A modder got GTA IV running on PS5 through Linux and Steam at 4K. With no official port in sight, the homebrew community stepped in while fans wait for GTA 6.
Grand Theft Auto IV has never received an official PlayStation 5 release, but a community workaround has changed that. In early May 2026, a user known as Speed-007 got the Steam version of GTA IV running on a PS5 through Linux, sharing a screenshot of the game in 4K resolution. The achievement comes at a time when millions of PlayStation owners are counting down to GTA 6’s November 19, 2026 launch date with no legitimate way to revisit Niko Bellic’s Liberty City on their current hardware.
How Did GTA IV End Up Running on PS5?
The breakthrough is built on the ps5-linux project created by security engineer Andy Nguyen, known online as TheFlow. On April 28, 2026, Nguyen publicly released a complete toolchain on GitHub that transforms original PS5 “Phat” consoles into functional Linux PCs. The exploit targets a patched hypervisor vulnerability and works exclusively on disc-based PS5 models running firmware versions 3.xx through 4.xx.
Once Linux is running, the PS5 operates as an x86 desktop with full access to its eight Zen 2 CPU cores (up to 3.5 GHz) and RDNA 2 GPU (up to 2.23 GHz). Video output supports 1080p, 1440p, and 4K at 60 Hz. All USB ports remain functional, and users can install Linux onto the PS5’s M.2 SSD expansion slot for a dedicated partition. The internal SSD is never modified, and the console returns to standard PS5 operation on a normal reboot.
Speed-007 installed Steam through this Linux environment and ran GTA IV: The Complete Edition. According to GamingBible’s report, the game reportedly runs well in 4K, though no gameplay footage was shared to verify frame rate stability.
Why Can’t PS5 Play GTA IV Natively?
The PS5’s backward compatibility only covers PS4 titles. PS3 games cannot run natively because the PS3 used a unique Cell processor architecture that the PS5 cannot emulate through its standard compatibility layer. GTA IV was originally released for PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 29, 2008, followed by a PC version in December of the same year. There was never a native PS4 build of the game.
PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can stream a limited selection of PS3 games through Sony’s cloud service, but GTA IV is not part of that catalogue. By contrast, Xbox players have been able to play GTA IV on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S through backward compatibility since February 2017.
What About an Official GTA IV Port?
Rumours of an official remaster or port have been circulating since mid-2025. Well-known Rockstar insider Tez2 claimed on the GTA Forums that a current-gen port of GTA IV had been in development for roughly a year, targeting PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. Kotaku sources reportedly confirmed the claim. In July 2025, Rockstar’s own support website briefly listed PS4 as a supported platform for GTA IV before the entry was removed, further fuelling speculation.
If a PS4 port were to materialise, it would also run on PS5 through backward compatibility, potentially at 60 FPS. This would mirror the approach taken with Red Dead Redemption’s 2023 re-release, which launched as a native PS4 port and played at 60 FPS on PS5. However, Rockstar has made no official announcement, and industry observers suggest any port may be held until after GTA 6’s launch window clears.
Is the Linux Method Practical for Most Players?
Not really. The exploit has strict hardware and firmware requirements. Only the original PS5 Phat model (launched late 2020) is supported. The 2023 Slim revision does not work. The console must be running firmware between 3.00 and 4.51; anything at 5.xx or above is currently incompatible, and most PS5 consoles that have been regularly updated are well past those versions.
The setup process requires a USB drive of at least 64 GB (external SSD recommended), a USB Ethernet or WLAN adapter, and a mouse and keyboard. Users must first run a separate jailbreak tool (the umtx2 exploit), set up a fake DNS server, redirect the PS5’s manual page lookup to trigger the exploit, then send the Linux loader payload via TCP. The modification is a soft mod: it does not persist between reboots, and the entire process must be repeated each session.
Gadgets360 and other outlets have noted that jailbreaking a PS5 violates Sony’s Software License Agreement and could result in both the console and the associated PSN account being banned. Online functionality is also lost while running Linux. This makes the method a novelty proof-of-concept rather than a mainstream solution.
What Makes GTA IV Worth Revisiting in 2026?
GTA IV sold over 3.6 million copies in its first 24 hours, generating approximately $310 million in revenue. First-week sales exceeded $500 million globally. The game holds a 98 on Metacritic for the PS3 version and earned Game of the Year awards from outlets including Spike TV, Giant Bomb, Kotaku, GameTrailers, The New York Times, and Time magazine. Lifetime sales surpassed 25 million copies.
Niko Bellic’s story remains one of the grittiest and most emotionally grounded narratives in the GTA franchise. The Complete Edition, which bundles the base game with The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, was re-released on Steam and the Rockstar Games Launcher in March 2020 as a single-player-only package after the original multiplayer servers were retired.
For many players, GTA IV represents the last major Rockstar title that remains essentially locked out of the current PlayStation ecosystem. With GTA 6 delayed twice (from its original autumn 2025 window to May 2026, then again to November 19, 2026), the desire to revisit Liberty City has only grown stronger.
Alternative Ways to Play GTA IV Right Now
If the Linux route sounds too complex or risky, several straightforward options exist. PC players can purchase GTA IV: The Complete Edition on Steam, though the port has a long reputation for poor optimisation and may require community patches for the best experience. Xbox Series X/S owners can play the Xbox 360 version through backward compatibility at no additional cost if they already own the game digitally or on disc. PS3 hardware remains the only official PlayStation option, though finding a working console and a copy of the game is increasingly difficult.
Questions Players Are Asking
Can I play GTA 4 on PS5 without modifying my console?
No. There is no official PS5, PS4, or PlayStation Store version of GTA IV. The only way to run it on PS5 right now is through the Linux exploit, which requires jailbreaking the console. An official port has been rumoured but remains unconfirmed by Rockstar Games.
Does the PS5 Linux mod brick the console?
Andy Nguyen states there is no bricking risk. The mod is soft, meaning the PS5’s internal storage is never altered and a standard reboot returns the console to its normal state. However, using the exploit violates Sony’s terms and could lead to a console or PSN account ban.
When could an official GTA IV remaster arrive?
Industry sources and leakers have pointed to a port being in development since at least mid-2025, but Rockstar has not confirmed anything. Based on the Red Dead Redemption port precedent, a release could happen before or shortly after GTA 6’s November 2026 launch, but no timeline has been officially set.
Which PS5 models support the Linux exploit?
Only the original PS5 Phat (disc edition) on firmware 3.xx to 4.xx. The PS5 Slim is not supported, and firmware versions 5.xx and above are currently incompatible. Most consoles updated regularly will not qualify.
