Playstation 4 Gets Hacked & Run Linux & Pokemon

It was only a matter of time before Sony’s next generation console PlayStation 4 was hacked.Fail0verflow was the team responsible for carrying out the feat, by getting Gentoo Linux on the console too.

The team demonstrated Linux on the PlayStation 4 at the 32nd Chaos Communication Congress (which is an event widely known as 32c3) on December 30, 2015.

How Dis Fail0verFlow Manage to Accomplish the Feat?

The hacking group managed to find a vulnerability in the PlayStation 4 gaming console by bringing up the Settings option, as this is the place where the Linux kernel-based operating system is launched.

Afterwards, the group managed to navigate to the User’s Guide section, where they were able to locate the vulnerability and successfully hack the console. Another reason why the team was successfully able to hack the machine was because there was a broken NOP command on the integrated AMD Radeon GPU. NOP, or No Operation, is used for timing purposes, and present to prevent further delay when launching the gaming application and the team were able to notice this, albeit with a small amount of effort.

Here is the group running a modified Pokémon ROM dubbed ‘PlayStation version’ on the PS4 via Linux.

What Works, and What Doesn't?

After the hack, the following components and instructions present on the motherboard remained functional:

• Timers
• IRQs (interrupt request)
• PCI
• Serial port
• Framebuffer
• Kernel mode setting
• HDMI encoder
• Ethernet
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• S/PDIF audio

3D hardware acceleration, USB ports, and the HDMI audio port did not respond after completing the hacking process, but the group has stated that they have figured out a way to make these three things work as well. As for the Blu-Ray disk read, Fail0verflow are still making an effort in order to make it work.

Does it seem like the PS4 will get hacked to run pirated games and backups? This development has certainly got everyone thinking about such a possibility in the near future.

Sony PlayStation 4 to Run Playstation 2 Games

Tired of the current-gen PS4 games on your latest Sony console? Yearning for the good old days of the PS2?  If you ever wanted to enjoy a trip down that nostalgia lane when it comes to gaming then Sony has some good news for you. The PS4 will be getting the best PS2 games so you can relive your memories from a decade (or 2) back.

Which PS2 Games are Available?

The first bunch of PS2 games have already started hitting the platform. Here is a list of current PS2 releases:

• Dark Cloud
• Grand Theft Auto III
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
• Rogue Galaxy
• The Mark of Kri
• Twisted Metal: Black
• War of the Monsters

Can PS2 Games Take Advantage of PS4 Features?

The games will run on the PS4 at 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second. There will also be support for PS4 exclusive features such as Remote Play, Trophy Support, Live Broadcast and Second Screen support for game manuals with any mobile device or Vita.

Several other games are coming too, including Parappa the Rapper 2 and King of Fighters 2000. Sony will be announcing their availability as they roll out.

There is a catch though, the price. While Microsoft is aiming for backwards compatibility with the Xbox One, Sony will charge you separately for playing each game again, costing you in the region of $10-15 on Now, meaning reliving your past moments won’t be a cheap affair. 

Previously owned Xbox 360 games only require your disc or prior digital download to work.

We also don’t know whether there will be support for disc-based games, another place where

the Xbox has a clear advantage. Still, games are perhaps one of the strongest inducers of nostalgia and if you’re involved in that kind of thing, this seems like a small price to pay.