FULU Bounties - PlayStation 5
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PlayStation 5
Show Sony that you want to actually *own* your hardware
Total Bounty Pot
$24,172.00
Public Donations
$7,086.00
Matching Fund
$7,086.00<br>/ $10,000.00
Backers
173 backers
Matching in progress
71%
Overview
The Product
The PlayStation 5 is the latest version of Sony’s flagship gaming console, released in 2020.
The Problem
When the PlayStation 2 released, Sony's bold vision for the console included its ability to be used as a general computing device—there was even an official Linux installation disc available for purchase!
Since early on in the PS3 era, however, Sony has flipped its stance and now goes to great lengths at every turn in locking down its hardware.
At a time when the prices of computing are through the roof (Consumer RAM prices are up around 3-4x in a year!), it seems absurd to have good hardware locked down—to tell PS5 owners 'no, we don't want to let you use your console however you like'. Whilst PlayStation 5s running very early firmware versions can be made to run Linux, it is now near-impossible to obtain a device where those exploits still work.
The solution
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
The acceptable models of PS5 are:
All standard (fat) models (2020-2022)
PlayStation 5 (slim) (2023)
PlayStation 5 (slim) Digital Edition (2023)
PlayStation 5 Pro (2024)
To submit a solution, please first ensure that you have met all listed criteria and then contact the bounty team at [email protected].
This bounty will expire on 31st December 2031, after which all contributors will be given the option to have their donation refunded, or to donate it to FULU, if no-one has submitted a successful solution.
As with all FULU bounties, claimants must be based in the United States, and will not be required to release their solution to the public if they do not wish to do so. See full terms here.
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Support this bounty
Donations will be matched by the FULU Foundation 1:1 up to $10,000 and added to the total bounty pot.
$25<br>$50<br>$100
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Recent backers
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Christian<br>$10.00
Radoslav<br>$10.00
Rodrigo<br>$100.00
Matus<br>$25.00
Anonymous<br>$5.00
Anonymous<br>$5.00
Robin<br>$5.00
Sasha<br>$50.00
DammitJeff<br>$2,000.00
Rex<br>$25.00
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