto content_id = std::string(psf::get_string(psf, "CONTENT_ID"));
+
 	if (category == "HG" && !content_id.empty())
 	{
 		// This is a trial game. Check if the user has a RAP file to unlock it.
@@ -912,12 +913,12 @@ game_boot_result Emulator::Load(const std::string& title_id, bool add_only, bool
 			_psf = psf::load_object(fs::file(m_sfo_dir + "/PARAM.SFO"));
 		}
 
-		m_title = psf::get_string(_psf, "TITLE", m_path.substr(m_path.find_last_of('/') + 1));
-		m_title_id = psf::get_string(_psf, "TITLE_ID");
-		m_cat = psf::get_string(_psf, "CATEGORY");
+		m_title = std::string(psf::get_string(_psf, "TITLE", std::string_view(m_path).substr(m_path.find_last_of('/') + 1)));
+		m_title_id = std::string(psf::get_string(_psf, "TITLE_ID"));
+		m_cat = std::string(psf::get_string(_psf, "CATEGORY"));
 
-		m_app_version = psf::get_string(_psf, "APP_VER", "Unknown");
-		const std::string version_disc = psf::get_string(_psf, "VERSION", "Unknown");
+		m_app_version = std::string(psf::get_string(_psf, "APP_VER", "Unknown"));
+		const auto version_disc = psf::get_string(_psf, "VERSION", "Unknown");
 
 		if (!_psf.empty() && m_cat.empty())
 		{
@@ -1271,7 +1272,7 @@ game_boot_result Emulator::Load(const std::string& title_id, bool add_only, bool
 				return game_boot_result::invalid_file_or_folder;
 			}
 
-			const std::string bdvd_title_id = psf::get_string(psf::load_object(fs::file{vfs::get("/dev_bdvd/PS3_GAME/PARAM.SFO")}), "TITLE_ID");
+			const auto bdvd_title_id = psf::get_string(psf::load_object(fs::file{vfs::get("/dev_bdvd/PS3_GAME/PARAM.SFO")}), "TITLE_ID");
 
 			if (bdvd_title_id != m_title_id)
 			{
@@ -1440,7 +1441,7 @@ game_boot_result Emulator::Load(const std::string& title_id, bool add_only, bool
 
 		if (!disc_sfo_dir.empty() && fs::is_file(disc_sfo_dir))
 		{
-			const std::string bdvd_title = psf::get_string(psf::load_object(fs::file{ disc_sfo_dir }), "TITLE");
+			const auto bdvd_title = psf::get_string(psf::load_object(fs::file{ disc_sfo_dir }), "TITLE");
 
 			if (!bdvd_title.empty() && bdvd_title != m_title)
 			{
diff --git a/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.cpp b/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.cpp
index 49a2ddc465..c0cd15e8b6 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.cpp
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ namespace psf
 		}
 	}
 
-	std::string get_string(const registry& psf, const std::string& key, const std::string& def)
+	std::string_view get_string(const registry& psf, const std::string& key, std::string_view def)
 	{
 		const auto found = psf.find(key);
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.h b/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.h
index d8d8eaa59f..de303f75d8 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Loader/PSF.h
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <map>
+#include <string_view>
 
 namespace psf
 {
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ namespace psf
 	void save_object(const fs::file&, const registry&);
 
 	// Get string value or default value
-	std::string get_string(const registry& psf, const std::string& key, const std::string& def = {});
+	std::string_view get_string(const registry& psf, const std::string& key, std::string_view def = ""sv);
 
 	// Get integer value or default value
 	u32 get_integer(const registry& psf, const std::string& key, u32 def = 0);
@@ -69,14 +70,14 @@ namespace psf
 	}
 
 	// Make string entry
-	inline entry string(u32 max_size, const std::string& value)
+	inline entry string(u32 max_size, std::string_view value)
 	{
-		return {format::string, max_size, value};
+		return {format::string, max_size, std::string(value)};
 	}
 
 	// Make array entry
-	inline entry array(u32 max_size, const std::string& value)
+	inline entry array(u32 max_size, std::string_view value)
 	{
-		return {format::array, max_size, value};
+		return {format::array, max_size, std::string(value)};
 	}
 }
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/game_list_frame.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/game_list_frame.cpp
index b9a078669a..d7f0ffd00c 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/game_list_frame.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/game_list_frame.cpp
@@ -556,12 +556,12 @@ void game_list_frame::Refresh(const bool from_drive, const bool scroll_after)
 				GameInfo game;
 				game.path         = dir;
 				game.icon_path    = sfo_dir + "/ICON0.PNG";
-				game.serial       = psf::get_string(psf, "TITLE_ID", "");
-				game.name         = psf::get_string(psf, "TITLE", cat_unknown_localized);
-				game.app_ver      = psf::get_string(psf, "APP_VER", cat_unknown_localized);
-				game.version      = psf::get_string(psf, "VERSION", cat_unknown_localized);
-				game.category     = psf::get_string(psf, "CATEGORY", cat_unknown);
-				game.fw           = psf::get_string(psf, "PS3_SYSTEM_VER", cat_unknown_localized);
+				game.serial       = std::string(psf::get_string(psf, "TITLE_ID", ""));
+				game.name         = std::string(psf::get_string(psf, "TITLE", cat_unknown_localized));
+				game.app_ver      = std::string(psf::get_string(psf, "APP_VER", cat_unknown_localized));
+				game.version      = std::string(psf::get_string(psf, "VERSION", cat_unknown_localized));
+				game.category     = std::string(psf::get_string(psf, "CATEGORY", cat_unknown));
+				game.fw           = std::string(psf::get_string(psf, "PS3_SYSTEM_VER", cat_unknown_localized));
 				game.parental_lvl = psf::get_integer(psf, "PARENTAL_LEVEL", 0);
 				game.resolution   = psf::get_integer(psf, "RESOLUTION", 0);
 				game.sound_format = psf::get_integer(psf, "SOUND_FORMAT", 0);