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)
Don’t forget! Never let this thread into oblivion, keep commenting!
This is terrible. Can you imagine how many people will be affected by removing this feature? Very silly move, Sony. Before I used to take updates with a grain of salt due to them only being improvements and additions. Now I shall be more cautious with anything related to the company name.
even if other-os will not come back, but I’m not updating.
udating now is to give them and other companies the freedom to do this again and again
I just hope something like this( stealing features after purchase) never happen again to anyone.
not updating or purchasing anything from Sony anymore.
Where is my comment gone? “Awaiting moderation?!?!?”
Sony, what a total d.i.s.a.s.t.e.r …
Who is heading your marketing division? The Papa Smurf?
Very, very uncool of Sony. They had just publicly stated that they would NOT remove that capability!
March 1st. “Please be assured that SCE is committed to continue the support for previously sold models that have the “Install Other OS” feature and that this feature will not be disabled in future firmware releases.”
I bought a “fat” as a media AND gaming machine. For that, Linux was for whatever the PS3 wouldn’t play on its own and for better web browsing. If I did not have MAG (which is a PSN only game) I would not have allowed the update. Stupidly, I thought I could restore my backup to correct the update (or I still would not have updated and would have just sold MAG).
Sony’s removal of functionality that was a selling point of the PS3 is criminal and will hopefully be rectified by them imminently and directly. If not, I will fully support any steps in legal action and will file the appropriate reports with BBB, etc. I’m going to give it a few days to see what they plan to do to give them the benefit of the doubt.
Further, I became a Sony user with the original PS1, and unless something is done about this retroactive removal of a critical feature, I have made my last purchase of any Sony hardware, software, or Blu-ray.
Absolutely despicable of Sony to do this. If it was truly to stop the “hackers”, it will do no good – they’re not going to update and they don’t care about PSN. Only legitimate Linux and PS3 users are hurt by this.
Comparing to the European blog and mostly Europeans you seriously are a bunch of whiners. I want refund, I want this, I want that…
For the record, PS3’s are mostly being sold in Europe not even in America, no as they’re a bunch of Microsoft fanboys and getting a 360 won’t resolve anything. I also doubt at times to get a 360 but it’ll only cost you more, why? An Elite cost about 280 dollar / Euro…. has NO WiFi and NO free online gaming, so with that on top of that you pay over 350USD / Euro for a 360 with the big chance of having RROD in less than a year. Plus don’t forget that Microsoft has been pulled with their asses in front of court many times due to their reliable console.
Keep that in mind before you say farewell to Sony for good. I may have said that I’ve quit gaming on the PS3, but I’ve never said farewell to Sony. No, its only because I game less and am no fan of DLC’s, and that kind of stuff. Still love my PSP.
@cacciopoli: That’s an insult to Papa Smurf.
And of course its about money its a company for [DELETED] sake, Sony is not a charity institute *sheesh*.
Everything in my house i have bought: vcr,dvr ,360,tv,monitors, electronic or not, i got what i payed for and use every feature it has. That is why i bought them.But thanks again sony, a machine that does everything…No matter which ps3 one owns,this is such bull.You keep strippin features out of itand not add features to it. but hey i cant really fuss right.you say what is good and thats it. Oh and if i dont update i cant play online or enjoy other features at all. No pun to #48 when i say i careless if it is legal, i call it like i see it, #%^%#%$& with no vaseline.i do think i have had enough.just to let you know this isn’t the ONLY reason i am leaving ps3 alone and moving on,Its just that this move you made is the straw that broke the camels back.
@Onna
Actually, European blogs are filled with complains, too.
at 6247 ..there is an old saying .. you get what you pay for, and since you dont pay for much you dont get much. i have both systems and there is a difference. but here is how i see it, rrod so last YEARS.. plus 3 year wrnty free you cant beat that. yold try to get that fixed after your wrnty goes out.. o you coming out the pocket. the new N wifi, ps3 makes no use of it , but you can get better connection with it with the 360 cause you can buy the adapter for it, sony has had its prob too. i know cause my fam and friend had them.
