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)
I really hope this is an April Fools Day joke, although I doubt it. I bought my PS3 during the holiday season with one idea in mind. Installing Linux on it because in my small startup company we develop SSL software and decided to use the PS3 as OpenSSL accelerator. However I also bough few games which I started to play and I love them.
However now Sony has me by the balls by saying either you are going to work on your software and make some money out of it eventually or you could play games. But not both. We are a startup company in a small country. We can not afford buying 2 or 3 consoles just for testing.
Sony, bad move. Really. Especially when we are starting to develop software for Linux desktop/mobiles that would work with/depend on features of your new PlayStationMove. I am really, really disappointed. You give me no choice. I would go for Linux and will stop buying games for my console, because I wouldn’t be able to play them.
lame move sony. really lame. I’m not sure you actually have people reading the responses, but given the sheer number of responses to this post, I hope you reconsider this.
This is an outrage. Removing features that are already implemented because you left a friggin security hole in it? How about you try and fix it? Of all the stupid moves you made (like removing backward compatibility) this really takes the cake.
So while I actually like the PSN and prefer it over xbox live, I will not allow you to remove a feature from a console that’s sitting in my living room. If my choices come down to letting you remove a feature that I use frequently and allowing me to buy games on the PSN, then I guess you won’t be seeing me spending any more money on the psn store.
Why not be honest:
“Recently there have been hacking attempts via the OtherOS functionality on older PS3 units. Unfortunately there is no way we can fix this so for security reasons the OtherOS feature will be disabled in future firmware updates. We are very sorry for this inconvenience, every PS3 owner who is affected by this will receive a $10 PSN voucher to compensate for the loss of that feature.”
THAT would be honest and good PR. Something the people at Sony seem to have forgotten about.
The ironic thing is, this decision to remove “Other OS” may lead to the PS3 getting hacked even faster. Sony, you have now broken the hearts of many, many technically gifted people around the world. There may be a consequence to that.
They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Hell is nothing compared to a pedantry of geeks. Especially if you’re a hardware company.
@sony
Removing other OS support is a very bad idea. I’m using this feature and it was a major reason to buy the PS3. If this is really no joke, there will be no more sony products bought by me. I’m yet sorry about the HDR CX 115 camcorder I bought two weeks ago.
Nobody finds its odd that we are going from 3.15 to 3.21? And the release is in a Japanese time zone?
And am I seeing this right? 13 year old kids saying they are taking Sony to court over this?
ROFLLMAOLMFAOLOL
This makes a big, big dent in my regard for Sony. It is only recently that I have been able to install YDL, since I was a bit hesitant about formatting the harddrive which holds a few copy-protected saves. Now I find out I will only be able to use it a few days. Really really bad move if you ask me, to just force it down like this. What of the many people who invested time (and possibly money) in developing/improving YDL for this console, what of the whole communities build around this, and perhaps projects based on this feature.
I sincerely hope that this announcement is a very bad and misplaced april fool’s joke.
What is the address to which i have to send my PS3, to get my money back (including the money for all my games i have bought)?
But in the end this update will only give the hackers some more reasons to spend time with thier PS3’s.
is it just me…or does it seem every time we have a firmware update, the ps3 becomes less and less compatible with the internet?
I’m of the firm belief that this firmware release from Sony may run foul of the ACCC and the Australian Trade Practices Act, which states
* The goods must be of merchantable quality. That is, they must meet a basic level of quality and performance, taking into account their price and description. They also should be free from defects that were not obvious to you at the time of purchase.
* The goods must be fit for their purpose. That is, they should do what they are supposed to do and be suitable for any purpose that you might have made known to the supplier.
* The goods must match the description you were given or the sample you chose from. For example, any carpet laid must be the same quality and colour as the sample you chose from.
* You must receive clear title to the goods, including goods bought at auction. In other words, you can expect to own the goods outright and any restriction on ownership should be explained to you beforehand.
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/815360
four magic letters EULA…..end of!
Sony remove a feature that they say is being misused to prevent a loss in sales, so umm… all of us who refuse to update, we’re not going to be buying too many new games or blu-rays for our players now are we…
The Australian Trade Practices Act makes a very good analogy using carpet. I however propose one more applicable to Sony and this update.
Sony have sold me a Playstation 3 unit capable of being used with the OtherOS feature – legitimately half the reason I purchased such an expensive device. Sony are now removing that feature, decreasing my purchase value by half.
This is akin to selling me a table with 4 legs, and then coming into my house some time later to remove 2 of them.
Yes, they give me the ability to ignore this update, but doing so will break OTHER features of my system – that I have paid for.
So that’s a choice of which two legs would I like Sony to remove.
