Hackers fail0verflow demonstrate Linux running on jailbroken PlayStation 4

Gaming consoles differ from computers in one major area; they're a self-contained platform with limited prospects for modification or tinkering. Sony and Microsoft run their platforms with exclusivity; games are released separately for their consoles, and it was only recently that backward compatibility was introduced for the Xbox One, allowing users to play games made for older iterations of Microsoft's console on the latest hardware. Computers, on the other hand, can have varying hardware, be loaded with differing operating systems and software, have a larger multitude of games, and can even be built differently from the ground up.

So it was quite an achievement when hackers announced earlier in December that it's possible to "jailbreak" the PlayStation 4. Now, another group of hackers, "fail0verflow", have taken that a step further, by jailbreakinga PS4 and loading it with Linux. Sony's console runs the Sony Orbis OS, which is loosely based on Linux's FreeBSD. Engadget reports that the hack exploits WebKit bug to gain access to the kernel, and works on Orbis version 1.74, a much older version than the current 3.1.1 on the PS4. Though the bug has since been patched, fail0verflow might still be able to tailor their method to work on the later versions.

And the first thing the group did during the jailbreak demonstration was to run a Game Boy Advance emulator on the Linux PS4, and fire up a copy of Pokemon Emerald. Check out the video below.