The next system software update for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system will be released on April 1, 2010 (JST), and will disable the “Install Other OS” feature that was available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models, launched in September 2009. This feature enabled users to install an operating system, but due to security concerns, Sony Computer Entertainment will remove the functionality through the 3.21 system software update.
In addition, disabling the “Other OS” feature will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.
Consumers and organizations that currently use the “Other OS” feature can choose not to upgrade their PS3 systems, although the following features will no longer be available;
- Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat
- Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later
- Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings)
- Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later
For those PS3 users who are currently using the “Other OS” feature but choose to install the system software update, to avoid data loss they first need to back-up any data stored within the hard drive partition used by the “Other OS,” as they will not be able to access that data following the update.
Additional information about PS3 firmware updates, including v3.21 (once it becomes available), can be found here:
http://us.playstation.com/support/systemupdates/ps3/index.htm
PS3 owners who have further questions should contact Consumer Services:
http://us.playstation.com/support/ask/
800-345-7669 (800-345-SONY)
Congratulations Sony. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
I use linux on the PS3 for Cell programming and I’m using it for my Master thesis on alternative designs for parallel architectures and now I have to choose between my thesis and playing future game/bluray discs or playing online.
PAY ME BACK FOR THE FEATURES I BOUGHT YOUR PRODUCT FOR AND THAT NOW YOU HAVE SUDDENTLY REMOVED!
This is not a serious company anymore …
maninashed: Are the options to reformat the HD there? If so, maybe those options can still reclaim the space. It is this option one originally used to partition the space to allow for the OtherOS install.
If I were Sony, I would deliberately make the update such that it leaves as much of the OtherOS data untouched, essentially only removing the menu items. In case of legal fallout, this gives them the option of making a new firmware update that reinstates access to the OtherOS area. Losing a court case our removing the functionality might be expensive, but surely within what Sony could afford. If they additionally wiped the OtherOS partition, erasing customer data, the fallout from such a case could be catastrophic, even for a company like Sony.
In other news, firmware update 3.30 will remove the ability to play PS3 games as pirates gain the ability to draw imaginary modchips on the backs of restaurant napkins.
5556 improperlyaged: They have been continously removing posts. However, so far I haven’t seen them remove critical but serious posts. I think — and hope — they are just removing the unserious ones.
The are removing the ones that are off-topic and offensive. They have stated that positive or negative, your comments are welcome as long as they are on topic and non-offensive.
Has anybody seen if the consumer protection groups are interested in the story. Like Consumers Union?
@improperlyaged I noticed that too. One moment my comment was 5555 the next, 5552
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA…. “IT ONLY DOES EVERTHING!!!” AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
hey people realize this is a major issue after market modification without consent is illegal for the consumer AND the manufacturer. that is why each update contains a new legal agreement. those of us not accepting the agreement CAN NOT BE LEGALLY banned form using the psn. also it state clearly optional update how is this update optional for those of us who game?????
I am not sure about you all but on various sites I am seeing support in our favor (retaining linux support), even from non ps3 users. Likewise, theres a suprising number of people who dont use the otheros feature who refuse to update.
Sony, if you’re listening, think this through. This is obviously a very unpopular decision on all fronts. All I ask is you restore otheros support. No need for a ‘oops, sorry guys’ statment personally, but it would probably be a good idea. I’m gonna go switch over and finish my paper (in openoffice) now.
Sony say on the agreement form you’ve got to tick that ALL the features are the same and nothing is being removed from the opperating system. This is a contract between you and sony so if they remove the “Other Opperating System” this is a breach of contract….
To the earlier post, “optional” no its not… Sony makes it mandatory, citing that people who refuse to update will lose most functionality of their PS3’s. lol… Microsoft and X-box consumers must be whooping with joy at our loss… AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
I used OtherOS. I played games – online. Now I hate you (sorry for using such a strong word but I find it appropriate to describe my feeling).
Good work. Make your fair customers angry and get owned by the community anyway.
Thanks for the non-existing respect you show towards us. Thanks for forcing us into absurd agreements.
I will consciously avoid supporting you in the future.
Bye.
I’ve owned a (Fat) system since it was launched, I bought it purpously for the “other OS” so much so, that i bought a slim system strictly for the kids to use. Now, unfortunately the unit i paid for, is not the unit i own. I find it hard to believe that Sony would do this to the customers that stood by them and remained loyal to the brand while most people had jumped ship. I always defended the Sony brand as a company that actually cared about it’s consumers. Taking away features instead of fixing the “hack” is just not good business. I just don’t understand why they wouldn’t have considered adding features to balance this out. I was under the impression Sony had the best people in the business working for them. Perhaps not, If the PR people couldn’t see this was going to have customer fallout, then they really haven’t been paying attention to it’s customers. Most importantly if one guy in his house could crack the PS3, and Sonys team of techs can’t find a fix, what does that say about the rest of the system and it’s company. I now know this WILL fall on deaf ears.
