We’re looking for someone to find a way of giving current PlayStation 5 users real ownership over their own hardware.
The bounty can be won by any eligible person who makes a hardware, software, or combined modification or method to any model of PlayStation 5, that meets the following criteria:
It must demonstrably allow for the modification or bypassing of the PS5 hypervisor to the extent that an alternate OS can be booted. The alternate OS is not required to be stable.
It must either be a one-off implementation, or an implementation that takes no more than 10 minutes to execute if it needs to be repeated.
It must work on firmware version 13.42 or newer.
The alternate OS must be able to access the PS5’s primary computation, memory, and graphics hardware.
The PlayStation 5 must continue to be capable of being booted into its original operating system, with the capability to play PS5 games.
If the proposed solution involves a hardware modification, it must:
Not require hardware (aside from an external disc drive) that has cost equivalent to any substantial portion of the PlayStation 5’s cost
Be able to be carried out by someone with only basic soldering skills and equipment
My ps5 collects dust. I’d love to run Linux on it and use it as a steam machine alternative. One can dream.
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I just don’t understand the logic. I don’t pirate games, I buy them. Let me use the hardware to its fullest as an htpc, let me run steam on it, release your games on steam, give me options - if you do, the console wouldn’t be collecting dust and I’d probably buy things from you. But right now, I don’t buy anything from Sony anymore.
I’m not even sure I need it completely open, just give us the tools and means to build and put apps in it or something. It’s just too closed and that ruins the otherwise capable hardware.
Same logic as any control freak; anything less than 100% control isn’t good enough.
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Damn, $33,000 (so far). I hope this sends a message to Sony and other companies. I think people are sick and tired of not actually owning what we purchase…
This is a great idea, and I hope it becomes successful. That would be the only reason I’d ever even consider going back. Lol
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For what it’s worth, the bounty is headed by Louis Rossman who’s been a loud voice in the Right to Repair movement with the help of his employer FUTO. The lack of requirement to release publicly is likely to help against anyone who might find the exploit feeling like they’ll become a target for Sony’s lawyers.
If you’re worried about credibility, the founder is Louis Rossman who’s famous for the right to repair movement.
Here’s a quick 2 minute video of him explaining the Fulu Foundation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNkIBece8oc
TL/DW: The bounty winners have to prove that their solution works, but they are not required to release the code to the public because, in the U.S., they can be put in prison for 3-5 years for releasing that code publicly.
The point of all this is to be able to demonstrate to legislators that the DMCA needs to be fixed. They are lobbying to protect our digital rights.
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“yeah, we know how to jailbrake your console, take that sony! Oh, but don’t worry, we won’t release this hack nor collaborate in any way to provide this feature to other people”
That this makes no sense is the whole point. The goal is to show how little sense this makes. It’s fine for you to break a digital lock yourself, but illegal for you to show others how to do it.
The goal isn’t to jailbreak the PS5. It’s to show that DMCA §1201 makes no sense.
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Even if this is managed, the PS5 is far too bulky and ugly to ever find its way into my living room.
