Modder Turns PS5 Into a Linux-Based Steam Machine

One modder has done something rather impressive with a PS5, transforming a device that was never supposed to be more than a Sony console into a fully-fledged Linux gaming system with a fairly intriguing twist: it runs PC titles via Steam. Andy Nguyen, known online as theflow0, is the modder in issue, as he is the one who got it operating and gave the console serious gaming credentials.

Nguyen proceeded to boot up a full Linux system on the console hardware and managed to load Grand Theft Auto V in Enhanced mode with ray tracing enabled, all while keeping the game running smoothly at a rock-solid 60 fps per second in 1440p resolution. That’s far superior to the basic demo you’d expect from someone experimenting with this type of technology.

There are some catches, as this configuration only works on older PS5 units with outdated firmware, ranging from 1.xx to 2.xx. Newer firmware simply eliminates the attack chain Nguyen used, a well-known one called Byepervisor, and Sony has a pretty solid grip on preventing people from utilizing this type of workaround. Anyone who has updated since those early builds will be unable to get the mod to work unless they roll back, an option that Sony has long blocked.

Nguyen contributed significantly to the open-source Mesa graphics project in order to make the PS5’s GPU to run correctly under Linux. As a result, the console’s AMD hardware is functioning smoothly, and the speeds he’s achieving are no joke: 3.2 GHz on the CPU and 2.0 GHz on the GPU.

If you push the limitations even further, up to 3.5 GHz on the CPU and 2.23 GHz on the GPU, you’ll most likely wind up with an overheating PS5 Slim. Still, HDMI works perfectly for outputting 4K video and audio. All of the USB ports appear to be working normally. Steam even integrates with the entire setup in Big Picture mode, transforming the PS5 into a living-room Steam machine. Plus, Proton works to make PC games such as GTA V playable on consoles.

Of course, there are risks to all of this, as the entire technique is based on a full attack chain, with no simple software toggle in sight. By choosing this path, you are essentially voiding your warranty, and there is a potential that you may end up with a console that cannot be used at all if all goes wrong. To make matters worse, the little window of opportunity for completing all of this is shrinking as people continue to update their consoles.
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