Sony‘s recently released PlayStation Portal handheld console has already been exploited by hackers to run emulated PSP games locally without any streaming required. The $199 PlayStation Portal debuted just last November, allowing players to stream PS5 games wirelessly and even log in to play their PS4 digital game library. However, the device lacked the ability to play games natively or tap into Sony’s PlayStation Now cloud streaming library. Now, just months after launch, hackers have unlocked the ability to load software directly onto the Portal – including emulators and ROMs.

The exploit was revealed recently by Google engineer Andy Nguyen (@theflow0 on X/Twitter), known in hacking circles as “TheFlow”. Nguyen posted on hacking forums that he and fellow Google researcher Calle Svensson had succeeded in getting the popular PPSSPP PSP emulator running natively on PlayStation Portal hardware after “more than a month of hard work.” To prove it, he shared a photo of a PSP ROM of Grand Theft Auto III running on the Portal’s 720p display.

While streaming PS5 games to the Portal still requires an internet connection and a local PS5 console, the emulator hack enables offline play of PSP games directly on the device – no streaming needed. This greatly expands the flexibility and usefulness of the budget-friendly Portal.

Nguyen confirmed the hack is achieved completely through software modification and requires no physical hacking or added chips inside the Portal. However, he said there are no plans to release the exploit publicly in the near future. Much more work is needed to refine the hack before it can be released as a user-friendly “jailbreak” for average owners to install.

If eventually publicly released, the jailbreak could let Portal owners load emulators for a variety of retro consoles. This would transform the purpose-built streamer into an all-in-one retro gaming handheld. Additionally, hackers may find a way to load Android apps and games using a similar approach.

Sony will likely attempt to patch the exploit in future Portal firmware updates. But the Pandora’s Box may have already been opened. TheFlow has a long history of PlayStation hacking achievements, including PS4 and PS5 jailbreaks. So while official details are scarce, the PlayStation Portal may already be on its way to becoming the ultimate retro gaming and emulator handheld thanks to the ingenuity of the hacking community.