I’m in the process of writing a letter to Sony and the ACCC regarding this news – it’s not hard to see that Sony are quite probably in breach of these laws as the device I purchased is clearly labeled and sold for uses that will be disabled after this update.
If this is an April Fool’s joke, it’s NOT funny. This is angering a LOT of people and there’s still going to be bad blood for at least some of them when the joke is revealed.
If this is not a joke, then it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of Sony doing. There will certainly be a class action lawsuit and they will certainly lose. I normally hate all the suing nonsense (I qualified to receive money from a class action once, but didn’t take it ‘cuz I didn’t support the suit), but I would be all over this one.
And for the people out there saying “yay, my system is going to be more secure,” you’re freakin’ idiots! If you don’t use the otheros feature, then how could your system possibly be compromised by it? You’re not at risk at all. The security they’re talking about is hacking the system from within the otheros, and they’re not talking about making the systems secure for us: they’re talking about making it secure for them.
in the first place nothing is 100% secure in this world sony.
i hope they add some good features… like cross game chat..
and i hope they add the feature to send voice messages!
This is not an April Fools. They would not post numbers of phone support. SONY, You never cease to amaze me with your pathetic firmware updates. your “DEVS” have yet to produce a high quality update. The XMB is slow and sluggish, the interface looks like garbage. You have yet to update a 5 years old Avatar system, the list goes on and on,… and now you remove a feature that was included to a system I paid for. JEERS to you. I hope this “security” update bite you in the rear. and all our systems die. and then what???…
YOU CAN LINUX, LINUXITES CAN YOU. SONY YOU ARE AS EVIL AS ANYONE ELSE. I WILL NOT BUY ANY MORE PS3 GAMES.
THANKS, YOU SAVED MONEY FOR ME BY LOSING A LOYAL CUSTOMER LIKE ME.
Sony has every right to protect their intellectual property how ever they see fit, and if that hacker dude wouldn’t of hacked the PS3 through the other OS feature they wouldn’t be disabling it.
Another thing who uses [DELETED] Linux anyways? PC nerds, that’s who so if you want to use Linux use where it was meant to be used on a PC.
And no one is going to win a law suite in this matter because the EULA you answer yes too is i am sure iron clad in this department, Sony maintains the rights over their intellectual property and hardware.
Last but not least the people who are buying PS3’s today in the future PS4’s don’t give a crap about stuff like this.
So if you have to have a Linux distro running on something build a $300 PC download a copy of red hat and be happy.
what!??!?! prepare money sony beacuse it can’t be legal at all. That update is mandatory if you want to use your sistem, and you’re deleting that freature because of that I bought the system. You have ADVERTISED that freatures. It must be a joke…
Will the otheros partition get rededicated back to the ps3 normal partition?
Where should I send the bill for $80 Sony?
Because now I have a Retail Yellow Dog Linux disk I cant use.
Thanks a Lot
THIS IS A DISASTER FOR SONY. I WILL NOT BE SURPRISED IF SOMEONE NOW HACKS PS3 TO RUN WINDOWS 7 OR LEOPARD.
SONY, SORRY MAN YOUR GAME IS OVER.
I’m thinking this is a April fools joke. If it is – LOL – If it isn’t – This will be the last time I ever buy a Sony branded console. I have 2 PS3s with that feature and bought them for ($500) each to be able to use all the features advertised. Now I lose the ability to use my PS3 to the fullest whether I update or not? If I update, I lose other OS!?! If I don’t update, I can’t play online!?! Eff that.
MIROSOFT IS BETTER THAN SONY. AT LEAST XBOX NEVER PROMISED SOMETHING WHICH THEY DID NOT KEEP.
I MAKE A PROMISE. READ IT SONY, READ IT TWICE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANY SONY PRODUCT, NOR MY FAMILY NOR FRIENDS.
YES YOU READ IT RIGHT. YOUR COMPANY IS ANYWAY SINKING, AND I AM NOT GOING TO BUY ANY SONY, EVER.
MIROSOFT IS BETTER THAN SONY. AT LEAST XBOX NEVER PROMISED SOMETHING WHICH THEY DID NOT KEEP.
^ the 360 only works for forty percent of the people who bought it. come on, this sucks for us ps3 owners, and i hope sony gets sued (will gladly participate), but we don’t need to go crazy comparing it to the xboxpleasefixme.
i am buying a xbox over and out
I do not post many comments, and I am normally very positive, but this is a [DELETED] move.
I love how Sony LIED to EVERYONE when they told us they would NEVER remove the Other OS feature from older models. Great job Sony…
<—- am not amused, i know of the otherOS feature and had plans on using that as a media center/computer/virtual machine host. With this patch you have put nail 2 of 3 in the coffin from me.
nail 1. Not every game supports 1080p (not wise for a high end, near limitless console).
nail 2. no linux (i work with many machines and require mass power).
nail 3. i dont know it yet.
if this is a joke its still counting on my end.
