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A Familiar Console Security Cycle Repeats
Every console generation eventually faces its reckoning with security vulnerabilities, and history suggests that no platform remains fully locked down forever. Despite aggressive firmware updates and layered protections, exploits have repeatedly emerged, often prompting piracy concerns and urgent countermeasures from manufacturers.
That familiar cycle may now be unfolding for Sony’s PlayStation 5, with an alleged exploit surfacing in an unexpected place and triggering an immediate ripple effect across the resale market.
A Potential PS5 Jailbreak With Star Wars Racer Revenge
Reports circulating online suggest that a newly discovered security vulnerability could enable an early-stage PlayStation 5 jailbreak. What makes the situation particularly unusual is the alleged requirement: a physical PlayStation 4 copy of Star Wars Racer Revenge, a PlayStation 2 title re-released by Limited Run Games.
The discussion gained traction after PlayStation 5 ROM keys were reportedly leaked online, widely seen as a foundational step toward deeper system-level access. Adding to the concern, the PS2 emulator packaged with Star Wars Racer Revenge is rumoured to contain an exploit that could interact with the leaked keys.
Exploit Demonstrated Publicly
The situation escalated further after an online demonstration appeared to confirm the exploit’s functionality. A developer known as Gezine reportedly used the game to execute unauthorised commands on a PlayStation 5 system, even writing custom text directly onto the console’s system interface.
More worrying for Sony is the suggestion that the vulnerability may stem from a hardware-level flaw rather than a software oversight. If true, this would significantly limit Sony’s ability to resolve the issue through routine firmware patches.
Prices Surge Overnight
As news of the exploit spread, the market reacted almost immediately. Physical copies of Star Wars Racer Revenge on PlayStation 4 saw dramatic price increases across online marketplaces, with listings multiplying well beyond their original retail value within hours.
The spike mirrors past console-exploit scares, in which niche titles linked to vulnerabilities suddenly become highly sought-after commodities among collectors and tinkerers alike.
No Full Jailbreak Confirmed—Yet
Despite the mounting speculation, there is still no confirmation that this exploit will result in a complete Custom Firmware solution or enable widespread PlayStation 5 piracy. Sony is believed to maintain at least two additional security layers that would still need to be bypassed for such a breakthrough to be possible.
For now, the situation remains volatile and in its early stages, one that could either fizzle out quietly or escalate into a significant security challenge.
Sony Remains Silent as Questions Mount
At the time of writing, Sony has not issued an official response to reports that began circulating New Year’s Eve. If the vulnerability is indeed rooted in hardware design, however, the company’s options may be limited on a console that has already been on the market for several years.
Until more concrete details emerge, the PlayStation 5’s security status remains uncertain and Star Wars Racer Revenge continues to enjoy an unlikely moment at the centre of industry attention.
