Support NeoGAF

LewieP · May 21, 2016

Video

Very impressive proof of concept of Arch Linux installed on a PS4, which is then set to boot into Steam Big Picture Mode, and can successfully run Linux games (Bastion is used for demonstration purposes here).

This is currently only possible via an exploit in the PS4 firmware which was closed after version 1.76, but it's entirely plausible that similar exploits will be discovered for more recent firmwares.

Since the PS4 uses the x86 architecture, it's far closer to a modern desktop PC with a custom OS than any previous consoles. This means that once you get it running Linux, it is compatible with the large library of commercial video games available for x86 Linux, including a sizable chunk of the Steam library. It remains to be seen exactly how well games will perform once full hardware acceleration is achieved, and to what extent the CPU will be a limiting factor, but these early results are very promising in my view.

Not sure if it's currently something that would be worth giving up on PSN/PS store access for most users, but it's certainly something I'll be keeping my eye on.

Via wololo.net

Dynomutt · May 21, 2016

There goes Sony's E3 Surprise...

RadioJoNES64 · May 21, 2016

Just imagine how much more value PS4 would have if it had the open Linux capability that PS3 used to.

DownGrader · May 21, 2016

RadioJoNES64 said:
Just imagine how much more value PS4 would have if it had the open Linux capability that PS3 used too.

Wasn't that whole Linux thing done just to circumvent Brazilian laws regarding video game consoles?

michaelius · May 21, 2016

RadioJoNES64 said:
Just imagine how much more value PS4 would have if it had the open Linux capability that PS3 used too.

0,001% more?

PS4 cpu is pathetically bad for any kind of desktop usage and gaming will suffer badly if you are forced to use OpenGL games on it

Spring Drive · May 21, 2016

But can it run Windows 95?

Three · May 21, 2016

DownGrader said:
Wasn't that whole Linux thing done just to circumvent Brazilian laws regarding video game consoles?

No.

Rich! · May 21, 2016

DownGrader said:
Wasn't that whole Linux thing done just to circumvent Brazilian laws regarding video game consoles?

I assumed it was a way to get tax breaks as selling the console as a computer.

Caronte · May 21, 2016

RadioJoNES64 said:
Just imagine how much more value PS4 would have if it had the open Linux capability that PS3 used to.

None at all?

DownGrader · May 21, 2016

Rich! said:
I assumed it was a way to get tax breaks as selling the console as a computer.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Linux and "computer entertainment system" name.

protomouse · May 21, 2016

Rich! said:
I assumed it was a way to get tax breaks as selling the console as a computer.

This. Same reason for YaBASIC on PS2.

PS4 is too weak and uninteresting for general purpose computing. Cell, for its time, provided for a "supercomputer":

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3_cluster

Kayant · May 21, 2016

Very impressive proof of concept of Arch Linux installed on a PS4

Best Linux Distro 👍 👌

LewieP · May 21, 2016

DownGrader said:
Wasn't that whole Linux thing done just to circumvent Brazilian laws regarding video game consoles?

I think they qualified for certain tax benefits in the EU, too.

But it was heavily restricted, it didn't have anything close to full hardware access.

Was still pretty neat.

LewieP · May 21, 2016

Spring Drive said:
But can it run Windows 95?

I don't see why not, Dosbox is available for Linux, and unlike the UWP implementation on Xbox One, it would have access to the full hardware.

FataIChoice · May 21, 2016

I think it's worth mentioning that Wololo is aware of and mentioned a possible webkit exploit on current firmware that could lead to kernel access, but only time will truly tell.

thomasmahler · May 21, 2016

LewieP said:
It remains to be seen exactly how well games will perform once full hardware acceleration is achieved

Well, good luck on that one...

LewieP · May 21, 2016

FataIChoice said:
I think it's worth mentioning that Wololo is aware of and mentioned a possible webkit exploit on current firmware that could lead to kernel access, but only time will truly tell.

Aye, I was avoiding getting people's hopes up, because it wouldn't be the first time reports like that amounted to nothing.

Daredevil.shark · May 21, 2016

Why not use a PC instead? Why take so much pain. Some people have too much time.

jediyoshi · May 21, 2016

Daredevil.shark said:
Why not use a PC instead? Why take so much pain. Some people have too much time.

The challenge is its own reward. Or you know, it's nicer to have less boxes under your TV than more.

