Jailbreak Your PS4: Free Lua Game Demos and the Revert Method

Unlocking the full power of your PlayStation 4 is now easier than ever for many users. A new discovery makes the revert method more important for PS4 fans. This method lets you go back to an older, jailbreakable firmware. This guide explains how to use free Lua game demos to run the jailbreak on your PS4. It covers firmware versions like 12.52, 12.50, 12.02, 12.00, 11.52, 11.50, and 11.02. This means you can use HEN (Homebrew Enabler) and GoldHEN for more customization.

Understanding the PS4 Revert Method

The revert method allows your PS4 to switch back to a firmware version it had before an update. If you updated your console, this method can often take it back to the previous firmware. This process has become very important for two main reasons.

First, many people on firmware versions around 12.50 can now potentially go back to a jailbreakable firmware like 12.02 or older. This opens up many new possibilities for their consoles.

Second, it is now possible to get certain free Lua game demos. These demos can be used to run the PS4 jailbreak. You can download these demos on the latest firmware, then revert to an older, jailbreakable firmware. This way, you do not need to buy expensive physical game copies, especially those imported from Japan, to perform the jailbreak.

Who Can Use the Revert Method?

The revert method is useful in a few situations.

If your PS4 is currently on a newer firmware like 12.50 or 12.52, and you updated from an older, jailbreakable version (like 12.02 or below), you might be able to revert. This lets you access your old jailbreakable firmware.

If you are already on a jailbreakable firmware (like 12.02) but do not have the necessary Lua game demos, you can still use this method. You would update your console to a newer firmware (like 12.50), download the free Lua demos, and then revert back. This brings you back to your old jailbreakable firmware with the new demos ready to use.

The Hardware Mod for Easier Reverts

Setting up the revert method is not a simple task for everyone. Many users send their consoles to repair shops to get this done. Some people create a permanent hardware mod on their console. This mod makes it easier to perform the revert process whenever needed.

This guide uses a console that already has this hardware mod installed. This means it already has a special chip wired into the system. This chip helps with reading and writing to the PS4's internal memory. Installing this mod from scratch is a complex process. You can find full tutorials on how to set up your own mod chip on other guides, such as those found on the official blog for PS4 jailbreaking: https://psjailbreak1.blogspot.com/. This guide focuses on using a console that already has the mod set up.

Getting Ready: Downloading Free Lua Demos

Before you revert your PS4, you must download the free Lua game demos. These demos are key to running the jailbreak without needing a physical game.

First, ensure your PS4 is updated to the latest available firmware, such as 12.50 or 12.52. This allows you to access the PlayStation Store and download the demos.

Setting Up a Japanese PSN Account

The free Lua game demos are often available on the Japanese PlayStation Store. You may need a Japanese PSN account to download them. If you do not have one, you will need to create one. There are many guides available online that explain how to make a Japanese PSN account. These guides usually walk you through the steps to set up an account in that region.

Once you have your Japanese account, sign into it on your PS4.

Finding and Downloading the Demos

Go to the PlayStation Store on your PS4. Use the search function to find the Lua game demos.

Here are some of the game demos you can look for:

• Homoderoshi Creative Demo
• Fuyuki's Cheetaro (demo version)
• Jinki Resurrection (demo version)

You only need one of these demos to load the jailbreak. However, you can download all of them if you wish. Install them to your PS4 system. After they download, it is a good idea to open each demo briefly to make sure it runs correctly.

Activating Your PS4 as Primary

An important step is to activate your PS4 as the primary console for the Japanese account you used. This links the game licenses to your console.

To do this:

1. Go to your PS4's Settings.
2. Select Account Management.
3. Choose Activate as Your Primary PS4.
4. Make sure it says "This PS4 is activated as your primary PS4." If not, select the option to activate it.

This step is crucial. It ensures the licenses for the free demos stay with your console after you revert to an older firmware. Without this, the demos might not work.

