Now you can run Linux on some PS5 consoles, use them to play Steam games

Modern game consoles are basically PCs… so much so that Microsoft’s next Xbox is expected to support PC games and rumor has it that it’ll run a version of Windows. But folks have been using another operating system to effectively unlock the potential of older game consoles for years… and now there’s a way to do it on some PlayStation 5 consoles.

Last month developer Andy Nguyen showed off a PS5 console running Ubuntu Linux. And now here’s released instructions for installing Ubuntu on certain PS5 consoles.

Ubuntu on a PS5

There are a few things to know before trying this at home. One is that so far this is only supported on PS5 consoles with disc drives running firmware versions 3.xx or 4.xx. If you’ve got a discless system or a model running newer or older firmware, then you may need to wait to see if an update is released. Part of the reason for that is that the trick relies on an exploit that’s been patched in the 5.xx firmware.

Another thing to note is that this method doesn’t permanently replace the PS5 operating system with Linux… which is both a good thing and a bad thing. The bad news is that you need to re-run the exploit every time you reboot your PS5. The good news is that this means there’s very little chance of actually damaging your console.

You can mak e things simpler for a second boot by preparing an M.2 SSD with an Ubuntu image, allowing you to boot to Linux after running the exploit again.

I ported Linux to the PS5 and turned it into a Steam Machine. Running GTA 5 Enhanced with Ray Tracing. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aMbT0PQ1dS

— Andy Nguyen (@theflow0) March 6, 2026

Once Ubuntu is up and running, you can use it to install Steam and play PC games that may not otherwise be available for the PS5, or play PC versions of PS5 games to give you more control over settings that may not normally be available, among other things.

Nguyen says the software doesn’t currently support the PlayStation 5’s built-in Bluetooth, but you can use DualSense controllers with a Bluetooth dongle.

Other features including a tool that allows you to adjust the fan curve and boost the CPU speed to 3.5 GHz and the GPU to 2.23 GHz, and support for 1080p, 1440p, and 2160p gaming at 60 Hz (although HDMI output and 1440p or higher video output is said not to work “on some monitors.”

via NotebookCheck and The Verge

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