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)
@Sponge-worthy
That’s the thing, the post didn’t decrease but increased…
post 1130 use to be post 1121.
I called tech support and the first level guy didn’t even know about the update or the feature removal, CHOKE! Second guy confirmed the removal is OFFICIAL and that I am entitled to nothing as a result. He quoted me the terms of use as saying that PS can REMOVE, change, or add ANY feature…. He basically said I just have to bend over and take it or never use the PSN again. They would not refund my console or my PSN purchases. Gotta love SONY. Don’t waste your time calling SONY, call your Lawyer!
Insted of removing features, Making Half-Bad updates, and making people belive that real slogan is “It only does anything (If we let you)” you should be working in Ps2 compatibility
Im really disappointed.
I’m really upset. I don’t use this feature often, but sometimes it’s convenient. I think it should be considered as a thing to be proud of. And Sony removes it.
I don’t understand
as said before, i’m really upset.
This is wrong. You can’t remove a feature that you advertise. Everybody should sue Sony. I hated Microsoft but now i hate sony. I have Sony TV, Music reciver, Mobilefone. Anyway I was a sony fan. I liked your tehnology, but if you do this kind of thing. I can never be sure that you dont remove a feature from you other products. Now I hate you. This is wrong!
This is what I just submitted to Sony’s Customer Support page (Part 1):
I read the Playstation blog article posted by Patrick Seybold // Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media. This article posted to the URL at https://blog.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/ which states that:
“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.”
If this is an “April Fools” prank, then I believe this is in very poor taste. However, I will respond based on the assumption that this article was posted to the Official Playstation blog as a legitimate notification.
This is horrible. I spent $600 on my Gen1 FAT PS3, and I still feel it was worth it since I have all the bells and whistles. I use the memory card slots all the time. The extra USB ports is extremely welcomed always overly full with my external HDDs, bluetooth headset charging, camera, 2x controllers charging. I still need more USB ports. I also love my Ubuntu. I treat my FAT PS3 like gold since it will be a downgrade, in my opinion, for me to get a slim if it bricks on me. I would pay 600 again to get the features I want. My main 60 inch XBR does nothing but stay connected to my PS3 downstairs. This is going to back fire on Sony.
I bet when MOVE releases, you will be removing the ability for the PS3 to use the original controllers. See the kind of paranoia your actions are causing?
Part 2:
As an avid Linux enthusiast, I purchased the Sony Playstation 3 specifically because of the ability to install the Linux operating system on the device as well as having access to Blu-Ray and online content. I additionally purchased an additional Playstation Eye webcam so I can communicate with my children who live with their mother 800 miles away.
Considering I have already invested a significant amount of money purchasing a Playstation 3 system, two Playstation Eye webcams, extra controllers, games and other accessories, as well as additional purchased online content, I am deeply concerned that one of the features I have paid for is being taken away from me without any consideration for me as a customer or consumer.
I am also wary that this posting occurred on a Sunday, less than a week before the scheduled rollout. I have experience with large IT organizations, and for large-scale rollouts, similar to the scope of this one, they announce these changes weeks and sometimes months in advance, depending on the scope. It seems to me the only reason to have such a short advance notice is to try to “sneak” this bad news past your customers.
*** It’s officially not an April fools joke***
This has been confirmed by admin MusterBuster of playstation eu forums
http://community.eu.playstation.com/t5/PlayStation-3-General-Discussion/PS3-Firmware-3-21-coming-April-1st-no-joke/td-p/10484768/page/14
Part 3:
I think that this planned rollout is a bad move, and I will do what I must to protect myself if and when any such product features I have paid for are taken away from me.
I strongly advise Sony to rethink its strategy in this matter and consider dropping the idea to remove the “Other OS” feature which I and thousands of other customers have paid for in good-faith.
@ Onarum (1171)
Nice try.
I didn’t ever click “Agree,” genius. XD
Oh my, look at all the hate.
I’m just glad my PS3 hasn’t died in 2 and a half years of constant use. =/
Personally, I don’t care about dropping this feature as I’ll never use it anyway. But something about this smells fishy:
Version : 3.21 (321)
Release date: April 1st.
SONY new slogan.
IT ONLY DOES NOTHING IT ORIGINAL LAUNCH WITH!
Early April Fools, right? … right?
Sony, this is a bad move which does nothing but feed the ego of your paranoia. Treating your customers like criminals results in said customers looking for new vendors.
i love how the piracy kids are crying this is stupid, bad move SCE. Kids… what can you do…
WTF ……………are you crazy?
this is not legal
Sony please remove BC from the older consoles as well. It is hurting your ps2 hardware sales and profit.
I mean if you are going to screw over your users, you might as well go all the way with it.
I love how the zealots are saying this is a good move… because…. well there is no reason, since its clearly an update with no functionality except to REMOVE features – they just aren’t negatively impacted, are only concerned with themselves, and blindly support brands without critical thinking. Mindless zombies.. what can you do
@1186
actually it would be more like:
IT ONLY DOES WHAT WE TELL YOU IT DOES, ALSO YOU AGREED TO THE TOS SO STFU.
that would go nicely on a tv ad I think.
I guess the universities that use PS3s for their supercomputers won’t be signing into PSN now, if they ever were.
So SONY will have to refund EVERY phat PS3 buyer the following, if he demands:
– original price of the ps3 system
– original price of all PSN downloads
– original price of all PS3 BD Games
– original price of all PS3 Hardware Add ons
(PSEye, PlayTV, internal HD drive, Adaptors, Cables, …)
And furthermore:
– What if I bought a HD tv or other high end hardware just for use with the PS3?
