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)
@ kithrin: I don’t know. What’s stopping them from doing that now?
˙pǝʇɐɹǝpoɯ ʇǝƃ ʇuoʍ ı ʇsɐǝן ʇɐ ʇnq
‘uʍop ǝpısdn puɐʇs oʇ ǝʌɐɥ noʎ ʎɹɹos
@AlnilamE
Indeed. Assuming it was possible (obviously there have been tons of XBLive vi.ruses, VirtualConsole vi.ruses, etc…?), remo.ving O.therOS via new f.irmware would have zero effect on h.ackers’ ability to create and upload it.
@AlnilamE it will slow them down because they can no longer have the same version of the software with easy access to an OS that allows for hacking. and most programs that can run viruses now are disabled.
Ps. for those who seem to support hackers, consider this; if hackers didn’t exist you would still have other OS support, we would never have to worry about piracy, same with viruses, or getting personal information stolen online.
Kithrin– there is NO protection of users involved with this. OtherOS wasn’t something that runs in the background of your PS3. It was just a switch that ALLOWED an OS to be installed. It was not a pre-installed Linux OS just waiting for anyone to use, YOU had to install it. There’s no way just having the OtherOS feature enabled would have allowed viruses, hacking, or anything else.
Additionally, an unmodified PS3 would NOT be able to run unsigned code, so a virus could not spread to anyone. The WORST a user who stuck with official Sony firmware would deal with was cheaters online– yes, that sucks, but it’s hardly someone stealing *your* bank account.
This is ONLY about Sony’s corporate paranoia. Nothing more or less. The problem (and why this is so shortsited) is the ones who want to hack just won’t upgrade, get what they want, and then they’ll be able to hack ANY version of the PS3, with or without OtherOS installed. So the feature was removed and it helps NO ONE AT ALL. Sony just feels good that they did something.
¿¿ɔq oʇ puǝddɐɥ ןןıʍ ʇɐɥʍ puɐ ˙uǝɥʇ sɯıןs ǝɥʇ oʇ so ɹǝɥʇo
ppɐ ʇou ʎɥʍ ʇnq ˙sǝnssı ɹıɐdǝɹ ɹoɟ ǝɯɐs ǝɥʇ sןǝpoɯ ןןɐ ǝʞɐɯ oʇ sı ‘uǝɥʇ sıɥʇ pıp
ʎǝɥʇ ʎɥʍ ɟo ʞuıɥʇ uɐɔ ı uosɐǝɹ ɹǝɥʇo ʎןuo ǝɥʇ ˙ɹǝʌoɔ ɐ ʇsnɾ sɐʍ ,ʎʇıɹnɔǝs, ʇɐɥʇ
‘suosɐǝɹ ʎʇıɹnɔǝs ɹoɟ ǝpɐɹƃuʍop sıɥʇ op ʇupıp ʎuos ʇɐɥʇ sʎɐs ǝuoʎɹǝʌǝ
@kithrin
They ALREADY have ‘the same version of the system software with easy access to an OS that allows for hacking’. Google search “PS3 3.21 with OtherOS”. As we’ve been saying, this only affects leg.itimate users — hack.ers conti.nue as no.rmal.
yeah people are still useing the[OTHER OS) facts are are you cant really stop hacking without firewalls and blocking hijacking, dns servers from sony. they have there hands full the bypassing will only grow larger
Yes majority rules in social issues. My PS3 is not a democracy, its a product, and its a computer. I bought it at an expensive price point because it was so versatile, not just because it was a game console. And if someone really wants to do it, they can find a way into the system anyways. These guys are modifying the hardware. Pulling the weakest link out did nothing but spur even more people to see how they can exploit and alter the system. I’m not at all saying Sony didn’t have a right to try to coax people out of that function. But what they were wrong to do is to force myself and others out of it. The update is not optional, for not upgrading I lose my ability to buy and play PS3 format software, and blu-ray movies. I also lose my ability to use PSN, just for wanting to keep my days worth of work on Linux. I’m a computer systems student, I may even someday end up in game dev, I don’t want piracy either, but this was not the way to solve this. You can find me on twitter by this name if you want info on a class action.
