GTA 6 Blocks PS5 Jailbreak, Forces Firmware 14.10 at Launch

⚠️ RUMOR

Grand Theft Auto VI’s PlayStation 5 build will reportedly require Sony’s latest 14.10.00 firmware to launch on November 19, 2026 — a requirement that would shut out consoles kept on older firmware to run the new Relapse jailbreak. The detail comes from datamining account PlayStation Game Size, reported by Notebookcheck on October 3.

Quick answer: GTA 6 on PS5 reportedly requires firmware 14.10.00, released October 1. That firmware sits above the Relapse exploit’s ceiling of 13.60, so a jailbroken PS5 kept offline would not meet the game’s launch requirement. Sony and Rockstar have not commented, and the requirement could still appear in pre-load metadata.

Key takeaways

• PlayStation Game Size found GTA 6’s release build lists firmware 14.10.00 as required, per Notebookcheck (October 3, 2026).
• The Relapse exploit works on firmware 7.00–13.60 via a browser WebKit flaw escalating to kernel access.
• Sony shipped 14.00 on September 16 and 14.10 on October 1; both added security fixes above Relapse’s ceiling.
• GTA 6 is digital-only at launch, making a mandatory firmware check easier to enforce and update.
• Neither Sony nor Rockstar Games has confirmed the requirement or commented on the jailbreak.

What did PlayStation Game Size actually find?

PlayStation Game Size, a datamining account that tracks PlayStation Store backend entries, found a stipulation tying GTA 6’s release-date build to firmware 14.10.00, Notebookcheck reported on October 3. The account did not publish the raw store entry, and Rockstar is unlikely to comment, Notebookcheck notes.

That caveat matters. Store metadata can change before the November 12 pre-load opens, and single-player games do not always need the newest system software. Treat this as a reported backend flag, not a Rockstar announcement.

What is the Relapse PS5 jailbreak?

Relapse is a recently released exploit chain for PS5 and PS5 Pro that combines a built-in browser WebKit vulnerability with a kernel exploit for read/write access, according to TechSpot (September 29) and HotHardware. It supports firmware 7.00 through 13.60, the July system software, and can load homebrew and game backups.

Unlike older exploits limited to very early firmware, Relapse covers almost every retail console not updated in the last two weeks. TechSpot notes most shop-shelf PS5s still ship on vulnerable firmware, which is why the scene called it a major breakthrough. Sony has not acknowledged targeting Relapse specifically.

How does firmware 14.10 block it?

Firmware 14.10 sits two steps above Relapse’s 13.60 ceiling. Sony released 14.00 on September 16, which first caused problems for Relapse, then followed with 14.10.00 (version 26.06-14.10.00) on October 1 — a 1.2 GB update, per MP1st. If GTA 6 checks for 14.10 at boot, a console staying on 13.60 to keep the jailbreak simply fails that check.

Notebookcheck adds that certain PSN features already depend on recent firmware, but the November 19 timing has led fans to conclude Rockstar and Sony are taking preventive measures ahead of the biggest launch of the year.

Why does digital-only make this easier?

GTA 6 launches digital-only on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with physical copies arriving as code-in-box. Publishers start printing discs a month or more before launch, and discs must work on older firmware; Store downloads can be revised right up to release, Notebookcheck explains.

That matters for our GTA 6 pre-load and download size guide: pre-loads open November 12, and the day-one build delivered then can carry whatever firmware floor Sony and Rockstar settle on. See also the GTA 6 release date and countdown hub for the locked November 19 date.

Will pirates just work around it?

Probably they will try. Notebookcheck notes it is questionable whether 14.10’s changes are a major obstacle, and points to separate progress on a hypervisor exploit and on PS5 emulation. HotHardware also warns using exploits can trigger permanent account and hardware bans from PlayStation services — a real risk for a digital-only game tied to your PSN library.

For legitimate players there is no downside: update to 14.10, pre-load on November 12, and you are ready. Our GTA 6 price and editions compared guide breaks down Standard ($79.99) vs Ultimate ($99.99), and the GTA 6 FAQ hub answers platform questions in one place. PC players, meanwhile, are still waiting — see is GTA 6 coming to PC?

What this means

This is the cat-and-mouse of every modern console launch, sharpened by scale. GTA 6 is the most pre-ordered game of 2026 and launches digital-only, so Sony and Rockstar have both motive and mechanism to raise the firmware floor before November 19. A 14.10 requirement would not end PS5 jailbreaking — Notebookcheck is clear other approaches are advancing — but it would protect the launch window, which is where most sales and spoilers live. Expect silence from both companies; neither has commented so far, and that is unlikely to change.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Notebookcheck — GTA 6 blocks PS5 jailbreak and piracy, requiring 14.10.00 firmware
• HotHardware — A New PS5 Jailbreak Is Here, But Think Twice If You Want To Play GTA 6
• TechSpot — A new PS5 jailbreak works on almost every firmware version
• MP1st — PS5 System Update 26.06-14.10.00 Rolled Out on October 1

Every claim above was checked against Notebookcheck’s October 3 report of PlayStation Game Size’s datamine, TechSpot and HotHardware’s Relapse coverage (firmware 7.00–13.60, WebKit plus kernel chain), and MP1st’s firmware release record. The 14.10 requirement itself is a reported backend flag — Sony and Rockstar Games had not confirmed or commented as of October 3, 2026.