GTA VI: PlayStation 5 Firmware Update May Force Jailbreak Loss

Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) is poised to create a dilemma for PlayStation 5 owners who wish to maintain their consoles with jailbreak-compatible firmware. According to data surfaced from the PlayStation Store backend by PlayStation Game Size, GTA VI will mandate at least PS5 firmware version 14.10. This version sits above the current limit supported by Relapse, the jailbreak tool that operates on PS5 and PS5 Pro models running firmware between 7.00 and 13.60.

This situation mirrors recent events concerning TheFloW and a PS5 hypervisor exploit. The developer behind PS5 Linux had intended to keep this vulnerability secret until GTA VI's launch, hoping the required firmware would remain exploitable. However, other researchers, assisted by AI, independently identified the same flaw. This exploit was subsequently reported to Sony for a bounty, leading to the very scenario TheFloW sought to avoid.

The issue for the modding community is straightforward. Relapse currently supports up to firmware 13.60, while GTA VI is slated to require version 14.10.00.00 to function. If this backend-sourced requirement proves final, any user keeping their console on firmware 13.60 or below will be compelled to update to play the game. This update will disable compatibility with the current public jailbreak.

For Sony, this presents an ideal scenario. GTA VI, arguably the most anticipated game of the decade, launches on November 19th. It offers Sony a perfect justification for millions of players to update their consoles to firmware 14.10. Once updated to play GTA VI, known vulnerabilities will be patched, closing the door to current jailbreak methods until new exploits emerge.

For those who value homebrew applications, the message is clear: updating beyond firmware 13.60 means saying goodbye to Relapse. Sonic-Iso notes that firmware 14.10 includes significant changes that render the current hypervisor exploit ineffective, as Root-0 NPT no longer maps the hypervisor's own physical memory. Essentially, Sony has already altered a key component required for this specific exploitation technique.

This development connects to the recent frustration expressed by the creator of PS5 Linux. The hypervisor exploit in question, Slopervisor, was the vulnerability TheFloW claimed to have discovered independently and wished to withhold until GTA VI's release. His strategy was to delay revealing the flaw until the game's firmware requirements were known, allowing users to update to a GTA VI-compatible version that still retained an exploitable hypervisor vulnerability.

Relapse is the current chain of WebKit and kernel exploits enabling jailbreaks on firmwares 7.00 through 13.60. Slopervisor operates at a deeper level, compromising the PS5's hypervisor for more profound hardware access, crucial for projects like PS5 Linux. Consequently, Sony will now leverage its upcoming firmware update to neutralize these "vulnerabilities" or security loopholes.