Home / Technology / Hack PS5 to Run Linux: $10K Bounty Offered
Hack PS5 to Run Linux: $10K Bounty Offered
17 Jul
Summary
- Fulu offers $10,000 to disable PS5 software locks.
- Goal is to allow installing operating systems like Linux.
- Bounty aims to restore general-purpose computing on consoles.
The ownership advocacy organization Fulu has announced a $10,000 bounty for hackers who can disable the software locks on PlayStation 5 consoles. This challenge aims to enable users to install operating systems such as Linux, repurposing the gaming console for general-purpose computing.
Helmed by YouTuber Louis Rossmann and Kevin O'Reilly, Fulu offers rewards for bypassing product features deemed hostile to device owners. This PS5 bounty follows previous successful payouts for issues with Google Nest thermostats and Molekule air purifiers. O'Reilly emphasizes the principle that owning hardware should permit installing desired software.
Recent actions by Sony, including ending physical disc production for new PS5 games, have raised concerns among owners about digital game ownership and console control. Fulu seeks to provide an alternative for owners facing rising tech costs, highlighting the significant computing power in gaming consoles that could be used for coding or AI systems.
However, attempting to bypass these software restrictions carries legal risks under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's Section 1201. While winners are not required to release their fixes publicly, Fulu's ultimate aim is to foster a broader conversation about device ownership rights and the nature of computing.
