Sony Rolls Out New PS5 Firmware Update as Jailbreak Battle Intensifies Before GTA 6 Launch

Sony has released a fresh PlayStation 5 firmware update as the homebrew community continues its cat-and-mouse game with the console maker.

The new system software update, version 26.07-14.20.00, is now available and weighs in at 1.2 GB. While Sony's official patch notes claim it only improves 'the messages and usability on some screens,' some speculate that it may include hidden changes under the hood.

The PlayStation homebrew scene has been making headlines recently with jailbreaks for previous firmware versions. For instance, late last month, a jailbreak that worked on all PS5 consoles running firmware 7.00-13.60 sent shockwaves through the community. At the time, it meant that any PS5, including the PS5 Pro, that hadn't been updated in the past week was compatible with the jailbreak.

This is a major concern for Sony and the security of the PS5, as a jailbroken console can be modified, potentially enabling video game piracy. However, it was discovered that some PS5 games subsequently required the latest 14.00 firmware to download updates, prompting a renewed push for a new jailbreak for the updated system software.

So, a game of Whac-A-Mole is underway: the homebrew scene works to release a new jailbreak for the latest PS5 firmware, only to have to do it all over again when Sony releases a new security-focused update. Notably, Sony's patch notes for today's update make no mention of security.

This has raised concerns that if a PS5 jailbreak becomes available for the firmware required by GTA 6—which launches in less than a month—then Rockstar's game could be pirated on PS5 and possibly even made available on PC.

One prominent member of the PlayStation homebrew community recently demonstrated evidence of a jailbreak for firmware 14.10, but follow-up comments suggest that dumping game executables isn't possible. There is no evidence to suggest that today's 14.20 update is a response to that. However, some believe GTA 6 will require at least 14.20 to run now that it's out in the wild. Sony may even release another security update before November 19.

The question for Sony is whether it can do enough to eventually win this game of Whac-A-Mole with the homebrew scene. This is something of an existential crisis for Sony, as publishers and developers rely on the security of their PlayStation releases. But with the emergence of powerful AI models, the stakes have risen significantly.