PlayStation 5 PS5 images next to controllers 3

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
TL;DR
  • A string of updates across homebrew projects has catapulted the PlayStation 5 into the ultimate gaming machine, as long as you are jailbroken.
  • PS5SX2’s latest update lets users play PS2 DVDs directly on the PS5, while proof-of-concept footage of RPS5S3 shows PS3 games running on the PS5.
  • PS5CEMU-HAR’s latest update unifies Wii U, 3DS, and DS emulation into a single interface, while updates to other Switch emulators improves performance in heavy games.
  • Developers also showcased booting and running Windows 7 on the PS5, because why not.

The PlayStation 5 homebrew scene is moving at breakneck speed, turning Sony’s flagship console into an unexpectedly versatile emulation powerhouse. Just days after we covered PS5SX2 bringing PlayStation 2 emulation and the ProsperoEden project taking on Nintendo Switch titles, developers have rolled out massive updates that fundamentally change what jailbroken PS5 consoles can do.

PS5SX2 v2.1.0 brings native-style PS2 disc playback

Leading the charge is PS5SX2’s v2.1.0 release, which introduces the scene’s first direct physical disc-booting workflow. The PCSX2-based emulator can now boot original physical PS2 DVDs directly from the PS5’s home screen, completely bypassing the tedious step of first dumping ISO files to storage. It relies on a combination of ShadowMount Plus and a companion helper payload, bringing the jailbroken console closer to the native backwards compatibility that Sony never delivered.