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PS5 ROM Keys Leak Sends Star Wars Racer Revenge from $15 to $411: Hardware Exploit Sparks Collector Frenzy

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By TGT Staff

PS5 Security Breach: The Racer Revenge Phenomenon
The PlayStation 5 security architecture faced a major breach when ROM keys leaked on December 31, 2025. This hardware-level vulnerability cannot be patched through software updates, affecting millions of consoles worldwide. The exploit requires a specific game disc – Star Wars Racer Revenge – which has seen unprecedented price increases as collectors and hackers compete for limited copies.

💰 Market Price Explosion

2019 Launch Price
$14.99
Current eBay High
$411
📈 Price increase of 2,642% within days of the exploit announcement

Limited Production Reality

Limited Run Games produced exactly 8,500 copies total across three editions: 5,000 standard copies, 2,500 premium editions, and 1,000 classic variants. The game carries the disc code CUSA-03474, which hackers specifically require for the PS5 firmware 12.00 exploit.
8,500
Total PS4 copies produced
2,642%
Maximum price increase
12.00
Vulnerable PS5 firmware
73/100
Original Metacritic score

🕒 Security Breach Timeline

2002
Star Wars Racer Revenge launches on PlayStation 2. The game receives mixed reviews but contains an unpatched vulnerability in its code.
2019
Limited Run Games releases 8,500 physical PS4 copies at $14.99-$37.99, bringing the vulnerable code to PS5-compatible media.
December 31, 2025
PS5 ROM keys leak publicly on psdevwiki.com. Hackers announce Racer Revenge disc exploit for firmware 12.00 jailbreak.
January 2025
Game prices surge from $30 to over $400 on eBay. Retail stores sell out completely as collectors rush to acquire copies.

Technical Architecture Breakdown

The PS5’s BootROM contains cryptographic keys burned directly into the AMD APU during manufacturing. These Level 0 keys verify the bootloader authenticity when the console powers on. The leaked keys allow researchers to decrypt and analyze the entire boot sequence, potentially enabling custom firmware installation.

🔒 PS5 Security Architecture

BootROM
COMPROMISED
Bootloader
SECURE
Kernel
SECURE
Hypervisor
SECURE
🔧 How The Exploit Actually Works ▼

Step 1: The PS4 version of Star Wars Racer Revenge contains a code injection vulnerability that evaded patching since 2002.

Step 2: When played on PS5 via backward compatibility, the disc bypasses digital signature checks because physical media cannot be remotely updated.

Step 3: Combined with leaked ROM keys, hackers can decrypt the bootloader and inject custom code through the game’s exploit vector.

Step 4: Sony cannot fix this through firmware updates because the vulnerability exists at the hardware level in the APU itself.

Market Dynamics

eBay listings show 80+ copies currently available in the US, with prices ranging from $230 to $399.99. Major retailers including Best Buy and Amazon show zero inventory. The gaming market has seen similar price spikes with other limited releases used in console modifications.

Console Security Precedents

Similar security breaches affected the PlayStation 3 when cryptographic errors allowed homebrew software installation. The Nintendo Switch faced hardware-level vulnerabilities through the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip. These incidents led to widespread piracy and online cheating before manufacturers could implement hardware revisions.
📊 Current Development Status ▼

Jailbreak Availability: The exploit code remains unreleased publicly while developer Gezine refines the implementation.

Hardware Impact: An estimated 84+ million PS5 consoles worldwide contain the compromised chips that cannot be patched.

Sony Response: No official statement has been released. Future hardware revisions will likely include updated chips with different key derivation.

Long-term Implications: Custom firmware and homebrew development will accelerate significantly with access to bootloader analysis.

Related Gaming Developments

The gaming industry continues evolving with major releases like Fallout New Vegas restoration projects and upcoming titles such as GTA 6. Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077 modding communities demonstrate how security vulnerabilities can enhance gaming experiences.

Current Situation Summary

The PS5 ROM key leak was discussed across multiple technical sources. Star Wars Racer Revenge pricing data was documented through marketplace analysis. Hardware security implications were covered based on cryptographic architecture reports. The gaming industry impact was examined through market data and historical precedent comparisons.
External Reference: Tom’s Hardware Technical Analysis

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