PS5-Linux: transforming your PlayStation 5 into a Linux PC with Steam is now possible
Security engineer Andy Nguyen, known by the pseudonym @theflow0, made a sensation last month by showing GTA V Enhanced Edition with ray tracing running at 60fps on his PS5 running Ubuntu. It has just taken the next step: ps5-linux is now publicly available on GitHub, allowing anyone to turn their PlayStation 5 into a Linux PC.
🔧 How does it work? onne
ps5-linux exploits a hypervisor vulnerability (already patched by Sony in recent firmwares) to give Linux direct access to the console hardware, without virtualization. Linux so runs on real hardware, not in a restricted virtual machine.
Once started, the PS5 behaves like a compact desktop PC:
- 8 Zen 2 CPU cores at 3.5 GHz (16 threads)
- RDNA GPU 2 to 2.23 GHz
- OutputHDMI 4K 60Hz
- All USB ports functional
- Support M.2 SSD to store Linux separately (firmware 4.xx)
- System: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS + kernel Linux 7.0
- Steam, emulators and PC games with accel complete hardware eration
⚠️ Conditions and limitations
This is a softmod only, the PS5's internal SSD is not affected. The Sony OS remains intact. At each reboot, you need to relaunch the exploit to boot under Linux. No automatic dual-boot. >Compatible models and firmware:
- PS5 Phat only (the original disc drive model, not the Slim)
- Firmware 3.xx: 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.21 (without M.2)
- Firmware 4.xx: 4.00, 4.02, 4.03, 4.50, 4.51 (with M.2)
- Firmware 5.xx: possible ible in the future but Linux would run in the GameOS VM, less efficient
- Firmware 6.xx and higher: not planned
Other current limitations es: Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth not functional (USB dongles required), DualSense requires external Bluetooth adaptor under Linux, display limited to 60Hz. These are not definitive obstacles, the community is already working on it.
🎮 Why it’s important for retroemulation
A PS5 transformed into a Linux PC, is a Zen 2/ RDNA 2 machine with a pu issance equivalent to a good PC configuration of 2022. Under Linux with RetroArch or native emulators, that means: PS2, GameCube, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Switch and even PS3 via RPCS3 could run without problem. And unlike an old recovered PC, the PS5 is quiet, compact and consumes reasonably.
For those who have a PS5 Phat on old firmware that they haven't updated, this news is a game changer. The project is available at github.com/ps5-linux.
Sources: OMG Ubuntu, GamingOnLinux, TweakTown, Retro Handhelds