Over the past few weeks, the hacking scene for current-generation gaming systems has made significant strides thanks to the advancement of AI models. While console jailbreaking is normally a significant issue that console manufacturers try to resolve as quickly as possible, Sony has an additional reason to act as quickly as possible, as it cannot afford to leave any hole unpatched on PlayStation 5 due to the release of Rockstar Games‘ Grand Theft Auto VI.
A month after the 14.10.00PlayStation 5 system software update, the 14.22.00.00 update has gone live today. This minor update introduces some “security fixes to the system software,” so there’s little doubt that this update is the new move in the firmware war Sony engaged with jailbreakers.
What makes the release of this new PlayStation 5 system software update more interesting is how it is reportedly strictly related to Grand Theft Auto VI‘s launch on November 19. According to PlayStation Game Size, which tracks updates on the PlayStation Network database, the next entry in the Rockstar Games‘ series will now require firmware 14.22.00 instead of 14.10.00, which is unprecedented.
However, extreme situations call for extreme measures. With Grand Theft Auto VI set to sell the most on PlayStation 5, Sony cannot allow any opening to piracy, as in the age of AI, even the smallest software vulnerability could have big consequences. And piracy could be only one of the consequences, as the game could be emulated and even recompiled into a native PC port before its official release, which would be disastrous for both Sony and Rockstar Games.
As jailbreakers and hackers will hardly stand down just because Sony is releasing multiple PlayStation 5 firmware updates in rapid succession, I expect this confrontation to continue even past November 19, when Grand Theft Auto VI releases. Hopefully, things are not taken to an extreme that would lead to real consequences for paying customers.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack.
After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi “Suda51” Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA’s president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3.
When he’s not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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