The Revert Process: Technical Steps

Reverting your PS4 involves detailed technical steps. This section assumes you have a PS4 with the necessary hardware mod (like a TNC chip) already installed. If you do not, this part of the process is much more difficult and usually requires special tools and skills.

Tools You Will Need

To perform the revert, you will use specific software and hardware.

• TNC 2.0 Chip: This is the hardware mod chip inside your PS4.
• TNC DOC Programmer: This is the device that connects your TNC chip to your computer.
• Syscon Writer from Q: A free software tool used for flashing the syscon.
• PS4 Re_tools from AndyManddev: Another free software tool. You will need Python installed on your computer, along with the pyserial and pycryptodome modules, to run this tool.

Preparing Your TNC Programmer

First, connect the TNC chip on your PS4 to your computer using a USB cable. Make sure the switches on your hardware mod are set to the "on" position. This allows your computer to communicate with the chip.

Open the TNC DOC programmer software. This program helps you put the right firmware onto your TNC chip so it can read and write to your PS4's memory.

Dumping Your PS4's Syscon Flash

The syscon flash holds important system data. You need to make a copy of it.

1. Open the TNC DOC programmer.
2. Load the hardware file for TNC 2.0 from the Syscon Writer folder into the programmer.
3. Press the button on your TNC chip to put it into program mode.
4. Click the program button in the software.
5. After it finishes, click reboot. Your TNC is now ready to interact with the syscon.

Next, open the PS4 Syscon application (part of Syscon Writer) on your computer.

1. Select the option to dump the full syscon flash.
2. Choose a location to save the file. Name it something like syscon_dump1.
3. Perform this dump a second time, saving it as syscon_dump2.
4. The tool will compare the two dumps. They must be identical to ensure you have a good, usable copy of your syscon data.

Dumping Your PS4's NOR Flash

The NOR flash also contains important console information, including firmware details.

1. Go back to the TNC DOC programmer.
2. This time, load the hex file for the NOR flasher from the PS4 Re_tools app_hardware_spiway folder.
3. Program the TNC chip again and reboot it. It is now set up to work with the NOR flash.

Open the PS4 Re_tools application.

1. If it is your first time using it, you need Python installed, along with pip install pyserial and pip install pycryptodome modules.
2. Choose option 3 to flash using spiway.
3. Select option 1 for the comport. The tool should detect your NOR chip.
4. Choose option 1 again to read your NOR flash. This will dump the NOR data.
5. Perform this dump a second time.
6. Use option S to see the dumped files.
7. Use option A to compare the two NOR dumps. Confirm their hashes are the same, meaning they are identical and good copies.

Now, select one of your NOR dumps (for example, option 7). This loads details about your console, such as its board ID (e.g., 1216B) and active firmware (e.g., 12.15). Make sure to note down your board ID.

Check if UART is on. If it is off, use option 1, then 1 again to turn it on. Then, press 0 to go back.

Switching the Core OS Preference in NOR

This step tells your PS4 which firmware slot to prefer when it starts up, helping with the revert.

1. Choose option 4 in PS4 Re_tools to "switch core OS prefer revert."
2. The tool will show different slot switch patterns based on your board ID. For a 1216B console, there will be two options. You need to pick the one that switches to the older firmware slot. If you reverted before, you might pick the other option this time. For example, if you used option 3 last time, use option 4 now.
3. Say "yes" to save it as a separate file.
4. Say "yes" to flash this to the IC.
5. Select your USB serial device and then option 3 for "PS4 Core OS Switch."
6. Press Enter to write this change to the NOR flash.

Patching Your Syscon SNVS

Next, you need to patch a part of your syscon data called SNVS. This prepares the system for the firmware change.

1. Go to the file browser in PS4 Re_tools (option 1).
2. Select your syscon dump (e.g., option 10).
3. Choose option 2 for the "auto SNVS patch."
4. Select method A (option 1). This method deletes the last few records, which is usually the safest option. Other methods might mess with your console's licenses.
5. Press Enter. This creates a patched syscon file.

You are now done with PS4 Re_tools. You can close the application.

