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 PAID FOR EVERTHING THAT YOU ADVERTISE AT THE LAUNCH DAY. PERIOD
Um guys, pay attention to the date. April 1st. This is obviously an April Fools joke. It doesn’t make sense because alot of the people who deal with Folding@home deal with this, and a large part of commercial clients use this. I know of companies that bought hundreds of these machines specifically for this reason, 8 of these machines is as powerful as a supercomputer.
Not to mention the limitation one firmware update that will remove functionality on one set of systems that does have it, against a set a systems that doesn’t have it, firmware just doesn’t work that way.
You people are idiots. It’s obviously a April Fool’s joke. If the 3D update is update 3.20 how can this be update 3.21?
An exploit must be close or they would have done this ages ago….someone knows something…!
So many people upset about a feature they didnt use or even know how to use, all you people are just silly.
where were all you crybabys when they announced the Ps3 Slim?
that has no linux support from the box. THEY DONT EVEN MANUFACTURE THE OTHER ONE ANYMORE! so yes it COSTS THEM MONEY TO DELETE SOMETHING THERE NOT EVEN MAKING.
#964 YOU CAN STILL USE LINUX ON PS3
just not the super perfect happy way you want to anymore BUT you do still have the choice.
Hey Sony, whatever happened to “It only does everything.” You should just change it to “It used to do everything.”
It’s really a shame that you are taking a feature away from my Playstation which I paid for. I have had the 20gb system from the system launch since it came out and have had Linux on it just as long. You even advertised this functionality on the box and now you’re taking it away?
And what about all the people that paid for Yellow Dog Linux? Are you going to refund that money to us because you decide it’s better that you are taking away a feature? What’s next? Are you going to disable Playstation 2 backwards compatibility?
This is outrageous!
People just like to jump the gun and over analyze everything. No one seems to notice the “April 1st” part.
MORE MORE MORE!!! Come on!- POUR OUT YOUR ANGER, FRUSTRATION, DISAPPOINTMENT, DISDAIN, HATRED, and AWKWARDNESS FEELINGS TOWARD SONY! *Evil Laughter*. Come on, people!- SPEAK UP YOUR THOUGHTS – Allow your voices to be echoed through Sony’s ears! TO ONE THOUSAND! TO ONE THOUSAND! TO ONE THOUSAND!
APRIL FOOLS
Pay attention people….
Im for this update, id rather have a good constant stream of quality games than some non-used, and pretty poor other os. (ive used it, and it wasn’t all that). All the people moaning here are just trying to get free games because it was an advertised feature apparently. Only a few of these 1000 people actually use the thing.
well in my opinion, instead of worrying not only about removing the other OS altogether. Sony needs to get their heads out of the butts and fix the red screen of death epidemic instead of worrying about creating more problems for their consumers. my ps3 bot the red screen of death 7 days after my one year warranty expired. Now I’m expected to pay $120 for their hardware screw up, get real guys…xbox 360 anyone? I’m just hoping that this update will address the RSOD, doubt it, their just in it for the almighty dollar. Granted 360 has a bad running record, but they aren’t afraid to admit it and give you a three year warranty. Playstation: It Does only…..make a great expensive paperwieght. They’ve drawn the last straw with taking out the other OS feature.
#970
This deletes from the fats, not the slims. No one was up in arms b/c the slim buyers knew what they were getting, a cheaper console with less features. If someone wanted extra features, they would have gotten a fat. Well, that’s what we DID.
So now Sony is stiffing us who shelled out extra for this feature. Are they going to refund us the difference between the Fat and the Slim models?
I hope its not a aprils fools joke, plug that leak tight so we can still see great software sales and keep our free online service. the leak grows and I bet “online gets a subscription plan”
So What is with this:
>> 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.
Is this serious?, is that the corporate commitment of SCE? What will happen to the people that invest in expensive software to work like the CODECSYS CE-10, they will have to spend more money to buy a PS3 so they can play…..? That’s not the way to go Sony!
@ 953
That is a fallacy and not related to this.
A more apt comparison would be more like: You buy a Camaro. Someone that makes his own cars in Germany reverse engineers the electronics in the Camaro. Chevy then comes to you with an ultimatum. They will either disable the door to your gas tank (disable the playstation network) which still lets you use what’s already there (games you’ve downloaded) but you get nothing new (no more access to the store). OOOOrrr they will disable the electronics (otherOS). This means you can still for the most part run your car, but you won’t have air conditioning, or radio, headlights… (no decent internet browser, no playing HD emulated versions of the old console games that you own but no longer enjoy because they look like crap on an hd tv and don’t have long enough cables to sit on your couch and play).
In your example, you have done something wrong, are being punished, and are complaining about it. In Sony’s situation, someone else has done something that is questionably wrong, and you are being punished.
@973
I like how we both responded to 953 using Camaro analogies.
@983
That’s just the thing. Nobody is..
