Sony Steps Up Crackdown on PS5 Hacking, Putting Users’ PSN Access at Risk

Owners of hacked PS5 consoles report problems accessing PlayStation Network and worry their consoles could be banned. Sony has not been confirmed to be running a mass ban campaign.

Sony continues to patch vulnerabilities in the PS5 system software. Users who have applied software modifications risk restrictions, because information about the hack is stored in the BIOS and a console reset does not erase it.

One Reddit user said his PS5 required an update to restore PSN access. He had to choose between installing the new firmware, which risked losing the ability to use the jailbreak, and keeping the old system version with limited access to online services. The possibility of a ban also remains.

The issue also affects buyers of used consoles, who may purchase an already hacked PS5 without knowing it.

There are no reports yet of a mass block on all devices with exploits. A firmware update requirement also does not mean a hardware ban. For now, the reports describe isolated cases, and the situation may change.