Hacking the PS4 to Play Valve's Elusive Deadlock: A Herculean Feat

In a remarkable display of technical prowess, console modder and YouTuber Jon Bringus has managed to do the unthinkable – he has found a way to play Valve's early development hero shooter Deadlock on the PlayStation 4. However, this achievement was not without its challenges, as Bringus discovered that the process was both arduous and impractical.

Unlocking the Impossible: Bringing Deadlock to the PS4

Modding the PS4 for an Exclusive Beta

Bringus' journey to play Deadlock on the PS4 began with a series of intricate modifications to his console. First, he had to rip open his aging PS4 and swap out the spinning disk for a 512 GB Micron SATA SSD hard drive. This was just the start of his technical odyssey, as he then proceeded to install Linux on the PS4's internal hard drive and set up a PPPwn jailbreak server on a Raspberry Pi 4 model B computer to establish an internet connection. The sheer amount of patient fiddling required to reach this point was a testament to Bringus' dedication and technical prowess.

Navigating the Deadlock Installation Maze

With the PS4 now primed for action, Bringus set his sights on the ultimate goal: installing Deadlock. However, this proved to be a daunting task, as he spent hours trying to get the game running on his "zombified" PS4. The process was plagued by numerous Linux reboots and crashes, testing the limits of his patience. Finally, after much perseverance, Bringus managed to reach the Deadlock menu, only to be greeted by a disappointing sight – the menu was rendered in a meager 360p resolution.

Struggling with Performance Woes

Undeterred, Bringus pressed on, determined to experience Deadlock in all its glory. However, his hopes were quickly dashed as he realized that the game's performance was abysmal, with the Game Boy Color-esque graphics struggling to maintain a frame rate between zero and nine FPS. Bringus, sounding as if he had tears in his eyes, acknowledged that "in no world is this playable." Unwilling to subject his teammates to such a subpar experience, he made the difficult decision to leave the public match early, sparing them from the torment.

Seeking Redemption on the PS4 Pro

Determined to find a solution, Bringus decided to try his luck on the more powerful PS4 Pro, hoping that the upgraded hardware would provide a better experience. However, his efforts were once again thwarted, as he managed to break the game by attempting to run it in 540p. Ultimately, Bringus concluded that the only viable option for playing Deadlock is to stick to the Steam platform, where the game was originally intended to be played.

Deadlock's Unique Twist on Cheaters

In a twist of irony, Bringus discovered that Deadlock does what Valve didn't get around to with Counter-Strike – it turns the hero shooter's cheaters into frogs. This quirky feature added an extra layer of intrigue to the game, but it was overshadowed by the overwhelming technical challenges Bringus faced in his quest to play Deadlock on the PS4.In the end, Bringus' journey serves as a cautionary tale for those who might be tempted to explore the boundaries of console modding and emulation. While his determination and technical prowess are undeniable, the sheer impracticality of his endeavor serves as a stark reminder that some gaming experiences are best left to their intended platforms. Nevertheless, Bringus' perseverance and willingness to push the boundaries of what's possible with console hardware are truly inspiring, and his story will undoubtedly captivate the hearts and minds of tech enthusiasts and gaming aficionados alike.