Recently, there is has been some talk about a YouTube #video #released showing Steam’s Linux client #running on a PS4.
This video shows creator OsirisX browsing the Steam library before launching into Bastion, running at full-speed.
Other Linux games are said to work well, but not with their maximum settings. Plus the video’s description outlines the process was made possible by Arch Linux, libraries from fail0evrflow, and a console running the now much older firmware version 1.76.
The whole concept of running Linux on a PlayStation is nothing new. Originally when the Playstations 3 released there was official supported the installation of the open-source operating system, but this functionality was later removed, outlining that there were concerns of piracy taking place on the console. And lets face it, a Linux machine that can console disc’s would be a given to anyone interested in making “back-ups” of their games.
However, the difference with the PS4 console is that it is powered by an x86 processor, which was typically standard in most desktop PCs. And thanks to the explosion in the amount of games available for Linux, this makes for a relatively cost-effective PC to play games on.
But the practice of using a PS4 to install and run Linux games is limited, due to system requirements for most modern titles, plus the use of an older version of the PS4’s operating system. And as a safeguard, Sony does not make it easy for users to roll-back their firmware, given how this could reintroduce security exploits that have already been patched.
Either way, it is interesting to see how functional the PS4 can be, let alone how veratile Linux is now that we have over 2100 titles available and climbing.
