A few weeks ago, around the 19th of August, a developer known as CTurt managed to run unsigned code on his PS4 by using the Webkit exploit which was patched after 1.76. A couple weeks later, he announced that he managed to create the "first" PS4 homebrew: A version of Pong. Controlled by a Nintendo DS:

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On release, CTurt mentions a few things about his basic homebrew. First, he's using a Nintendo DS because developers currently "can’t use the official controller library”. Secondly, the homebrew itself is being rendered in an HTML5 canvas, since developers have no access to PS4 rendering routines, which somewhat limits the current possibilities of this hack. He also announced he was working on getting a homebrew loader started as well, so others might enjoy his basic software. That is, if they've kept their PS4 on 1.76 or lower.

Pretty good first step in the PS4 world of hacking, right?

But that's not all folks, because a few days ago, CTurt has again announced and released another basic PS4 homebrew: A port of his own Gameboy emulator, Cinoop. Similar to his Pong release, this emulator runs through an HTML5 canvas and requires a Nintendo DS to control, but it's still quite impressive nonetheless.

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As of now, the workings of the webkit exploit and the homebrew apps are limited to developers and very experienced users, and of course anyone above firmware 1.76 can't use the webkit exploit required, it's definitely nice to see something as "new" as the PS4 receiving some attention in the homebrew department already.

Code Execution Source
Pong Source
Gameboy Emulator Source

 

[chartube12]

Are you working on/going to work the xbone too?

Why? Xbone is getting the windows' universal app store soon. And even if they remove emulators from the official store, a dozen or so Microsoft official have already stated you will be able to side-load your own apps. I expect to see fully functional nes through playstation emulators ported from windows, rt, windows phone 7 and android to the universal windows platform within 6-12 months and work nearly perfectly on the xbone. Even though we will have to most likely side-load them.

 

[jDSX]

Why? Xbone is getting the windows' universal app store soon. And even if they remove emulators from the official store, a dozen or so Microsoft official have already stated you will be able to side-load your own apps. I expect to see fully functional nes through playstation emulators ported from windows, rt, windows phone 7 and android to the universal windows platform within 6-12 months and work nearly perfectly on the xbone. Even though we will have to most likely side-load them.

Doesn't the xbone have same DRM attached to it like windows 10 does? I can't see microsoft letting anyone run that kind of code on the system, then again I haven't heard if any newer emus work on windows 10 let alone the ones that haven't been updated in a long time.

 

[VinsCool]

Doesn't the xbone have same DRM attached to it like windows 10 does? I can't see microsoft letting anyone run that kind of code on the system, then again I haven't heard if any newer emus work on windows 10 let alone the ones that haven't been updated in a long time.

everything works fine in my end in win10 lol.

 

[jDSX]

I didn't mean to derail off topic or anything I just asked if it could be done, I think the 360 emulators weren't that good anyways.

 

[Zeriel]

I wonder, wouldn't it be easier to try and make an Emulator of PS4 on PC rather than cracking it?
Sony is really paranoid after the PSP, they're so paranoid they completely ruined the Vita, and the
PS4 hardware is exactly the same as PC so I'm thinking, rather than cracking an impossible
encryption, emulation could be the answer from now on...

 

[Foxi4]

I wonder, wouldn't it be easier to try and make an Emulator of PS4 on PC rather than cracking it?
Sony is really paranoid after the PSP, they're so paranoid they completely ruined the Vita, and the
PS4 hardware is exactly the same as PC so I'm thinking, rather than cracking an impossible
encryption, emulation could be the answer from now on...

The PS4 hardware is not identical to a PC's and emulating a machine of that caliber is a pipedream on current PC's. Virtualization might work out, or even direct porting on certain setups, but just have a look at how it worked out on the original Xbox - "emulation" of the system is barely functional.

 

[Zeriel]

The PS4 hardware is not identical to a PC's and emulating a machine of that caliber is a pipedream on current PC's. Virtualization might work out, or even direct porting on certain setups, but just have a look at how it worked out on the original Xbox - "emulation" of the system is barely functional.

It would be really cool if companies just cracked open their consoles after 15 years or so and people could
Homebrew in peace and every game can be stored for historical value but they're so greedy they would rather see every PS4 burn before that

 

[BlackYoshi485]

Finally somebody's hacking that boring powerful console

 

[Zeriel]

Finally somebody's hacking that boring powerful console

If by hacking you mean running a pong on an html5 canvas with no access to any hardware on a firmware from
2 years ago....the PS4 won't be hacked for another 20 years if ever >.>

 

[BlackYoshi485]

If by hacking you mean running a pong on an html5 canvas with no access to any hardware on a firmware from
2 years ago....the PS4 won't be hacked for another 20 years if ever >.>

thanks to god, i'm not a PS4 fan.

 

[Zeriel]

thanks to god, i'm not a PS4 fan.

Me neither, no Nintendo fan who has access to so many great games would be a fan of COD every
year but if FF7 remake is really good when it comes out on 2017 (If ever) I would have to get one

 

[BlackYoshi485]

Me neither, no Nintendo fan who has access to so many great games would be a fan of COD every
year but if FF7 remake is really good when it comes out on 2017 (If ever) I would have to get one

hopefully FF7 will have a Steam port

 

[Zeriel]

hopefully FF7 will have a Steam port

I would be the happiest man alive XD but knowing Sony they would drop massive piles of cash
so they can at least postpone release for another year. I'm just hoping SE doesn't ruin the game
they have been really bad lately

 

[Foxi4]

It would be really cool if companies just cracked open their consoles after 15 years or so and people could Homebrew in peace and every game can be stored for historical value but they're so greedy they would rather see every PS4 burn before that

Good Guy Sony used to do that, actually - the PS1 had a NetYaroze edition for homebrewers, the PS2 had a Linux kit and the PS3 originally launched with OtherOS, so you could develop for all three since Day 1. Then GeoHot came along, exposed a security hole in OtherOS allowing kernel access and thus piracy and Sony's been stingy ever since.

 

[Zeriel]

Good Guy Sony used to do that, actually - the PS1 had a NetYaroze edition for homebrewers, the PS2 had a Linux kit and the PS3 originally launched with OtherOS, so you could develop for all three since Day 1. Then GeoHot came along, exposed a security hole in OtherOS allowing kernel access and thus piracy and Sony's been stingy ever since.

Wow that sucks, I guess there's noway to stop that one person from taking things too far so Sony has to completely lock down. I understand companies need security to survive but Sony has also taken it to the extreme charging consumers a massive
amount of money for the Vita memory cards, killing it in the process. Maybe Sony could do something with Videogame
streaming but the prices in PSnow are ridiculous too...

 

[Moraduke]

Just wanted to say that this is awesome and hopefully it leads to other developers to poke around inside the PS4. Cool stuff, CTurt.

 

[mgrev]

now you can stick your ps4, a 60 inch 4k tv, some cables and a car battery to play gameboy on the go!

 

[reprep]

now you can stick your ps4, a 60 inch 4k tv, some cables and a car battery to play gameboy on the go!

yay for gameboy on the go. A dream is becoming reality.

 

[Hargrun]

yay for gameboy on the go. A dream is becoming reality.

Sheet. I almost fell of the chair.

 

[bitjacker]

i hope this gameboy emulator runs lsdj better than a super gameboy.