ESP Host: Serve PS4 Payloads Using the ESP8266 Guide by Codsworth

Today @Codsworth let us know about an ESP Host project he's been working on, and shared a guide on a simple way to serve PS4 payloads using the ESP8266 Wifi Module board with at least 4 MB flash.

Download: esphost.bin / esphostmulti.bin / esphostmulti405.bin / GIT

Here's all the details from the README.md: ESP Host

Today I show you a simple way to serve payload using the ESP8266.

Benefits of using the ESP8266:

• Extremely low cost hardware, available worldwide
• Ability to run 24/7 via USB, self-hosted payload, no external apps or programs required
• Completely block all updates
• No need for custom DNS server or settings, features automatic redirect
• Easy to program and update via USB
• Very low power consumption

Requirements:

• esptool.py
• ESP8266 Wifi Module with at least 4M flash
• PS4 Firmware 4.55 or 4.05
• esphost.bin or esphostmulti.bin or esphostmulti405.bin

Payloads included in esphost.bin

• VORTEX HEN 1.4

Payloads included in esphostmulti.bin

• HEN
• HEN+VR
• FTP
• DUMPER
• BACKUP

https://github.com/pearlxcore/ps4-playground-455

Instructions:

Flash esphost.bin using the following command:

sudo esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 write_flash 0x00000 0x400000 ./esphost.bin

• After flashing completes, connect to "PS4-WIFI" using "easy setting" then go to [Settings] > [User Guide]

NOTE: Windows users must use the appropriate com port when flashing with esptool.py

NOTE2: Users can optionally flash using the GUI version of ESPTool

Compatible boards:

These are the most popular ESP8266 boards, but any esp8266 with 4M flash or larger will work.

• ESP8266 NodeMcuV2 4M Wifi Module (Amazon or AliExpress)
• ESP8266 D1 Mini NodeMcu 4M (Amazon or AliExpress)

Updates (via Codsworth)

• More stable payloads , no memory errors or reloading pages
• Updated esp-host to include payloads from ps4-playground
• Added file compression - save space and serve payloads quickly.
• Upgraded payload index to a better design thanks to pearlxcore

To-Do

• Add ability to upload files/payloads

Notice and credits

Credit should be given to original authors of payloads - you know who you are.

How to run PS4 exploit offline using ESP-12E (ESP8266)

PS4 with ESP8266 7 seconds for the hen + playground

 

[muxi]

@Keeperdy Great !! may I test it once?

 

[Keeperdy]

@muxi Sure, here you are - try this one: PS4KeeperDY v1.1.bin. Later I will add VR and release the final version. Don't forget about combination HEN+tool

 

[muxi]

@Keeperdy Does that mean you combine two payloads into one? If so, you could solve a major problem with the vortex HEN 1.4. It has been found that it often comes to freezes in games or not saving or not shutting down the PS4. However, if the vortex FTP 1.2 payload is loaded before the HEN, this problem seems to be solved.

 

[Keeperdy]

@muxi No, I just load them one after another - for better stability while playing I combine: Original then HEN - no freezes or shutdowns. For BackUp or Dumper - HEN then Tool.

 

[muxi]

@Keeperdy ok I understand. I'm not a programmer, but maybe retrogamer solved the problem with the dumper this way too. To load the payload in his firmware, it takes two steps. First the exploit, then launch. Possibly the first step loads the HEN and thus the dumper also runs in the second step.

Yessss! Now it works (dumper und backup with HEN before)

 

[marek256]

I guess that the two steps is what @Keeperdy mentioned with original + HEN. So basically he ran exploit by Specter and then to load separate payload. Probably converted payload to .js causes problems with proper loading. Other solution would be convert original payload to js and to add it to older webkit exploit, before it was rewritten.

In my case the only way how to use HEN properly is to use older webkit and converted vortex HEN 1.4 to .js His HEN is still available on his github, but you need to seek for older version, I think from March 2nd because there is another and latest version from march 13th I think when he used the webkit rewrite and it used to causes problems to some people, including me.

 

[Keeperdy]

@muxi no, dumper also works now by itself too, without preloaded hen, but with hen the speed increases significantlylll With backup - the same things, works, but sometimes get memory error. I checked the time for backup processing - 4 min without preloaded hen, 20 sec. - after hen!!!! The difference is great, checked it several times and on others firmwares too, including pc host!

@marek256 all payloads including original are in .js format. You are right, maybe the problem occurs while converting from .bin. That's why it take some times to experiment and find out the working composition

 

[muxi]

@Keeperdy You're right, it's exactly as you say. I have not tried this before.

Where can I get a beginner friendly (no programming science) step by step guide from scratch to creating an ESP firmware for PS4? And the information which software is required. I would like to try it. Thanks in advance.

I would like to create it the way like this: The Payload selection in one row for simply select with up or down by the directional buttons - Extremely minimalist.

​

 

[anonymous005]

Here is my payload loader/playground if someone want to try it

ESP8266_FIRMWARE

IT IS FREE AND NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE!!

​

 

[Keeperdy]

@muxi
In my FW you can use d-pad for selection - I tried to make the most minimalistic FW for my needs

As for the making your own you can use treyjazz sketch and follow the guide on psxhax how to customize firmware. I started with this one, but than decided to write the sketch from the very beginning due to a lot of unnecessary things for me in it

@anonymous005 Hi, nice work. Did you check the workability of backup and dumper payloads on 4.55? There are some problems with them!