PS5 Moves Closer to Becoming a Steam Game Machine Thanks to New Bazzite Port
The PlayStation 5 is getting closer to becoming more than just a traditional console. Thanks to recent progress in the PS5 Linux modding scene, Sony’s current-generation system may soon appeal to players who want a console-like Steam gaming experience without fully switching to a gaming PC.
A new Bazzite-deck port for the PS5 is now available, giving jailbroken consoles the ability to boot into a Steam Deck-style interface. This development is especially interesting because it allows users to run the system from an external drive, meaning they do not have to erase or replace the PS5’s existing operating system.
The port uses rmux’s PS5 Linux loader and brings a familiar Steam Game Mode experience to the console. Once set up, the PS5 can boot directly into a Steam-focused interface, similar to what users see on Steam Deck and certain handheld gaming PCs. For those who want more control, a full KDE desktop environment is also available and can be accessed with just a few clicks.
Early reports from users suggest that the project is improving quickly, with regular updates aimed at fixing bugs and improving stability. Some players have already reported successful gameplay with titles such as Genshin Impact, Palworld, and RimWorld running well on a modified PS5.
One of the most eye-catching features of this Bazzite-deck port is an optional GPU tweak. The standard PS5 uses an RDNA 2-based APU with 40 physical compute units, but Sony enables only 36 of them through firmware. This modification can unlock the full 40 compute units on the console’s GPU.
However, users should not expect a guaranteed performance boost. The extra compute units may not deliver a noticeable improvement in real-world gaming, and the developer has warned that enabling the option can lead to crashes, instability, or GPU-related problems. For most users, keeping the default GPU configuration may be the safer choice.
The biggest advantage of this setup is flexibility. Since Bazzite-deck can run from an external SSD, PS5 owners can experiment with Linux and Steam gaming without permanently changing their main console setup. That makes the project appealing to enthusiasts who want to explore PC gaming features while keeping the core PlayStation experience intact.
There is still one major requirement: the PS5 must be jailbroken. This means the process is not intended for casual users, and it carries the usual risks associated with console modification. Anyone interested should carefully follow the available installation instructions and understand the potential downsides before attempting it.
Even with those limitations, the progress is impressive. The PS5 was designed as a closed gaming console, but projects like this show how powerful and versatile the hardware can be when opened up to Linux-based software. With Steam Game Mode, desktop access, external drive support, and active development, the PS5 is slowly turning into an unexpected alternative for players interested in a living-room Steam gaming setup.
For now, this remains a project for advanced users and modding enthusiasts. But if development continues at this pace, the PlayStation 5 could become one of the most interesting Steam-compatible console experiments yet.
