# Orbital: reconstructing PlayStation 4 hardware for virtualization

> Orbital reconstructs PlayStation 4 hardware in a virtualization-based emulator intended to boot decrypted console kernels. Its C++ source models components including Aeolia controllers and Liverpool graphics hardware, while hardware and kernel notes record device IDs, registers and kernel interfaces.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Firmware
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/AlexAltea/orbital>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/AlexAltea/orbital/blob/cc408367da6a6ebbf5ac1ac559fefeadc73b2831/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/orbital-ps4-reconstruction-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/orbital-ps4-reconstruction-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/orbital-ps4-reconstruction-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Requires users to extract files and console keys from their own PlayStation 4; the dumper supports firmware 1.76, 4.55, 5.00 and 5.05.
- **Prerequisites:** Requires an x86-64 CPU with AVX/BMI1 and virtualization extensions, 12 GB RAM, and Vulkan 1.0 support.
- **Limits:** The project is not ready for end users; BIOS, GRUB and QEMU components must be built separately.
- **License:** MIT license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/AlexAltea/orbital/blob/cc408367da6a6ebbf5ac1ac559fefeadc73b2831/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/AlexAltea/orbital/blob/cc408367da6a6ebbf5ac1ac559fefeadc73b2831/tools/dumper/README.md>
3. <https://github.com/AlexAltea/orbital/blob/cc408367da6a6ebbf5ac1ac559fefeadc73b2831/docs/hardware/aeolia.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.