The PS4 got delegated to last-generation console last year, when the PS5 got released. But that did not stop hackers from trying to bust the former’s software open. And it looks like a hacker trio managed to get homebrew apps working on the console, and with relatively recent firmware.
PlayStation hackers SpecterDev, ChendoChap and Znullptr managed to cook up the PS4 jailbreak known as pOOBs4. Sleirsgoevy provided the webkit browser exploit, and famed PS hacker TheFloW was the one to discover the actual filesystem bug that allowed the hack to work.
9.👀 (awesome work by chendochap & @Znullptr) pic.twitter.com/ME12bLyu3C
— Specter (@SpecterDev) December 13, 2021
This allows PS4 consoles running firmware version 9.00 or earlier to run homebrew apps. This is especially notable because firmware version 9.00 came out relatively recently, in September. Most previous attempts at jailbreaking the console only worked on much older firmware.
This jailbreak will still not work for those who keep their PS4 consoles updated regularly though. After all, firmware version 9.03 was just released at the beginning of this month.
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Alright, was just a joke about caturday.
The exploit is legit, and as a bonus:
The kernel exploit affects Playstation5 as well!
(no, ps5 is not ready or being released, the lead developer does not currently have a ps5 console)— Z (@Znullptr) December 13, 2021
Znullptr also noted that this jailbreak should also work on the PS5, but a dedicated version for it has not been made. And the reason for it is because the lead developer of the hack can’t get their hands on one.
With all that being said, there’s really very little reason as to why the average Joe would want to do this to their PS4. Unless you absolutely must play Bloodborne in 60fps, there’s a lot more drawbacks to getting your console jailbroken than keeping it up to date.
(Source: @SpecterDev @Znullptr via Kotaku)
