A new PS5 jailbreak tool called Relapse has been released, offering another way to run unsigned software on system software versions 7.00 through 13.60.
Published by developer ntfargo and others, Relapse combines vulnerabilities in the browser and the kernel to make it possible to run programs that are normally restricted.
Jailbreak methods for the PS5 have existed before, but some other tools only cover up to 12.00 or 12.40. Relapse extends the supported range to the comparatively recent 13.60.
However, 14.00 is not supported. And even when the jailbreak itself succeeds, there is no guarantee that every homebrew app or tool will run correctly.
An emulator for running Nintendo Switch software is also in development for the PS5, but to set up a usable environment you need to check not only the jailbreak tool but also the compatibility status of the software you plan to run on top of it.
Combining two vulnerabilities: the browser and the kernel
Relapse chains a browser-side vulnerability with a vulnerability in the kernel, the core of the operating system.
According to the developer's explanation, the first stage exploits a bug in JavaScriptCore, the JavaScript engine in WebKit, to execute operations inside the browser that are not normally permitted.
But being able to run arbitrary code inside the browser does not by itself let you change restrictions across the whole PS5.
So the next stage uses a kernel-side vulnerability.
The kernel is the core part of the OS that manages application privileges, memory, hardware and more.
Relapse takes advantage of memory-management bugs and race conditions that occur when multiple processes run at the same time, ultimately reaching a state in which kernel memory can be read and written.
The browser and kernel vulnerabilities play different roles.
The browser vulnerability is the initial foothold, while the kernel vulnerability provides access to deeper parts of the PS5.
Relapse then sets up an environment capable of loading ELF-format programs. This lays the groundwork for running homebrew software and additional tools.
Other jailbreak methods using different vulnerabilities have long existed for the PS5.
For example, P2JB-Y2JB, which uses the YouTube app, covers 9.00 through 12.40.
Also, ps5-webkit-autoloader v0.5.1 bundles Poops for 7.00–12.00 and Relapse for 7.00–13.60.
In other words, what is new about Relapse is not that it made the PS5 jailbreakable for the first time.
It is that it adds a public method supporting newer system software than before.
Support for 13.60 doesn't mean every homebrew app will run
Relapse itself supports 7.00 through 13.60, but additional software run on top of it cannot be assumed to work normally across the same range.
In fact, in a commit dated September 29, ntfargo removed the bundled kstuff, ShadowMountPlus and etaHEN, citing compatibility issues.
The feature for loading them with the controller's R2 button was also removed at the same time.
This does not mean Relapse itself has become unusable.
Nor does it indicate that the removed tools fail in every environment.
What matters is that breaking through the kernel's restrictions and whether the programs run afterward work properly on a particular firmware are separate questions.
The setup needed to run homebrew on the PS5 can be summarized as follows.
| Stage / software | Main role | Current caveats |
|---|---|---|
| Relapse | Gains kernel access on 7.00–13.60 and creates an environment for running ELF-format programs | Multiple attempts may be needed, and the console may freeze or crash |
| etaHEN and others | Additional tools for using homebrew and various features | Separate software from Relapse; compatibility must be checked for each firmware |
| ProsperoEden | Emulator for running Nintendo Switch software on the PS5 | An early test version; some titles freeze and some games do not reach adequate speeds |
This table organizes the role each piece of software plays on the PS5. It is not a performance comparison.
Just because Relapse supports 13.60 does not mean etaHEN, ProsperoEden and the rest all work without problems on 13.60.
The jailbreak environment and the homebrew running on it each have their own compatibility requirements.
Also, Relapse's compatibility check defines the supported system software versions individually.
So rather than a loose claim like "it works on nearly all PS5 consoles," it matters more to check which system software your own PS5 is running.
The Switch emulator makes Vulkan its default renderer
ProsperoEden, a Nintendo Switch emulator for the PS5, is also progressing.
In v1.000.020, released September 30, Vulkan became the recommended and default rendering method.
ProsperoEden is an unofficial PS5 port of Eden by developer BlackBearReloaded.
Relapse itself does not include emulator functionality; the emulator is a separate homebrew app run on a jailbroken PS5.
Vulkan is an API that lets applications such as games instruct the GPU to render graphics.
ProsperoEden uses a Mesa/RADV-based graphics driver developed for the PS5 to run Eden's Vulkan rendering on the console.
The older OpenGL path remains available and can be switched to in the settings.
In other words, even after a jailbreak makes it possible to run homebrew, the emulator needs software that lets it use the PS5's GPU properly.
This update shifts that graphics processing toward Vulkan.
The developer has confirmed that video, audio, controller input, save functions and more are working.
Still, v1.000.020 remains an early-stage test version.
The release notes state that quitting a game can take several seconds, that some games freeze on loading screens, and that demanding games do not reach adequate speeds.
Vulkan becoming the default is a separate matter from every Nintendo Switch game running smoothly.
This update also lets users change where game data is stored.
Any folder accessible from the PS5, such as internal storage or an external drive, can be specified as the save location for game data.
Settings, logs, cover images, save data and the like are now also stored separately from the app itself.
This makes it easier to keep user settings and save data intact when updating ProsperoEden itself.
On the other hand, encryption keys, Switch firmware and game data are not included.
It is also important to separate planned features from those already available.
Support for multiple controllers, rumble and motion input, and per-game graphics settings are treated as future items in the developer's roadmap.
Development is moving quickly, but planned features should not be treated as proven functionality today.
Stay on 13.60, or apply the official update?
As of now, system software 14.00 is not within Relapse's supported range.
That creates a choice between staying on 13.60 or lower to keep using homebrew, and updating to the latest system software.
This is not simply a question of whether to update the console.
In its official system software guide, Sony Interactive Entertainment explains that a console update may be required to use some applications and content.
So if you stay on an older version supported by Relapse, you may be unable to use future games, online features or apps that require the latest version.
The required version, however, differs by game and service.
The fact that Relapse supports 13.60 alone does not tell you whether every latest game or service will be usable.
Network requirements also vary depending on the mechanism used.
ps5-webkit-autoloader v0.5.1, released September 30, says Relapse assumes the console's network functions are enabled but does not require an actual internet connection.
The same release also made Poops for 7.00–12.00 usable again, and it offers a configuration that does not require a network connection.
In other words, even on the same firmware, the required environment differs depending on the jailbreak method used.
Beyond range, stable operation is the next focus
Relapse's 7.00–13.60 support range is a major change for PS5 homebrew development.
But being supported is not the same as being stable enough for everyday use.
Relapse's developer himself notes that multiple attempts may be needed on the browser side, and that kernel-side processing may cause the console to freeze or crash.
Indeed, users have reported freezes and crashes on supported versions shortly after release.
For researchers and homebrew developers, being able to reach the 13.x series that was previously out of range is significant.
But for a console used day to day, simply having more supported firmware versions is not enough.
What matters from here is whether additional tools can run stably on the same firmware, whether homebrew and emulators run reliably on real hardware, and how far per-game compatibility and performance improve.
Relapse has widened the environment in which homebrew can run on the PS5.
The next focus is how stably software that uses that environment, such as etaHEN and ProsperoEden, can run across a wide range of PS5 consoles, including those on the 13.x series.