Grand Theft Auto V can run with ray tracing enabled at a silky smooth 60 frames per second on a PlayStation 5, and this is not your typical PS5 experience, since it is taking place on a Linux desktop via Steam. Andy Nguyen, often known on the internet as TheFlow, is a security specialist who created an open source loader that he released into the public domain.
I ported Linux to the PS5 and turned it into a Steam Machine. Running GTA 5 Enhanced with Ray Tracing. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aMbT0PQ1dS
— Andy Nguyen (@theflow0) March 6, 2026
Nguyen built the entire thing around an exploit in the console’s hypervisor, which he cleverly used. His application installs a fully functional Linux system on original Playstation 5 consoles, complete with an intact factory configuration. This means that customers receive the whole package, including a full desktop experience capable of running Steam, emulators, and standard PC functions. The loader is available on GitHub under the name PS5-Linux, and it includes a pre-configured Ubuntu 24.04 installation as well as the scripts required to get everything set up.
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To get started, owners must first run a separate exploit known as umtx2. Then they set up a fake DNS server and HTTPS host on a nearby computer, and point the console’s manual page lookup to that server. Once that’s done, they transfer the payload over the local network and wait for the console to enter rest mode, indicated by the unique orange light. One press of the power button, and Linux is up and running. To make things feel more normal, the internal storage remains unchanged, and a routine reboot restores everything to the way it was, the ordinary PS5 OS.
As soon as Linux boots up, you have access to the hardware. All eight Zen 2 CPU cores can clock at up to 3.5 gigahertz, with 16 threads running at the same time. The RDNA 2 graphics processor operates at a speed of 2.23 gigahertz, while video and audio are delivered over HDMI at resolutions of up to 4K at 60 frames per second. Every USB connection on the gadget works, so you can connect controllers, keyboards, and whatever else you want. The included control tool allows you to adjust the CPU and GPU clocks and even construct a custom fan curve to keep temperatures under control.
Steam becomes usable almost immediately, and you can return to your previous library and run any compatible titles with performance that typically matches or even exceeds what you’d expect from the hardware. Emulators for previous systems also operate seamlessly. However, there is an optional step that adds some convenience: if you place an M.2 solid state drive into the expansion slot, you can establish a distinct Linux partition from the main storage.
A few points to keep in mind when using the mod: it is only compatible with original disc drive PlayStation 5 models running firmware versions 3 through 4.51. Any later updates will prevent the exploit, so either stick with the old firmware or accept that the console will remain a few years behind the pace. Every time you start the thing, you have to go through the entire exploit procedure again because the change is just temporary, and some displays may require a fallback to 1080p if you wish to utilize them at higher resolutions. However, the supplied tools will regulate fan speeds for you, preventing things from becoming too hot under the collar.