Thank you
Just another sad PS3 owner.
lol… too harsh (comment above) don’t worry Sony will make this up to us (somehow… I HOPE) HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
HAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAH, i’ve been reading this blog for a couple of days now, and seriously, this is the only thing that urged me to comment:
BY Noxen | April 2nd, 2010 at 8:24 am
I use linux on the PS3 for Cell programming and I’m using it for my Master thesis on alternative designs for parallel architectures and now I have to choose between my thesis and playing future game/bluray discs or playing online.
This is not a serious company anymore ..
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DUDE, are you seriously in a dilemma of either finishing your THESIS or playing games?! SERIOUSLY?
hhm, should i finish something that will help me with my future, or should i just throw it to the garbage and go play some videogames?…
WELL, I’LL PLAY VIDEOGAMES ,of course!
seriously, just for this dilemma i highly doubt you are writing a thesis..
cheers , you gave me some good laughs :D
oh, and just to be on topic, i do not like what Sony is doing with this update. i for one use a Linux distro on the ps3, and i do not plan on updating yet.
lol… only a matter of time, before Sony cancels out another feature
Yo anyone wanna buy my PS3 (selling it for $100) if you are interested please email me
I will expect sometime in the future for you to bring out another patch that restores the 10GB space that I reserved on my hard drive for “Other OS”. It was ridiculous for you to think that I should do all the work to backup my entire 320GB hard drive and then restore the over 1000 Rock Band songs individually which takes about 24 hours of my time, all because you wanted to remove features from a system that were included in my original purchase decision. You’ve made a very bad decision in your rush to curb piracy and you are upsetting paying customers. Your just another company in a LONG line of short-sighted companies, who, for the sake of draconian DRM practices only end up hurting loyal paying customers.
For those who are filing BBB complaints what general/specific categories are you choosing?
I don’t remember if I chose product issue or advertising issue but both seem to fit well with this issue.
lol moderators deleting my harsh comments (HAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA)
people realize this is a serious consumer rights issue. if u dont update ur itunes 9.whatever they can’t restrict ur access to the itunes store. same goes for the psn. it is clearly advertised with games and systems. since they do not specify firmwawre requirements on the system (some games do but obvious ly if they came out prior to new firmware they dont need it) they cant restrict u from playing online should u choose not to update. this is not only bait and switch but its also theft of service. yes the service is free but they agree to provide it at no charge. that is a legal agreement. no firmware restrictions are placed on the agreement so if u choose not to update they have to let you use it.
@5560/Grave79:
Oof.. don’t even joke about it..
@5572/Mitch-K90:
Point is that it’s not really a choice. Of course you can’t lose the cell-sdk functionality if you’re using it. So it means you’re losing the option to play games. And that.. kind of lessens the value of the box a bit.
@5581/fleinn
Don’t worry! You’ll still be able to use it as a blu-ray player!
Well until firmware update 3.40 removes it =)
I have filed a complaint with Neelie Kroes’s department of the EU Commission dealing with anti-competitive behaviour. Search for “Neelie Kroes European Commissioner for Competition” to find the relevant links. These are the same guys who hit Microsoft with a billion dollar fine, so they have real teeth. My argument is based on the fact that the PS3 hardware was sold below cost price (cross subsidised by revenue from gaming and licences) and is now being locked to a Sony specific operating system, or else the owner of the hardware loses support for basic functionality like a choice of operating system or support of newer Blue-Ray discs. This disadvantages consumers, producers of competing cell-processor based systems, and producers of alternative operating systems for the PS3 hardware such as Yellow Dog and Ubuntu. If you feel that have been disadvantaged and live in Europe, you may consider filing a complaint too. It is very straightforward.
The mistakes committed by this company:
1) Makes it mandatory for people to install this update (dictatorship)
2) Assigns moderators to control the blog (preventing people to express their opinions and any arguments that they can make)
I am pretty sure this will be deleted
PEOPLE!!! IF YOU ARE NOT LIKING THIS UPDATE, then do the following:
-Sell your console to buy another company’s console (Wii offers Linux)
PEOPLE!!! IF YOU ARE NOT LIKING THIS UPDATE, then do the following:
-Sell your console to buy another company’s console (Wii offers Linux)
Furthermore, helps reduce Sony’s market share (BUY AN X-BOX 360)
IF YOU HATE THIS UPDATE KEEP REPEATING THIS MESSAGE
I do know it’s harsh, Unfortunately true however. They should have found a fix, not remove the reason i bought the system. i bought the second system, Knowing i wasn’t buying it for the “other OS” capability, or the rest of the bells and whistles that the (fat syatem) has. I did however pay for all the bells and whistles that came with that one.
