Hackers have uncovered a new jailbreaking method for the PlayStation 5. That wouldn’t normally be a huge deal. Several exploits taking control of the console have been making the rounds for quite some time now. Unfortunately for Sony, the new “Relapse” jailbreak exploit works on every PS5 firmware version, bar one: version 14.00.00, which is less than two weeks old. That makes it a much bigger vulnerability for the company to deal with, and one that could have major implications for piracy on the platform.
There are two factors contributing to the significance of this development. The first is that those who have purchased PlayStation 5s recently but haven’t updated to the latest firmware will still be able to access the new exploit. Basically, that means that any retail PS5s, including PS5 Pros, that have been on shelves for longer than a couple weeks will be vulnerable to the “Relapse” jailbreak method.
The second reason is a much bigger issue for Sony. Modern PS5 games often require users to be running an up-to-date version of the system firmware in order for them to boot. This means that if you want to update a pirated game, for either quality-of-life reasons or to take advantage of DLC releases, you also usually need to install the most recent firmware.
New PlayStation 5 jailbreak just dropped. Every PS5 console can now be jailbroken except ones updated in the past week or so. Huge. pic.twitter.com/6FXb4SAcPv — Lance McDonald (@manfightdragon) September 29, 2026
As the “Relapse” jailbreak method works on PS5 systems running v26.05-13.60.00, which was released in late July, every game that was released before the 14.00.00 update, which dropped on September 16, 2026, could potentially be compromised by pirates.
Marvel’s Wolverine, for example, shipped on September 15. Adding insult to injury is that the “Relapse” jailbreak method can reportedly be implemented in under a minute.
Of course, Marvel’s Wolverine isn’t the only recent game affected here. Users on the r/PS5_Jailbreak subreddit are reporting that The Witcher 3 Remastered, which just came out today, can also somehow run using the Relapse jailbreak. Expect a new firmware update to cut off this exploit’s longevity in the immediate future, but for now it’s unclear how Sony can put the genie back in the bottle for all of the PS5 games and updates already released.
🕹️ Level up your inbox
Don’t miss the latest reviews, news and tips. Sign up for our free newsletter.
You May Also Like
Source: Kotaku