Developer appears to crack PS5 firmware 14.10.00 ahead of GTA VI

The timing draws attention because Sony released the update in October and because Grand Theft Auto VI is reportedly built to require the latest firmware. According to datamining by the X account PlayStation Game Size, GTA VI needs firmware 14.10.00 to run, a requirement that would theoretically block the game on jailbroken consoles running older software. Earlier PS5 firmware could be jailbroken with the "Relapse" jailbreak to play illegally obtained games; the 14.10 update closed that route, at least until the new exploit appeared.

A kernel exploit alone does not mean GTA VI can be pirated. The video shows the console's debug menus, not a running copy of the game, and Gezine has not publicly shared the method used to reach those menus. In a reply to the original post, the developer said they were "gonna ask for disclosure later," suggesting they may first report the issue through a bug bounty program. Sony has not acknowledged the hack, but the company runs a bug bounty program that pays security researchers for identifying similar vulnerabilities.

Even with kernel access, cracking a digital game for use elsewhere would require another component: a hypervisor exploit, which would target the software security layer running beneath the kernel. That exploit has not materialized publicly, according to the report. Without it, GTA VI would remain available only through a normal physical or digital purchase. The physical version, unlike older games, is said to provide a download code and a game box rather than a disc that can be used offline.

The game's console exclusivity, at least for now, is one reason players might seek out a cracked version. The more direct reason is to avoid paying $80. For Sony, the video puts attention on a firmware update released shortly before one of the year's largest game launches; for Gezine, the next step may be disclosure to Sony rather than a public release of the exploit.

Editor's Summary

Gezine's video suggests kernel-level access on PS5 firmware 14.10.00, the version reportedly required for GTA VI. The exploit does not by itself enable pirated games, and a hypervisor exploit would still be needed. Sony has not acknowledged the claim, and Gezine said he may seek disclosure later.