It is like a slap in the face, and it’s insulting that it can be allowed.
Just another sad PS3 owner
@armaggedonizer
u dont realize the point. people paid for a ps3 with this function. last time i checked if someone pays for something and u take it awsy from them thats stealing.
aww common moderators!!!!!!!! there was nothing i said in my post that was offensive.
5587 Good point. Lets start an anti-stealing campaign.
If they don’t offer some sort of compensation for consistently downgrading my $599.99 system VERY SOON, i will no longer use this system as my primary gaming system. Meaning no more psn purchases and all multi-system games i will purchase on the 360. I rarely used my 360 at all the last few years but after this update came out i immediately paid for the 360 live service. Sony is stabbing it’s loyalists in the back.
I only use Linux for VLC media player because the PS3’s media support is next to useless.
It is a slippery slope when a large corporation like Sony can make you choose which features (on a product you own & paid for)you want to keep!
I have to say that they’ve done a pretty good job of keeping it out of the mainstream media. If Sony have a PR dept (Which it doesn’t feel like they do) I guess all their resources are tied up trying to keep this off the radar.
I feel like a consumer microsoft :(:(
It’s not theft, it blackmail!
Thank you for using the Better Business Bureau’s Online Complaint System.
Your complaint has been assigned case # 57166451.
Correspondence regarding this complaint will be emailed to : ******
Please print a copy of this for your records.
Filed on : April 2 2010
Yep, I’ve complained pretty much everywhere that I can!
The FTC is a LOT more important to complain to than the BBB; the FTC is an actual governmental agency that has some force behind it, and if they get enough complaints it can trigger a governmental investigation.
The BBB is more of a mediator; they just forward complaints and try to help you to a resolution.
I’d REALLY focus on FTC complaints in this case.
Well, the hypervisor was bypassed, which was not intended by Sony, so I’d describe that as a hack.
Dakh, thats exactly what sony is stopping, they exposed the inner workings of the ps3, thus comprising the security. with everyone posting the work arounds in here, they wont be there long. sony will close them off and stop it. im with guarddawg on this one, sony did nothing illegal, so go ahead sue sue sue. just dont be surprised when your all shot down in flames. and the other os is still gone. i for one am in favor of sony getting rid of something that makes it easy for people to cheat in online games, if the hackers have the knowledge of all inner working inside ps3 and are able to make changes to them, at least 40 % of everyone in her complaining will be following their instructions and before you know it, honest users cant win at all , not too mention if they have the inner working they will pirate the games and people will buy said pirated games, proof of point is all the modded ps2 back in the day modded to play pirated software. come on use the brains god gave you. think about it. shakes head im with ya guarddawg
i agree with some others on here, i never even thought of going 360, but this might have pushed me over.. i didn’t pay $600 only to get features taken away
@5581 BlueMiles
I tweeted this. Not many people follow me, but it’s better than doing nothing, right?
Anyway, Sony is being stupid by not listening to its customers. I wonder if they can even imagine the amount of money they are going to lose if this continues? Sure, there are those who don’t care about the Other OS option, but what about those that do? Those people, at least some percentage of them, will not be buying any more Sony products any time soon. Those people will most likely spread the word about their bad experiences with Sony. This will lower the amount of new customers Sony will be getting. This, on top of the previously lost customers, will add up to quite a bundle, I’m sure. Maybe then Sony will regret what they have done.
At the beginning of this fiasco, I didn’t really care much about the Other OS feature. I never had it anyway, since I never had a Fat. Now, however, I’ve seen how this has affected people, and I’ve realized that I want Other OS on my Slim. It seems to be extremely useful.
what? why was my comment moderated? i said nothing offensive!
@DEViLiSHWONDER67 OtherOS hack, online game cheats?!?!?!?! Are we still on April 1st?!?!?!
what the heck i am going to find out just what was supposedly offensive in my post by systematically posting all parts of my message until i figure out what sony doesn’t want us to hear..
it’s sad that after 5602 comments on this topic, people still spout the same sad defenses for sony..
it’s only a matter of time, before Sony cancels out another feature. what’s next; the free online access ? the ps3 blu ray?
hahahhahaha sony you are pathetic! moderationg that sentence is hilarious!
Thank you for contacting the FTC. Your complaint has been entered into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide. Your reference number is: 26023169
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Sony lets see your next move.
so what can’t you say?
Linux?
OtherOS?
pirated?
secure?