Modder Installs Linux on PS5, Transforming Console into a Gaming PC

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I guess we could call it a Steam Machine now?

Story Highlight
  • A developer has taken advantage of the PS5’s firmware exploit to install Linux on the system.
  • Many are turning their PS5 into gaming PCs with this mod.
  • This is a soft mod that works on older PS5 consoles and has no risks of bricking the console, as per the developer.

Upon finding a firmware exploit in the earlier versions of the PS5, one developer has now managed to run Linux on the console.

The soft mod is allowing users to experiment with the PS5, with some now even turning it into a gaming PC.

Why it matters: It’s astonishing what the PC community can achieve, and countless times we’ve seen people bypass PlayStation firmwares, even with further reinforcements from Sony, the community still manages to surprise.

gta 5 ps5 linux
GTA 5 Enhanced Edition Running On Linux On A Modded PS5 || Credit: Andy Nguyen On X

One user on X installed this ‘soft mod’ and was able to run GTA 5 Enhanced Edition on his PS5, now calling it a ‘Steam Machine.’ He further claimed he could run Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 at 60 FPS at 1440p.

Linux is already a great OS for gaming, unlike Windows, and as such, the performance loss isn’t significant, even though games are specifically optimized for console mode.

Aside from playing desktop games, some are even running emulators on Linux PS5. Sony doesn’t have true backward compatibility, so this is working out better for fans.

Steam Machine
Valve’s Steam Machine will run demanding titles at 4K 60 FPS with FSR.

About the mod itself, the ‘ps5-linux’ project is available on GitHub and is a soft mod, meaning users will have to exploit a vulnerability every time they enable it. Also, it works on only specific PS5 models, the earlier ones with built-in disc drives.

Currently, 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.21, 4.00, 4.02, 4.03, 4.50, and 4.51 versions are supported, with support for more coming. The developer who made the mod also stated that there’s no risk of bricking the console. Versions higher can’t run this mod at all.

This setup is the closest thing one can get to a Steam Machine right now, and Valve’s home console is already delayed beyond its initial release with an internal price hike.

What are your thoughts on this setup? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

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