Now, I guess, is a good oppertunity to sell all my sony stock options before the price is going to dive like a U96 submarine.
My theory is that there is most likely a memory issue that prevents soný from adding features due to firmware size constraints. Probably removing features and esp. all security code to patch the linux hypervisor would prevent adding new cool features such as matroshka and cross-game voice chat features support.
Thanks for the downgrade Sony. The truth is you’re more worried about your own security rather than ours and we’re the ones losing out.
What does it mean for those of us who already have another OS already installed? Will it the partition get formatted on 3.21 update? Anyone?
Now this is WEAK!
Sony you should find another way to address the hacker issues. Besides, it’s nearly impossible to perform the hack.
Won’t this fall into some consumer protection lawsuit issue? I mean taking away features that we paid for!
This is all around a BAD DEAL, way to take the wind out of your sails Sony!
Honest to God who comes up with this stuff?
I get it, it’s an April fools joke! HAHA … NOT FUNNY!
What is funny is how you can give us an exact date for when this update will be out but can’t give us a date for any other firmware update ever … wait … that’s not funny either!
WOW!
I paid %600 for a machine that now your blackmailing features out of me because of some jackass thats smarter than you?
F**K YOU SONY!
This had better be a April Fools Joke!
So we all know that Sony has been talking about making PSN a paid service. I’m thinking/wondering so they tell us all now, “you need to update or you won’t be able to connect to PSN.” Then it wouldn’t surprise me since they are willing to do this, that the next move, in a month, “Oh hey thanks for updating guys, now that thats all over with, if you want to KEEP connecting to PSN, you are going to have to start paying, but no SERIOUSLY thanks for updating so you can continue to be on PSN” Some of us even paid for our YDL distros…
I’m going to assume this is a joke.
I’m assuming that based on the assumption that whoever is in charge of planning Update dates knows full well what April 1st is and that they couldn’t possibly be ignorant enough to post a legitimate update on a day where practical jokes are abound. Last day in March perhaps? Maybe move it up a week? No need for this to fall on the first outside of jokes.
Even if it isn’t, I won’t be affected. I’m just saying…pay attention to the dates man.
If the otherOS is missing after the update i will ask for a refund.
I payed 659 for the damn thing, cause it had all these features and now they want to remove features?
thats a bad move sony, really bad move….
I hope this was just a joke.
I often use the other os function on my PS3. It is one of the reasons I bought PS3.
If this was true then I’m very disappoint.
Securing the system or patching it is one thing, but how could SONY take away the function that many customers still using it legally. Again, this is very disappointing.
Sony hasn’t revealed all the features in 3.21. Let’s wait until we are closer to the release of the firmware before jumping down their throats.
There better be something you are adding that is good for this…. I am one of the few that use the linux partition on my ps3 and I am annoyed that it is being taken away. Plus now I have to go through a lengthy backup process and reformat the whole drive to get that space back.
Not impressed!
PEOPLE this is NOT a joke, MULTIPLE devs who work for companys that develop for PS3 have contacted SCEI and confirmed it…
guys its just an Os, loyal fans will keep their ps3 because they bought it for the games and blu-ray…and honestly you would be very stupid if you bought a ps3 just for the other OS feature!!
dont worry, you’ll live
people defending this sicken me.
“those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither”. Benjamin Franklin
Words to live by folks just because you don’t use it doesn’t mean you should roll over and let them take it from you. what if they disable backwards compatibility next claiming stability concerns? I don’t use the other os feature but I want it there because I paid for it it’s mine to do with as I see fit. for all of you who said whatever you all know if it was a feature you all used ever last one of you would be raising Cain right now as would be your right.
You guys can at least reply to some of these comments. It’s not sales are going to go down or something.
plz… say it was a joke !!
You can choose not to upgrade, but that means you can’t sign in to the PSN or play any future games? Well that’s not really a choice then is it.
I was excited when I saw the title, especially after the share.blog initiative. Over a 1000 ideas on there and their culmination is having a feature taken away, and to protect themselves no less. The upside they give to removing this feature? You can continue playing games and movies. Like I can’t do that already? Good one.
I only bought my PS3 two months ago, and I had to hunt around to find a origional new phat one to buy. The only thing that attracted me to the PS3 over the other option was the ability to install an OtherOS, noise and blueray in that order.
I have a Slim, so it doesn’t really matter to me. But it is disappointing to see that taking away features is a higher priority than upgrading the experience.
Next few updates had best be gold.