Flashing the Patched Syscon Back

The final step for the hardware mod is to write the patched syscon data back to your PS4.

1. Open the TNC DOC programmer again.
2. Load the hex file for the TNC 2.0 from the Syscon Writer folder.
3. Program the TNC chip and reboot it.
4. Open the Syscon Writer application.
5. Select the option for "writing the syscon's NVS and SNVS only."
6. Browse for the patched syscon file you created in PS4 Re_tools.
7. Select "verify after write" and click Start.

The software will write the patched section to your syscon. Once it finishes, the process is complete.

Now, unplug the USB cable from the TNC chip. Turn off the switches on your console's hardware mod to disconnect the TNC.

What Happens Next?

Plug your console back in and try to turn it on. If everything went correctly, your PS4 should boot into Safe Mode. If it boots up normally to the home menu, it means you used the wrong slot switch option when flashing the NOR. You will need to go back and try the other slot switch option (e.g., if you used option 4, try option 3).

Reinstalling Firmware and Finalizing the Jailbreak

After a successful revert, your PS4 will be in Safe Mode. You now need to reinstall the specific firmware version you wanted to revert to.

Downloading the Correct Recovery Firmware

You need a recovery firmware file for the version you are reverting to. For example, if you are going back to 12.02, you need the 12.02 recovery firmware. Do not download a retail firmware. Many websites offer older PS4 firmware versions. Ensure you download the correct recovery file for your target firmware.

Preparing Your USB Drive

Once you download the recovery firmware file, you need to put it on a USB drive.

1. Format your USB drive to FAT32.
2. On the root of the USB drive, create a new folder named PS4 (all uppercase).
3. Inside the PS4 folder, create another folder named UPDATE (all uppercase).
4. Copy the downloaded recovery firmware file into the UPDATE folder.
5. Rename the file to PS4UPDATE.PUP (all uppercase, make sure file extensions are visible so you rename the whole thing correctly).

After preparing the USB drive, unplug it safely from your computer.

Reinstalling Firmware in Safe Mode

Connect your USB drive to your PS4.

1. When your PS4 is in Safe Mode, connect your DualShock 4 controller using a USB charge cable.
2. Press the PS button on the controller.
3. The screen will ask you to connect a USB drive with the update file for reinstallation. Select OK.
4. Your PS4 will begin installing the recovery firmware (e.g., 12.02). This process can take some time.

Confirming the Firmware Version

Once the installation is complete, your PS4 will reboot. You should now be back on your desired older firmware version. Go to your PS4's Settings, then System, and System Information to confirm the firmware version. It should show the version you reverted to (e.g., 12.02).

Crucially, the Lua game demos you downloaded earlier should still be accessible on your console.

Loading the Jailbreak with Lua Demos

Now that you are on the correct firmware and have the Lua demos, you can load the jailbreak.

1. You will need a modified save file for one of the Lua game demos. This special save file is designed to launch the jailbreak payload. You can usually find these save files in various PS4 jailbreak communities and guides.
2. Copy this modified save file from a USB drive to your PS4's system storage. For example, if using the "Homoderoshi Creative Demo," copy its modified save file.
3. Launch the Lua game demo on your PS4.
4. The modified save file will automatically load the jailbreak. You should see messages indicating that the payload is up to date and that GoldHEN is now running.

You have successfully jailbroken your PS4 using the revert method and free Lua game demos!

Final Thoughts on PS4 Jailbreaking

This method offers an exciting way to jailbreak your PS4, especially if you were on a newer firmware or did not have access to the physical game copies. By using the revert method, you can move your console to a jailbreakable firmware and use free online demos to run the jailbreak. This opens the door to homebrew applications and other customizations through HEN and GoldHEN.

Keep in mind that setting up the hardware mod for reverting is an advanced task. For many, finding repair shops or services that offer this modification might be the best option. If you are already on firmware 12.50 or similar and managed to download these Lua demos earlier, you can simply revert your console to its previously installed jailbreakable firmware and use them. We hope this guide helps you unlock the full potential of your PS4.