A developer has created a method to get Linux running on some versions of Sony’s PlayStation 5 console. Andy Nguyen previously showed off a ported version of Ubuntu running PC games on a PS5 last month, and he’s now published the installation steps on GitHub this week.
This is a soft mod, so it won’t persist between power downs or restarts, but the Linux installation will let you play PC games once it’s up and running. 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 is relying on a patched vulnerability to transform a PS5 into a Linux PC, which means this exploit only works on disc-based PS5 consoles running older 3.xx or 4.xx firmware versions. The latest 5.xx versions of firmware aren’t supported yet. “Support for 1.xx and 2.xx firmwares may be added in the future, but we will not prioritize this effort,” says Nguyen.
The exploit doesn’t allow for the homebrew efforts and cracked games we saw with the PlayStation 4, which also relied on an older version of firmware to get Linux running on Sony’s console.
The Linux installation on the PS5 includes custom VRAM allocation and working fan controls, but you may need to disable and reenable the WLAN adapter to get a full internet connection after first boot. While 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions are all supported, they will only run at 60Hz output. “120Hz or 30Hz may be added in the future,” says Nguyen.
The developer is also looking into potentially adding a shutdown feature that will put a PS5 into rest mode to let you relaunch Linux when you power the console up again. I would only recommend trying out Linux on a PS5 if you’re familiar with Linux commands, and if you’re worried about messing up your PS5 then Nguyen says “there’s no chance of bricking” a console. All the steps are available over at GitHub and there’s a Discord server for any additional issues.
Update, April 29th: Article updated with additional comment from Nguyen.