PPL!!!!!!
it’s an April Fools Joke, if it wasn’t they would of commented that it wasn’t a joke by now. Also to those aying that devs contacted Sony and said the same thing, give me a link! Also don’t you think the devs may perhaps be in on the joke ? It’s this was somehow to be true, Sony would get a ton of lawsuit,and trust me they don’t want to lose money.
Is this possibly a “April Fools” situation…look at the update release date, April 1st, thats thursday, arent Updates typically put out on Tuesdays? guess it doesnt matter, i havent used the OS option, mainly because i didnt want to have to back up everything and all that, too bad for people who enjoy their OS’, will there be any features added in the 3.21 update?
Er wow *984. Typo for the lose.
1000th Comment? I doubt it.
The only real reason I can think of for this change is:
1> Make the machine less, than it is, without PSN access.
2> Start charging for PSN access.
I will not be updating when this comes out.
Lame
#990
I feel like this is a present more then a punishment
and piracy isnt “questionably” wrong, IT’s wrong. why are pc game sales PLUMMETING. the whole try before you buy line is BULLS*** to because were all guilty of it you dl something play it for a hour think man I would totally buy this, next thing you know you beat the game and there is no reason to spend 50$ on it.
piracy takes from developers and it is wrong. support things and you get better things.
@977
So if you buy a car with airbags and antilock brakes…and then 3 years from now, the car company says you have to choose, is that fair? You still have the option of using either one, just not both.
Fail.
2″er is clueless
really wolverine
how am i clueless?
TwoIncher – I finally agree with you. You said
“support things and you get better things.”
That is SOOOO true!!! And what do you get when you take away support for things???? Hmmmm….???
das kann doch nicht war sein !!! und STRAFVERFAHREN GEGEN SONY mache ich noch dazu
Also, why is it April 1st of “JPS” Japan Standard Time?? LOL
What moron would believe this is an April Fools joke? Where’s the punchline? This isn’t funny, its pissing everyone off, and it’s bad PR. If it were an April Fools joke they’d make up something silly (like an Uncharted Kart Racing game), not something that angers everybody.
You’re missing the point that Sony is taking away something that people paid for to use. Just because you don’t use it doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply. If you read the 1000+ posts you can see the numerous uses people have for OtherOS
All I can picture right now is everyone at Sony laughing their asses off reading these posts.
for all the complainers…this is probably why it is listed as 3.21 instead of 3.3 update…it is a minor one and while it was cool to install another OS…it is a big security hole. hopefully the next update will be more robust
@1000
He did not pirate it. He figured out how it works and has not released anything to the public. Without people figuring out how stuff works we wouldn’t have scientific progress.
PC game sales are plummeting because the economy as a whole is plummeting.
The point is, this is not anti-piracy this anti-customer. You cannot justify removing features from something that you have sold someone.
Definitely, it sounds like THE April fool’s joke
I still cant believe that NetFlix doesn’t have a native app on the PS3’s XMB. That’s the one major FW update that I’m looking forward too.
@mywhitenoise
Because it doesn’t make sense. THis isn’t going to prevent hacking, it’s going to encourage it first of all
Second, their wanting to do something that firmware can’t typically do. For example all their firmware updates (The mandatory ones) target both systems, large and slim. You can’t tell the firmware to remove something that isn’t there, and Sony can’t target just the launch units.
Third, Look at the Version. That’s after an unreleased version, so again, Doesn’t make sense. I’d be willing to be what actually comes out on April 1st will cool down the people a bit by adding something good.
I can’t believe it.
@1007, an April Fool’s joke doesn’t need a punchline to be funny. The funny part is that everyone is getting so angry at the drop of a hat. And most people are just going along with it and don’t even know what they are getting mad over.
@1011 – baby steps
and sorry if i like a company’s decision to plug a hole before there is a issue. they acted fast…boo hoo
so because you can go on any torrent site on the internet and dl 360 games. does that make micrososft awesome becuse they did nothing.
Why would Sony joke about this, i mean really? People who think it’s a joke are ridiculous, this isn’t something you just kid around about, is it??
yeah, I think it’s hard to believe this is a joke but then why the hell release the update right on April 1st?
I don’t know, a joke would be more like it was said @1007, a uncharted kart game(heh that’s actually pretty funny), or something even more ridiculous and useless like say an accessory that you put in the tip of your finger and it gives you information on your health, oh wait…
anyway, I don’t know what to think of this, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was true.
lol have you ever known sony to be rational? I mean seriously. When was the last time they did something and really cared about the negetive reaction?
And oh yeah there’s the part about firmware removing somethign that isn’t there in the first place in the slims. That bricks hardware guys
This is not a joke. There might be people uninstalling and erasing all their data right now because of this. If it is a joke it wouldn’t be funny at all.
I really hope someone sues Sony. This is ridiculous.
If its an April fools joke its in poor taste.
So do we at least get back the space on the drive or do you just disable it, forever losing 10G of HD space?
As of now I will never buy another Sony product again.