LewieP · May 21, 2016

Daredevil.shark said:
Why not use a PC instead? Why take so much pain. Some people have too much time.

Possibly I've missed it, but to the best of my knowledge there is no PC that has the small form factor, quality engineering and performance of a PS4 for the same price.

I'd also imagine that not many people will buy a PS4 specifically to do this, but it's a fun thing to try if you already have a PS4.

Certainly has the potentially to be a nice little emulation box.

Installing Linux doesn't prevent you from continuing to use it to play PS4 games.

dxdy · May 21, 2016

michaelius said:
PS4 cpu is pathetically bad for any kind of usage and gaming

Fixed!

FairFriend · May 21, 2016

DownGrader said:
Wasn't that whole Linux thing done just to circumvent Brazilian laws regarding video game consoles?

ps3 found application in the field of high performance computing. In order to write code for it it had to support linux, of course. To my knowledge a certain research group in Euorpe was the first to receive a batch of ps3s before they hit retail. They were used to do chromodynamics calculations, but i might be wrong

FairFriend · May 21, 2016

LewieP said:
But it was heavily restricted, it didn't have anything close to full hardware access.

absolutely, but it must be noted that even the gimped down version of cell present in the ps3 hardware was enough to catch the interest of many research groups. at the time cell was truly perceived as the future of the high performance computing field. what undermined its usage was essentially the low bandwidth available to communicate with other cells, which makes sense considering that it was mainly conceived as a stand alone cpu for the ps3

thelastword · May 21, 2016

RadioJoNES64 said:
Just imagine how much more value PS4 would have if it had the open Linux capability that PS3 used to.

There were literally two people who used linux on PS3, so I very much doubt the exaggerated value and appeal that you imagine would exist with open linux support on the PS4.

GhostTrick · May 21, 2016

thelastword said:
There were literally two people who used linux on PS3, so I very much doubt the exaggerated value and appeal that you imagine would exist with open linux support on the PS4.

It's two different things. PS3 was using PowerPC so you were limited to things meant for PowerPC AND Linux. Which was ridiculously niche. But here, we're talking about Linux x86.

LewieP · May 21, 2016

FairFriend said:
absolutely, but it must be noted that even the gimped down version of cell present in the ps3 hardware was enough to catch the interest of many research groups. at the time cell was truly perceived as the future of the high performance computing field. what undermined its usage was essentially the low bandwidth available to communicate with other cells, which makes sense considering that it was mainly conceived as a stand alone cpu for the ps3

True enough. It didn't have the gaming potential that I think the PS4 has, but it was still pretty cool.

NoblesseOblige · May 21, 2016

Linux on my PS4 is sure to net me 5 games.

Wowfunhappy · May 23, 2016

So if this kind of thing is possible, why aren't PC<-->PS4 ports much more common/easy than they are now?

(Or at minimum Linux<-->PS4 ports)

NeOak · May 23, 2016

DownGrader said:
Wasn't that whole Linux thing done just to circumvent Brazilian laws regarding video game consoles?

That was Yabasic on the PS2. So no.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/11/07/sony_adds_basic_to_playstation/

Orayn · May 23, 2016

Wowfunhappy said:
So if this kind of thing is possible, why aren't PC<-->PS4 ports much more common/easy than they are now?

(Or at minimum Linux<-->PS4 ports)

I don't understand this post, PS4/PC ports are both common and relatively easy. The things that usually prevent them are exclusivity agreements and licensing issues, not porting difficulties.

jediyoshi · May 23, 2016

Wowfunhappy said:
So if this kind of thing is possible, why aren't PC<-->PS4 ports much more common/easy than they are now?

(Or at minimum Linux<-->PS4 ports)

You could ask the same as to why there aren't more Windows to Linux ports.

Platy · May 23, 2016

I wonder how much power they have avaliable .... is linux installed with only OS control or with full control ?

kinggroin · May 23, 2016

Aw this is cool stuff. Hope it evolves to increase performance.

TheSeks · May 23, 2016

RadioJoNES64 said:
Just imagine how much more value PS4 would have if it had the open Linux capability that PS3 used to.

You mean the Linux on PS3 that couldn't even access the GPU until people blew open the hypervisor?

Support NeoGAF

Linux/Steam/Linux Games running on a PS4, requires fw 1.76

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Banned

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Banned

Banned

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Banned

Blinded by the luminous glory that is David Bowie's physical manifestation.

Similar threads