How can this be legal? Hope it’s not legal here in Norway.
I want my money back!
I need Linux until you give true web-browsing with flash and silverlight, support for mkv, ogg and flac mm, spotify, and reagion-free dvd/blueray
Give me my money back so I can buy a media-pc. I feel conned into buying this ps3 you lying pieces of sht!
Only the uninformed continue to support the “this was to prevent piracy” line.
The people who are blindly believing Sony’s excuse for doing this are the same people Sony expected to run out and buy the PS3, not because it was a good machine, but because it had the words Sony Playstation on it.
So far your living up to their expectations.
If this is really a security issue, it would be wiser to fix the leak instead of taking away an advertised feature.
For me this firmware is not an upgrade, it is a downgrade. I can not understand Sony’s policy. So many user can or do not want to install this firmware version, which means the risk of hacking the ps3 under linux still remains. But if Sony would have undertaken a security fix, this risk would be now near by zero. Also, if the ps3 will be hacked once – I don’t hope so -, a custom firmware can be installed, no matter if the feature other-os exists or not.
My Playstation has become quite useless. I will sell it with firmware 3.15 on it. Maybe the guy who buys it, is a hacker, who knows? Everything could habe been fine with a real update.
This is much more worse than when they had scrapped the flower PSN game that they gave for free for a day. Because for flower, its free and taken out (from my download list!) compared to otheros which is supposed to come with the purchase.
@onna-Most of the comments here are childish, and simply because of that I hope Sony doesn’t reverse the decision.
I haven’t read all of the pages and won’t, especially since the over 6,000 comments are probably more like 3,000 with all the people ranting over and over(this is my 2nd post on this topic). The one thing I have yet to see is anyone saying or even eluding to the fact that maybe the Sony engineers found a huge exploit. And knowing the speed and cunning of some hackers they figured this was the safest option. It’s a possibility though many of use will flame me and say that NO Sony is lying.
I am in favor of them bringing this back eventually, however I am not holding my breath. And being that I own 2 PS3’s I don’t need them to bring it back, as I was smart enough to read before updating.
April 1st, 2010: The day Sony have promoted the video gaming “Hac-King”!
@Rogueagent01
“Most of the comments here are childish, and simply because of that I hope Sony doesn’t reverse the decision”
Isn’t that *extremely* childish?!?
I think there are some VERY good arguments here as to why Sony need to reverse this before this, yet another, PR disaster settles.
1. What about those who bought a PS3 because it was advertised as being a PC connected to a TV by installing a 3rd party OS?
2. What about those who currently use their PS3 like this? (I know several) and now have to choose to retain it and say goodbye to any new games
3. What about those (like myself) who are developing academic projects and were considering using the PS3 through linux
4. What about the developers who have invested millions on Cell Linux development?
5. Should we expect, if, at some point in the future, someone cracks Blu-Ray duplication on the PC, that Blu-Ray playback on the PS3 will be disabled???
This is a totally unacceptable decision and I’m sure people will vote with their feet.
@Onna
Actually, I’m Italian…
And I don’t think anyone is acting like a baby, here.
Nice try aadster.
1. I have yet to see a single box that advertised the OS or Linux.
2. Pony up and buy another PS3 I own 2 and have had little to no money to spend over the last couple of years so it’s do able.
3. If that is what you are using it for then maybe you should have read the Warnings before simply hitting X. I did and because of that I still have a non-updated system. Wow!
4. I don’t care about those investors, and I would be willing to bet Sony is working on making a mends with some of them.
5. Total propaganda, many of use have tried making these statements and I’ll bet most of use know full well that it will not happen like that.
A few more updates and we’ll be gaming in DOS.
@Rogueagent01 :
1. I have yet to see a single box that advertised the OS or Linux.
No need it was on the box. It was advertized by SONY : Search PS3 Open Firmware. And, we were able to install Linux on FAT PS3, so it was realy a functionnality. And, to finish, SONY write, for this 3.21 update, that they r.e.m.o.v.e this functionnality ! It’s SONY who said it was a functionnality !
