Sony just released system firmware 14.20 for its PlayStation 5 consoles, following reports that system firmware version 14.10 had already been cracked.
While Sony's official patch note for the update is "We've improved the messages and usability on some screens," the console giant has been on damage control ever since the Relapse exploit. The arm's race between Sony's security engineers and PlayStation crackers has begun, and early evidence already points toward 14.20 is getting jailbroken within hours too, though only partially (userland) thus far.
🔥 PS5 14.20 USERLAND EXPLOIT CONFIRMED 🔥 Userland entry point popped on 14.20 firmware! Remote Lua Loader successfully executing payloads live with FTP server listening on port 1337. https://t.co/e4ReXdSiO1
— kuzi (@kuzibelit) October 21, 2026
Relapse stopped working at firmware version 13.60, but contrary to some predictions, a follow-up exploit dubbed Overdrive wasn't far behind. Overdrive provided a seamless PlayStation Store clone that allowed full games to be downloaded for free, though it's unclear whether the files were privately-hosted or being ripped from Sony's own servers. In any case, it was also C&D'd and taken down within 24 hours, though similar solutions may arise.
With the massive influx of AI-driven security updates we're seeing across platforms and operating systems lately, it seems jailbreaks like these will likely be squashed in time. Additional exploits are being found using AI-assistance too though, and (per reports on Relapse's development) that likely extends to jailbreaking.
Jailbroken systems on previous firmwares can still run pirated games for the entire PS5 library up until their official firmware cutoff. Those devices retain substantial value, even on resale, though getting that resale value can require more dubious secondhand markets. We imagine most people who have a hacked PS5 are probably going to hold onto it for the foreseeable future, perhaps hoping that a future jailbroken system firmware will open the gate to Grand Theft Auto VI.
Christopher Harper is a tech writer with over a decade of experience writing how-tos and news. Off work, he stays sharp with gym time & stylish action games.