For the record I would be happy just being let back onto PSN on Three dot One Five, and be able to play all future blu-rays and games on it, it could be done even if Three dot One Five users had to install an additional patch to get the game working, I don’t care. I still want to buy my games so I am a bit confused as to how telling myself and others I can no longer spend money at the PSN store, or at retail really deter piracy? Duh…
Sony’s move is nothing more than legalized black-mail:
“Install this, or else!”
dr_DOOM69 – Cool – you’ll pay me the $20.000 or so it’ll cost to get a “pc” with a cell inside? Because – you know – it’s usually a good idea to check up on stuff before writing online. You can’t just get a “cell” unless you buy a freaking expensive Blade server.
kithrin – there is no security. The other os ran completely seperate from the game os. There was (and is) no risk of virusses, phishing or hacking due to the other os. This is solely about either panic and paranoia at Sony or a cold, hard decision to use this as an excuse to cut support for other os and thus save a few bucks that it otherwise takes up in maintenance from their programmers. Take your pick.
Dear Sony,
How about working on adding a feature like this:
www(dot)x-b-o-x(dot)com/en-US/live/projectnatal/
(remove hyphens)
Thanks.
@Stealth_Musoka
Re: “I am a bit confused as to how telling myself and others I can no longer spend money at the PSN store, or at retail really deter p.iracy?”
It’s done wonders for the PSP. :p
oɹʇuoɔ uoıʇoɯ ɥʇıʍ ııʍ opuǝʇuıu ǝɥʇ ʎdoɔ oʇ pǝpıɔǝp ʇsnɾ ʎǝɥʇ ‘ɥɐɐu
uɐıssnɐƃ@
Ha yeah, absolutely. The point remains valid as an observation of what these types of action (ie: locking people out of the ability to buy new products) lead to, however the PSP was a little different. The PSP was one giant case of them trying to fix their own mistake, they left the system open to execute unsigned code. I was never told I could run homebrew with the PSP. PSP firmware never took away anything except tiff support which, since there are alternative image file fomats thats ok. With the PS3 noone is executing unsigned code or pirating at all to my knowledge, what they are doing is dumping and looking at its files, which absolutely might lead to piracy, it might not. As far as I understand it, even if they can get it running code, the bluray drives and discs still have some sort of unique encryption scheme, so they are a LONG ways off from pirates loading up free games. Also with PS3 I read interviews with Sony execs touting the ability to run my linux, prior to my purchase. I bought it in part because they were a bit more open with their system, and also because it did an array of things, not the least of which was Linux which expands the horizons, and functionality of the machine vastly.
Allow me to correct my mistake before someone else does, they never even removed tiff format from PSP, it was a bug, my mistake.
It is funny, the reader comments line on the right side of the blog is usually dominated by people voices their anger over this move.
I don’t know what to do? Install it if I want to play online or sell it to someone who will actually use “Other Os”. It sucks cause I can’t play MW2 online right now. I think it was a dumb move on Sony’s part.
kithrin:
If hackers didn’t exist, Sony would have come up with some other lame excuse for removing Other OS support.
Get your head out of the sand. Sony wanted to remove this feature and they did, to our detriment. What feature’s next?
you tube dot com slash watch?v=rO5zmjbRujs
Wow, I’m unba.nned!
@MartinSnipe: Use go.ogle — you don’t need to have the problem you think you do. It was explained here in the comments, but they’ve probably been d.eleted. There is more than one solution.
lol Sven, wunderbar. Find me on twitter by this name if you guys want to know about the class action suit, and help spread the word to others you know who are upset. Gonna be a lot to tell in the next few days.
Thanks — Wish I could join, but I’m outside the US. Wish I’d kept a list of the users who said it would never happen, just for fun :).
Sony, do you think that if you ignore us and wish upon a shooting star we are going to go away? We aren’t going to forget this and will keep this blog lively.
your all just cry babys get over it find somthing to do like a girl it will help the dorking pain
the moderates should just lock this
This is a big deal…it’s the principal.
How can anyone (ahem….DrDoom) Not see that the principal is more important that anything else.
Sure we can just install Linux on the Comp…but it’s not about that at all…
It’s amazing to me that EVERYONE isn’t backing this decision as no less that a slap in the face of loyal consumers.
h t t p : / / 3 0 0 4( . ) p o k e m o n g e r ( . ) c o m / s h o w t h r e a d. p h p ? t i d = 2 1
remove spaces
remove ( )
@dr_DOOM69
Cry babies who can’t handle people moaning about this issue should stop moaning and get over it. Find something to do like a girl it will help the dorking (sic) pain.