5. considering the games are blue ray based, it is impossible for them to remove it.
I had to deal with this last night, and needless to say am not happy! When are these companies going to realize that punishing legitimate customers is not a acceptable way to deal with pirates and hackers?
The PS3 needs cross-game voice chat more than it needs the ability to use an extra OS.
Why I use Linux under PS3???? Well for start, I wanted my PS3 to be more than a simple game machine. 2nd, I bought it because it is a resonably low cost media centre given it’s functionality. 3rd freedom of will … since it’s not capable of playing all formats current available, I use linux to give me just that, and of course, as many of you have stated, better web-brownsing… Now I’m feeling very angry because Other OS used to be a selling point for PS3 and I actually spent some time learning how to use it to take it’s benefits and I actually use it as a second pc. Truth to be told … it wasn’t fast, but usable and solid. I hope you Americans sue Sony for this outrage. I think that all this complaints have shown Sony that they were wrong about “…just a minor portion of our PS3 market actually use Linux …” and that is not the point … we bought the console with the feature and we have the right to use it as we see fit.
@Zepala, I understand that they talked about it and flaunted it however it is not advertised on the outside of the box, nor was there a single commercial that talked about it. It was and has been an awesome addition.
And yet every box I have found has stated “Design and specifications are subject to change without notice”, they actually gave a notice so they went beyond what they had to.
I’m sorry the real Justice System doesn’t work as simple as Law and Order does. All Sony has to do in court is show there is an actual threat to their or third party property and everyone will lose. If in fact they are lying about the security threat then maybe people will have a case, but again I am willing to bet they have what they need to fight this. Don’t get me wrong I want this option, but I’m not going to threaten Sony for it. Some people have made very valid and logical arguments, most have not.
@Dharma, nice try to you as well.
If the argument use are making was valid then where is the lawsuit on Home? They “advertised” Music & Video playback, it was there in the Beta and was taken away.
I understand why people are upset, but the arguments and threats on this topic haven’t (for the most part) made any sence at all. Again some people made good points most are not. Also you can still use your Linux just DON’T update.
Sony,
You DO realize that by doing this you’ve only sped up the process right?
You should have left well enough alone.
@Rogueagent01 :
Anyway, if they are in their right about removing OtherOS, they are not in blocking access to the PSN and forcing users to update.
Nowere it is written that we are forced to update our system to access the PSN or continue playing games. Nowere on the box and nowere on every ToS, EULA or other thing sony present us. Because if it was the case, SONY will be on it’s right to apply update without asking user if they agree.
And if you talk me about the ‘Will not be able to access PSN’ we found in the 3.21 EULA … Just remember I haven’t accepted it !!!
Disgraceful Sony.
This is the same as taking a car in for service and finding out they removed the CD player because people might be sharing music, and they don’t trust you.
I don’t want to do the update, but now am locked out of the online features, and have cash stranded in the playstation account.
This is a despicable and callous move by Sony.
The 3.21 update will be probably the most famous in the history of videgames. Not because it innovated something but because it showed how to make wrong changes wihtout proper evaluation about its consequences.
Google yourself: only 5 days and 2,590,000 results for ps3 3.21 update.
Add to this the 1,020,000 results google found for the ‘French’ search.
@Zepala, I guess you never noticed that every update is required to use the PS Store other then the couple of optional updates we’ve had in the last year. As to the PSN itself agin it could be because of an exploit they found and rather then subject the customers to it they restrict the access, so even if you can find and use the exploit you can’t effect the PSN. Again if they show a threat they’ll be in the right.
@Dharma, I have addressed that several times however it was on other sites I haven’t brought it up here, so I apologize. If you have a box that states OS or Linux you may be one of the few that have an actual case.
Plus the fact that Sony flat out lied at the beginning of March when they said there were no plans to take out Other OS when it was leaked to the Linux community in mid-Febuary that the upcoming update was to take out Other OS. This pretty much means you can’t take Sony’s word anymore
FW 3.15 -> Update or loose access to PSN : ACCEPTED
FW 3.21 -> Update or loose access to PSN : REFUSED
So, I stay on the EULA 3.15 I’ve accepted, and who give me acess to the PSN.