– What if I bought lots of Bluray movies, will I get a replacement BD player?
– What if I bought a PSP for use in combination with the PS3, along with all the PSP software & hardware add ons? Can I get refund for all that stuff, too?
– What if I bought an expensive Internet Connection just for use of PSN that cannot be cancelled for the next months?
– What if Sony imported the PS3 to my country declared as a “computer” (Other OS), which saved taxes for Sony?
It’s a great opportunity for everyone who wants to get back the original price for his three years old hardware & old games… afterwards you could buy a new slim ps3 and stuff for much less money ;-)
Sony, this could become quite expensive…
We can boycott that’s what we can do which means their sales will decline month over month year over year & their revenue will decline & eventually plummet if our requests & demands are not meant asap.
P.S..You hear that Sony were feed up with your lies & excuses!
I really hope this is just a step back to give three steps forward… you guys better surprise us with the next update, big time.
@1193 Onarum
Yeah, that too long.
yikes- something to add to the list of things that Sony thinks is a good idea that some of the vocal PS3 users just dont agree with.
this list seems to be increasing as of late.
I wonder if they will just phase out the Browser on the PS3 too; it never has worked very well, and they have not made many changes to it.
If Sony removes the web Browser from my PS3, I will be very dissapointed..
I have used the “Other OS” feature, and this was one of the reasons why I purchased the 60gig model. I think sony is in the wrong if they feature is removed.
If they are so concerned about pirating, then Sony should work on other security measures instead of removing an advertised feature.
I really hope this is an April Fool’s joke.
Yeah Sony shouldn’t take way the features we love only make them better & add more great features that we want instead of being a bunch of slackers & treating us like disposable income.
you guys are all idiots. its fine, ps3 has been hacked for the past few weeks. They are doing this so the ps3 hack will be gone. Sorry Geohot. sony is doing us a favor and not making us look like xbox. Look @ xbox, they are screwed with 100,000 jtag xboxs, hacks are everywhere. Ps3 is safe and secure. What system do you want?
Everyone who is pissed off at this update should call SONY and complain. In fact, let one guy know how mad you are. I got to level four tech support, his name was Mike #7904009. Request him and tell him how mad you are. I was his only complaint all day. EVERYONE CALL HIM! 1-800345-7669 ask for Mike #7904009
In the end THERE WILL BE ONLY CHAOS!
I use PSUbuntu on my machine all the time. This is disappointing..
Here’s hoping that something is actually ADDED, like the ability to play PSOne disks…
For that matter, where WAS this option anyway on the old systems? This is the first I’ve heard it.
wow just I turn my computer on and I seen over 1000 comment I knew was right lol.
I got in touch with Mike and I was his only complaint all day.
No one will really miss it…
@1206
umm… you could already play psone discs from day one…
This is just wrong. The true PS3 fans got the Fat 32 PS3’s for the added features and were willing to shell out a load of cash for them. Now they are going to slowly start removing those features?
It would be smart of them to try to add in a nice feature in return to taking away this particular feature
Instead of engineering a solution SONY has chosen to disable a feature that was listed as a SELLING POINT for my more expensive PS3. DO WE GET A REFUND THEN??
Blue tooth/wireless is a security issue too, will SONY make us all revert back to hardwired controllers?!? Selling me a product claiming that it has capabilities then taking the capabilities away is dishonest and probably illegal. I URGE SONY to come up with a solution that HONORS THE TERMS OF SALE for this device to me.
Will the new SONY PS3 motto be:
SONY PS3®, It only does EVERYTHING*
(*except for one or two things that we said it would do when we sold it to you.)
Engineer a solution that honors your loyal customers. >:|
I cant believe sony would pull something like this to their loyal users. What really pisses me off is that all the data from my saved games will be lost, what if someone cant backup their data? They’ll lose everything because sony wants to release a new update. So much for sony’s motto “It only does everything”.
It’s not just if you use the feature or not, its how glibly and nonchalantly SONY is about disabling advertised features.. with no remorse. That’s a disturbing characteristic, and is enough to make me avoid their products.. I wish I was aware of this tendency before I bought my PS3, I guess it is Sony… I should have known.. but my PS2 was so great.. oh well, as GWB says, “fool me once” etc etc
Adios Xubuntu snif! Sony must improve his browser Internet with this move !
I use the other-os feature to browse with a fully flash-capable browser, and to watch media I have recorded on my HTPC in the living room. Providing an update after months of nothing, only to remove a feature that helped drive me to purchase this PS3 is cause for a lawsuit. The alternative of ‘the customer need not update, but can’t use our online media’ is unacceptable, as Sony is removing goods/services from a device for which I paid $600.
Wow is there ever a lot of heat here at the PS Blog due to the removal of the “OTHER OS” feature and I can’t blame people for
being pissed off as this feature was given to us in the first place and now they take it back from us. Was SONY anticipating all the heat prior to the announcement of the firmware downgrade?
Dear Sony,
I found a way to hack the PS3 through the blu-ray drive. Please disable it along with all games and movies that it uses in a new firmware update next month.
This cant be legal. Seriously.
Sony, this sucks big time. I am a hobby developer, who enjoys programming the Cell processor. So far, this lead to one thesis paper and some very enjoyable demo work.
This feature was THE feature for waiting on the PS3, and laying 600 bucks on the table the month it came out. I am done. If this is seriously going to be done, I will sell my console on Ebay and buy an X360.
Sorry Sony, you’ve lost a customer.