[Xperia Play Android Development] CrimsonKnight13:
This thread is a collaboration by myself, paxChristos, DooMLorD, & amishxda. Please give credit where credit is due. Thanks.

This method has been confirmed to work on all models of the Xperia PLAY - R800x / R800i / R800a / R800at. Also works perfectly with the Xperia Arc.

WARNING: This doesn't work, however, on the Verizon Wireless R800x v2.3.2. Please update to v2.3.3 before rooting. - confirmed by paxChristos

WARNING #2: Confirmed that this doesn't work with 4.0.2.A.0.62

MAJOR WARNING - ICS (4.x) doesn't work with it & any update to GB (2.3.x) after November 2011 won't either.

Thanks to everyone who tested this out for me & confirmed that it worked!

NOTE

: Before you attempt to root your phone, please ensure that you have the Android SDK installed. It has the adb binary within it.

Android SDK

http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

All needed files have been attached for this process to work correctly.

Note: I didn't create zergRush. I only found the method to implement permanent root after zergRush has done its job.

Automatic Root

1) SuperOneClick

SuperOneClick now has the zergRush method built-in.

Please see the source thread if you have any questions.

Downloads available @ http://shortfuse.org/

Source: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=803682a

2a) DooMLoRD's Easy Rooting Toolkit [v4] (zergRush Exploit)

This is the one click method that everyone has been asking for & DooMLoRD has answered with this. :)

Source: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1319653

My deepest thanks to DooMLoRD for automating & simplifying this process!

2b) amishxda's modified Linux script (based on paxChristos' script // Source: DooMLoRD's Easy Rooting Toolkit

)

zergRush_automated_Linux_root.zip

Source: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=20869699

Original script by paxChristos: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=18615502#post18615502

Manual Root

3) Noob Friendly Guide

paxChristos has provided me with a very comprehensive guide regarding this process for anyone that absolutely wants a step-by-step layout.

It has been attached to this thread within a 7-zip file. If you would like the faster route, please follow my own instructions.

Download PDF Guide

4) Advanced Android Users (& those that are aiming to be) Guide

Download all required files. Drivers have been provided courtesy of paxChristos for anyone that needs them.

Do the following within a cmd (as administrator) or terminal prompt (through sudo or root user)

adb shell mkdir /data/local/tmp
adb push zergRush /data/local/tmp
adb chmod 755 /data/local/tmp/zergRush
adb shell
cd /data/local/tmp/
./zergRush
adb remount
adb push su /system/bin
adb push su /system/xbin
chmod 4755 /system/bin/su
chmod 4755 /system/xbin/su
exit
adb install Superuser.apk
Alternate: adb push Superuser.apk /system/app

installed BusyBox (if it doesn't show up on the system already) via any busybox installer market app

Ran SuperUser & verified settings

adb reboot

Android should be completely rooted! :D

Automatic Unroot

DooMLoRD's Unrooting Script

Sources/Acks/Links/Attachments

Sources:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1312082

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1296916

http://androidsu.com/superuser/

Acknowledgments:

Ch4lky - Sony Ericsson Xperia fix for zergRush (Revolutionary Team)

ieftm - zergRush (Revolutionary Team)

Revolutionary Team - many thanks to everyone who worked on zergRush

paxChristos - provided debug info to Ch4lky & created the Noob PDF guide

ChainsDD - Superuser & su

DooMLoRD - for the awesome rooting & unrooting scripts

CLShortFuse - SuperOneClick

Cl8rs - identified possibility for Xperia PLAY to use zergRush

XenonMD - confirmed that this works on the R800i

barlw - confirmed that this works on the R800a

Luniticus - confirmed that this works on the R800at

AndroHero - recommended the alternate method for pushing the Superuser.apk to /system/app for working around stability issues

amishxda - for updating paxChristos' script to work on more phones from Linux

Everyone else - who have confirmed that it works on many other phones

Please let me know any new information to smooth out the process. I'll modify this post to ensure it's a smooth one.

zergRush (no longer attaching due to new updates from the devs) - supports a large amount of phones

https://github.com/downloads/revolutionary/zergRush/zergRush.zip

Superuser v3.0.7 apk

http://goo-inside.me/superuser/Superuser-3.0.7-efgh-signed.zip

su v3.0.3.2 binary

http://goo-inside.me/superuser/su-bin-3.0.3.2-efghi-signed.zip