And it is not written in the 3.15 EULA I have to do the next update.
All what they can say in the 3.21 update can’t be relevant, as I refuse it !!!
There word is not a verbal contract. I won’t go as far as saying they were lying, that most likely was their intention. However things change and even a corporation doesn’t know the future of its own security.
@roguagent01
You seem to try to imply that you have superior legal knowledge, and yet you prove in your comments that you do not have a detailed knowledge of European law at least.
A feature does not have to be the subject of writing on the outside of the box or an advert to be a valid feature or unique selling point. Anyway, it was detailed in the operating manual, so unless they re-issue a copy of the manual then it should certainly still work.
Merchantability and “fit for purpose” are enshrined in consumer protection law in Europe. It doesn’t matter what disclaimers a company writes, or what EULA it disseminates, it is a judge who decides whether a particular product meets the reasonable expectations of a consumer.
I personally think that any update to a product should not r.e.m.o.v.e. existing functionality. This update forces user to chose between two alternate functions, which I consider unfair. If a product did something yesterday, it should also do that function today (notwithstanding any fair wear and tear.)
@Rogueagent01
Actually, you can access PSN and PSStore using FW 3.15.
:)
LOL at the people that think they can’t access online functions without updating.
There ARE ways but I can’t list them here for obvious reasons.
@people using proxies and 3rd party DNS to access PSN.
Do you realise the risks you are taking?
It is never safe to just download and run a .exe that you do not know the source of on your computer.
It is never safe to resolve DNS by a 3rd party DNS server you do not know.
It is never safe to use a proxy run by someone you do not know.
These are the very real risks of this shut out action by Sony.
The actually started to do the updates right when they made them optional. That was my biggest beef before. Stop forcing me to update so I can use the system the way I wanted. I don’t firmware update on day 0, no matter the content of the firmware. They could bring Skype Video chat to the next revision and I would still wait.
I also agree that his is going to drive more people to the “darkside” of custom firmware. I had no interst in ever doing such a thing but now ,if I want to continue using a feature I’ve grown accustom to using, that’s exactly what I’m going to have to do. This is silly because circumventing DRM was never the purpose of a certain person blamed for this. His intentions where to fully utlitize the hardware in Other OS.
I see it like Microsoft limiting the power and use of your PC hardware through their OS when not using Microsoft products. I doubt anybody would be happy only being allowed to use a fraction of the RAM or processor in their several hundred dollar computer.
@rogueagent reply2
Abuse of a dominant market position is also enshrined in a European directive. Dumping product below cost is subject to restrictions if you then try to take advantage of that by coupling the sale to other products (e.g. like binding an operating system to specific hardware)
As for changing specifications, that only applies to sales of new products that have just been manufactured, not r.e.m.o.v.i.n.g. features from products that have already been sold and are in a consumer’s possession.
who cares buy a pc or a 360 if you want to play in a hacked market , you dont even have full access to the cell anyways what good was running linux on ps3?? in reality there is a pc for that open environment not a gaming console.. lol at the people who are upset about this.
for the whole .1% of ps3 users using linux go buy a fukin pc and pirate all the games you want i personally support things with my money.
@BonkDeHond
Sure it is risky. But no more then using the internet itself.
People need to understand that proxies are capable of capturing login/password. DNS is capable of redirection. But it happen on the internet everyday. People are more at risk surfing the internet. I see hundreds of infected website a day installing malware/virus on PCs.
@flowjo
It was the RSX that didn’t have full access.
Yes, yes, yes. It’s only about pirating. 6300+ comments about how they are taking the pirate function away from the PS3.
@twindad It is a LOT more risky than “just using the Internet itself.” You give complete control to a man in the middle who normally would never ever be able to see any of your network traffic, and who knows exactly what hardware and software you are running and what systems you are accessing.