Other recommended alternatives include spelling and/or typing lessons.
you suck, sony. way to go, telling your fans you hate them. i’m not updating.
im done here this is my last comment i hope tell you all to burn in h e l l
sony your greed will make you fail even worse than the ps3 did on release
Sony… this is your poor decision as usuall that you’ve been making for a few years now. I work at best buy, I see how terrible your sells on tv’s are exp. compaired to sam0sung. I see how you failed with wireless speakers charging insane amounts for junk.. I see how you failed for years with the ps3 and finally starting last year YOU START GETTING SALES AGAIN.. and now this b.s. happens?? Stop f-0king being co-ky and start listening to people before you end up going down. Your past will not allow you to make this many decisions before going bankrupt. I too will be filing a class act if the OS feature isnt enabled again. I along with many use the ps3 for MEDIA PURPOSES ONLY and thanks for the kick in the ba11s.
but the ps3 systems in best are all like the downgrades. the slim or any model in the stores new doesn’t have otheros- OR ps2 gaming .. How is removing somthing that already done been gone hurting the sells? I think this is downright dumb. If a guy and his kid are getting a new playstation 3 some best buy guy isn’t about to stop them. What would say these PS3 can’t play ps3 games, blu-ray AND have psn oh because it’ll have a fee for online gaming soon. What say get the xbox360 with a 50% fail rate OR a nintendo wii with horrid graphics plus horrible games. Oh wait you can buy your son this PC they range from 600 to 5,000 dollars don’t forget on PC’s you have to change the video card EVERY YEAR! plus buy the software and games not much better UNLESS YOU enjoy software then you can get the alienware from somwere eles. Best buy sucks anyways. The ps3 slim is awesome whenever they stop production on ps3 games ill just watch movies play game and surf the web on the alienware laptop. trust i wont use linux!!
@dr_DOOM69
I’ll accept that as a mitigating factor :). You’ve not yet addressed whether complaining about an issue, or complaining about complaining about an issue, is the more pathetic use of time, however.
This seems like something Julius Malema would do.
@dr_DOOM69 has one of those crapy slim units
you know in craigslist the ps3 that people get rid of the most are the slim units, and usualy sell for $200 while the older much better units if you do find one on there sell for $350 and up, so dr_DOOM69 your out of line buddy
How in the world is the ps3 slim junk? I’v left the slim on for 3 weeks never turning it off, it still works fine. It plays ps3 games, music, avi, blu-ray, dvd, free online. The slim is smaller uses less power. Works just as good if not better then older ps3 models, if you hate sony and there playstation 3 why even be on this site just to cry ? Acting like a baby helps nothing!!! The ps2 was good all it had was the ability to play ps2 and ps1 games and online. If you hate ps3 how could you ever of been a fan in the first place ?
Someone was asking about Twitter hashtags: I’ve seen lots of people using #OtherOS
most people saying other os is useless are probably slim users
make sure you remove spaces from the above adress, her eis another
h tt p : // geohotps3. blogspot. com/
I’m done with this. Sony is not turning back.
I’m going to buy the N1nt3nd0 console. OK, it’s not as powerful as the PS3, but at least I’m going to have FUN with it, and not frustrations like this functionality removal without any good explanation.
And no, I won’t buy any M1cr0s0ft products. Never. Period.
That’s what I’m going to do:
– finish PS3 games I have now
– sell all my PS3 games
– not buying any Sony products again
– say to my friends “don’t buy Sony products”
– play Monster Hunter on the N1nt3nd0 console
I’m not going to sell my PS3. Maybe some AAA+ game shows up that I’d like to play, but I’m sure I’m going to buy the USED version of the game, not a new one.
Sony is not getting my money again.
– I used to buy lots of games in PSN. Not anymore.
– I was going to buy the PS Move. Not anymore.
– I trusted you, Sony. Not anymore.
And I encourage you people to do the same.
Goodbye, Sony.
Like Snake would say: Sony… has changed.
To worse.
would you like some cheese with that wine? haha!
just waiting on tha man to bring the firmware that will end SONY’S battle againts piraters, because them they wont be able to do nothing ones it comes out, also it will even work on the slim version wow!!, SONY you lost the battle
ooh and once the firmware is out all i can say is no matter what update SONY comes up with is as good as H-a-c-k
@6860 Shigutso-BR
Any new games will have this firmware on it, so you won’t be able to play it if you want to keep Other OS, assuming you didn’t already update.
@6864 DEADMANWALKING01
Good point.
I’m not going to update. But I’m sure there will be “alternative” methods to run those games.
Unfortunately, I will have to use those methods.
:(