A PS5 on old firmware now doubles as an x86 Linux desktop with full Steam support, filling an affordable gaming-PC gap as discrete GPU prices stay high and Valve's Steam Machine hits delays.
Security engineer Andy Nguyen, known online as TheFlow, publicly released ps5-linux on GitHub this week: a complete toolchain that boots Linux on PlayStation 5 Phat consoles running firmware versions 3.xx through 4.xx. Nguyen demonstrated GTA V Enhanced Edition running with ray tracing at 60fps in Ubuntu last month, and the full installation guide is now live. The exploit relies on a patched hypervisor vulnerability that only works on the original disc-based PS5 model released before the Slim redesign. Code is injected through a firmware flaw, a payload loads for system access, and a bootstrapping component fires a custom Linux kernel into memory. The process requires a separate jailbreak tool called umtx2 for initial execution.
Once booted, the PS5 runs Ubuntu 24.04 with access to all eight Zen 2 CPU cores (16 threads) at up to 3.5 GHz and the RDNA 2 GPU at up to 2.23 GHz. A bundled control tool enables CPU and GPU boost clocks alongside an adjustable fan curve.
Nguyen warns that the fan profile should always be enabled when boosting, since the console's cooling was designed around Sony's own power management. The system outputs video and audio over HDMI at 1080p, 1440p, or 4K, capped at 60Hz. USB ports work normally, and users can install Linux onto an M.2 SSD in the PS5's expansion slot, creating a dedicated Linux partition. The internal SSD is never modified, and the console returns to normal PS5 operation on a standard reboot.
This is a soft mod, not a permanent installation. The exploit must be re-run after every power cycle.
Nguyen says "there's no chance of bricking" a console, and warns that some peripherals may not function correctly. A WLAN adapter may need to be disabled and re-enabled after first boot for full internet connectivity.
"So far we've seen GTA V running with enhanced ray tracing at 60fps in Ubuntu on a PS5, as well as Spider-Man running at 1440p resolution and 60fps," Nguyen said.
Support for firmware 1.xx and 2.xx may come later but is not a priority. The latest 5.xx firmware versions aren't supported yet.
Nguyen noted that 5.xx could eventually work, though Linux would run inside Sony's GameOS virtual machine with reduced performance. Firmware 6.xx and above are ruled out entirely. The release includes a build script for a bootable Ubuntu 24.04 image, M.2 SSD installation tools, and a fan and GPU boost control utility. Nguyen credited contributors including c0w, resulknad, flatz, and the fail0verflow and ps5-payload-dev teams.
All steps and code are available on GitHub with a Discord server for troubleshooting.
Nguyen, who previously jailbroke the PlayStation Portal in 2024 to run PSP titles, said the project doesn't enable the kind of homebrew and cracked games seen on the PlayStation 4. He is also exploring a shutdown feature that would put the PS5 into rest mode to relaunch Linux on power-up.
