New PS5 Jailbreak Could Pave the Way for Widespread Piracy

Hackers have discovered a new jailbreaking technique for the PlayStation 5, and this one is significant. While various exploits have been around for a while, the new “Relapse” jailbreak is particularly concerning for Sony because it can be applied to nearly all PS5 firmware versions, with the exception of the very latest: version 14.00.00, which was released less than two weeks ago. This creates a substantial vulnerability that could have serious implications for piracy on the platform.

Two key factors amplify the importance of this development. First, many players who recently bought a PS5 but haven’t updated to the latest firmware can still take advantage of this exploit. Essentially, any retail PS5, including the PS5 Pro models that have been on store shelves for more than a couple of weeks, is at risk from the “Relapse” jailbreak.

The second factor poses an even greater challenge for Sony. Many modern PS5 games require users to have the latest system firmware installed to run. This means that if someone wants to update a pirated game—whether for improved performance or to access new DLC—they typically need to install the most recent firmware.

The “Relapse” jailbreak method is effective on PS5 systems running v26.05-13.60.00, which was released in late July. Consequently, any game that launched before the 14.00.00 update on September 16, 2026, could potentially be at risk of piracy.

For instance, Marvel’s Wolverine was released just a day before the new firmware update. To make matters worse, reports indicate that the “Relapse” jailbreak can be executed in under a minute.

Marvel’s Wolverine isn’t the only title affected; users on the r/PS5_Jailbreak subreddit are also noting that The Witcher 3 Remastered, which just launched today, can run using the Relapse jailbreak. A new firmware update is likely on the horizon to address this exploit, but for now, it remains uncertain how Sony will manage to contain the fallout for all the PS5 games and updates that have already been released.