Update, March 13, 2016 – The hacker group fail0verflow has released the PS4 kexec-style code on their GitHub page, which will allow experienced hackers to load Linux on the Orbis OS. The team also stated that USB also works on Linux on PS4.
Those who know what they’re doing can give the code a shot. You will have to find your own exploit though, as the hacker group hasn’t included an exploit. Therefore, this isn’t for the layman.
The PS4 runs on Orbis OS, which is based on Linux, so it’ll be easy to compile a Linux kernel and get the OS running on your now jailbroken PS4.
PS4 Cobra USB Game Emulator
You may soon be able to jailbreak your PS4 using the Cobra USB game emulator. Nothing has been confirmed, and there are rumors going around that this could be a fake by a team called H3ck34.
The Cobra Team is currently only working on a PS Vita project. If this Emulator is real, then it would allow PS4 users to run homebrew apps on their console and play pirated games. Rumors suggest that this USB dongle will be released on February 20, but we’re not too sure. It is also said that the dongle will be sold for about $70 – $100.
PS4 Jailbreak Possible
Update – February 19, 2016 – Yes, you read that right. A PS4 jailbreak has been achieved by a developer using a kernel exploit found in the PlayStation 4 firmware version 1.76. The jailbreak allows you to run unauthorized third-party homebrew apps on the console. This means that you could also play cracked games and make older PlayStation games work on PS4.
The Sony PlayStation 4 has been on the market for over two years now and has been doing very well in most countries. The PS4 jailbreak will not fare well for Sony, as users will be able to download and play cracked games. However, not everyone will want to jailbreak their PS4 as it is a risky task. There are chances that you might completely brick your device, which nobody wants.
PS4 Jailbreak Update: CTurt Claims to Jailbreak PS4 on Twitter
Developer CTurt posted on Twitter that he was successful in jailbreaking the PlayStation 4. He used a FreeBSD kernel exploit to attain the jailbreak. The jailbreak can dump system RAM used by other processes, which means that custom firmware can be installed. It currently works with version 1.76 of PS4 firmware, but it can be made to run on a newer firmware. Again, there are high chances that Sony will release a new firmware to patch the exploit.
The PS4 outsold the Xbox One during Cyber Monday and Black Friday, with sales only improving. If and when the jailbreak is released, several more people would want to buy the PS4 and play older games or pirated ones.
PS4 Jailbreak Release Date
CTurt has been doing a lot of development and hacking on the PS4. He also has a Github page where you can follow his work and keep on the lookout for a fully functional PS4 jailbreak tool. We’re not sure when he plans on releasing a completed tool for the product, but if you know how things work, you can give the hack a try yourself.
If a PS4 Jailbreak is released, will you jailbreak your PlayStation? What would be the first thing that you’d do once it’s jailbroken?
Update – January 20, 2016
Running Linux on a Jailbroken PS4
Ever since the PS4 Jailbreak by CTurt, several other hackers have used his code to run third-party software on the console. Recently, a hacker group successfully managed to run Linux on PS4 and were even able to play a Nintendo DS game on it. The PlayStation 4 is very PC like, so wouldn’t it be great if you could run other operating systems on it?
If you’re looking to jailbreak your PS4 and run cracked games or Linux, then you should check the detailed post by fail0verflow. The PS4 runs and OS that’s based on FreeBSD, which is why it was so easy to hack the architecture and run Linux. It isn’t perfect, but several of the hardware components work or are a work in progress.
LINUX ON THE PS4 ACTUALLY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE, MORE THAN IT EVER DID ON ANY PREVIOUS GAME CONSOLE. IT’S CLOSE ENOUGH TO A PC THAT GETTING 3D ACCELERATION WORKING, WHILE RATHER PAINFUL (AS WE’VE LEARNED), SEEMS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE WITHOUT UNDUE AMOUNTS OF EFFORT (IN A TIMEFRAME OF MONTHS, NOT YEARS), TO THE LEVEL NEEDED FOR REAL INDIE GAMES AND EVEN AAA TITLES, NOT JUST HOMEBREW. AND MANY THOUSANDS OF INDIE AND AAA GAMES ALREADY RUN ON LINUX. YES, STEAMOS ON THE PS4 SHOULD “JUST WORK” ONCE THE DRIVER ISSUES ARE SORTED OUT. WE DEMOED A SILLY GBAEMULATOR BECAUSE ALL WE HAD WAS A 2D FRAMEBUFFER, BUT THE REAL FUN IS GETTING 3D GAMES TO RUN JUST LIKE THEY DO ON A PC (WE’VE TRIED SOME COMMERCIAL INDIE GAMES ALREADY AND THEY DO WORK FINE, JUST PAINFULLY SLOW AS THEY ARE USING SOFTWARE RENDERING RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE).
THE CODE TO RUN LINUX ON PS4 IS STILL INCOMPLETE, SO THE TEAM HAS NO ESTIMATED RELEASE DATE. YOU CAN FOLLOW THEIR WORK TO KEEP YOURSELF UPDATED. IF YOU KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT JAILBREAKING OR HACKING THE PS4, YOU CAN LEND YOUR HAND AS WELL.