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)
Wow sony is screwing with the ppl they need to be loving the most. There early adopters who bought ps3s despite could games and high prices.
Linix gives ps3 users the ability to stream pc games to ps3. So much for doing everything. I paid 600 bucks and this is how sony thanks me, by making my PLAYSTATION3 more and more like that cheap ps3 slim
Removing a feature that was advertised when the system was sold?
that would be false advertising, not?
I see some class action lawsuits coming!
@1409, As a computer programmer, I know quite a bit more than “jack squat” about programming, but I don’t find it worth my time to hack and develop homebrew for the PlayStation 3 console. I bought my console in order to have fun with, and to get enjoyment out of it. However, removing Linux is very anti-consumer, and Sony is making a very bad decision. It’s still very difficult to even exploit this PS3 flaw, and it doesn’t even allow piracy yet. Even if people abuse it, the numbers will be VERY small, and the large majority of users will not suffer because of it.
You guys fricking suck, I can’t believe this BS. This was one of my deciding factors to get a PS3 back in ’07, and I’ve been using it REGULARLY ever since. When I lost my computer due to Hurricane Ike, thanks to OtherOS, I was actually able to get by for a couple months using my PS3 as my computer.
Way to knife me in the face, jerks.
I created a blog share for this issue. Vote for it to be saved. Search for “Other OS” It may take a few minutes to show up…
Ya know, if this turns out to be an April fool’s joke, all of you people losing your minds will feel like the complete and total fools you are acting like.
I will of course proceed to die from laughing as hard as humanly possible.
Edit: My Idea may take a few *days* to show up…
lmao?
@1420
Im with Neox360 hopefully the modds allow it
RIOT!!!!!!!!! lets start a RIOT OVER SOMETHING WE NEVER USE!!!! CHARGE!!!!!!
Well, looks like Geohot is already “fighting back.” He plans to come up with a way to update and keep the OtherOS utility.
Sony is forcing hackers to hack the system. Nice job Sony.
@LegendaryPhoenix:
If it does turn out to be a April Fools joke then it is Sony that is the fool as they are getting slammed by complaints and bad press. Usually you post an April Fools joke ON APRIL 1st, not days before…
@ Jangaboo
just cause you dont use it doesn’t mean we dont
1425: If you don’t use Linux, then don’t post here, obviously. I use Linux on my PS3 everyday.
It’s a shame to see Sony taking things away from the PS3 instead of adding stuff to it. Hey Sony, we are still waiting for the PS3 that does everything to finally have cross game voice chat.
@1427 lol
@1425, MANY people actually use this feature… don’t assume that because you don’t it makes it right for them to remove it.
How about added features instead of takin them away? Don’t start the BS security thing hackers will hack and there is nothing that can truly stop it.
This update is only to prevent pirated games being played ps3
The sad thing is, from a technical standpoint, since a lot of PS2 homebrew works on the PS3, it’s VERY possible for PS2 backwards compatibility to be a target of the same hack assuming you can get around the hypervisor restrictions there too… that’ll be the next to go. :(
Why would you get rid of a feature? I really hope this is an April fools joke. I’ve always loved Sony, but this is a really stupid move. People use this feature, a really awesome feature, why not make it an option to remove the feature, or leave it with a “security risk” notification.
@ l3lackCalamity
why not buy a PC at half the cost, install Linux on that and you get access to the PCs GPU and you have ability to Burn Discs and save data on any media format you want
Linux on Ps3 = slow
i think this could be good and bad for sony. short term they could (and probaly will) lose a lot of users. long term this could be opening them up premium psn service that has been floating around. if they do put in the ppsn i think a lot of people will forget this. xbox is a hackers dream system i know i own one you play mw2 or just about any other game you get a glitch game. i dont fault sony for protecting them selfs if it were me i would do the same
@1433
no its to stop the possiblity of a possibility of a possibility of piracy. No current ps3 hacks enable piracy.
This is what may finally get me on Geohot’s bandwagon. I am waiting to see what he does! I’ll just play offline for awhile.
you can still use Linux on your PS3
don’t update
WOW just wow. i’m one dissapointed sony fanboy
there should be a sticky on “The different ways I use Linux on my PS3” :p
WOW SONY I JUST got my ps3 Fat the other day and the OtherOS was the reason i bought it.. I hope ebgames will take returns
Sony is really isolating a lot of fans here… they’re going to get TONS of negative PR about this…
“just don’t update” LOL I guess making people choose between 2 things is Ok with you
Hackers always got to ruin the fun.
Don’t blame sony, blame the hackers.
Kill em all
I’m hoping for all you disgruntled customers to put your used Ps3s up for sale so I can swoop one up on eBay, lol. Your loss is my gain, *Wink*
@LegendaryPhoenix: Will you also laugh if this turns out not to be a joke?
It seems like an odd time to do a joke. The best case I hope for is that Sony was serious on dropping the feature but wanted to probe the reaction and thus made the announcement at this time to be able to escape saying it was a joke. However, if that’s their plan they should do so very soon if ppl are not to figure out.
Regarding what I use it for: I use my PS3 mainly for PS3 stuff but I have used OtherOS to test my programs on a PowerPC system (including handwritten asm code for PowerPC). The PS3 is the only PowerPC system I have where the PS3 is the closest system I have to that (the Cell contains a PowerPC element in addition to the SPE’s). Now I will have to buy a $1000 PowerPC system?! :/ I loved the OtherOS support it was a lot of value to me. And its absurd to remove a feature post-sales – it’s vandalism!
this is bull ya know that i just got a new ps3 1st gen 60 GB with the ps2 cpu in it and with other os i was planning on using and continue using the YDL i have installed now on a 120GB drive alot. but doing this is universally stupid just to stop 1 simple little exploit that posses no actual threat from what i read on this thing. why take a way something remember when the psp was hacked how many people bricked because of software mods?! i do i saw em all over ebay. if someone wants to screw their system let em. don’t go off makein ppl mad by takeing away a feature a lot of people use.
@sickcivic1997
I use my ps3 to when I stream my pc games to my Television. Its like remote play only with my ps3 and pc. I need linux
This is pure BS! I smell a class action lawsuit coming Sony’s way!
April 1, 2010 (JST)………hmmm april fools? Why does it have japan time?
What does disabling the Other OS have to do with playing PS3 gameson &offline?So after all that bragging about giving us the freedom to use Linux,now you’re saying that no more?well i won’t be updating to this firmware,i won’t even have my internet plugged inafter tomorrow,just to be sure that my game are not affected by this B.S update.
I’m calling April Fool’s on this one as well, though I am sure that Sony is concerned about the potential for piracy since there are folks out there working on cracking the PS3 3D hardware access.
Wow, that’s a lot of vitriol for a Monday morning.
First off, if you don’t want to update then don’t update. You just won’t be able to connect to the PSN.
I’m a Unix systems engineer, and I don’t run Linux on my PS3 because it is a waste of disk space for me. If I wanted a Linux box connected to my TV, I would use one with more than 256MB of usable RAM.
Unless you are actually writing code to run on it, which 99% of you are not, then how are you adversely affected? Yeah, the GameOS browser has some serious issues that need to be fixed, so you can run Firefox on Linux via OtherOS.
That other 1% that use PS3’s in large computational clusters… aren’t running GameOS ANYWAYS so they don’t NEED to update the firmware.
That being said, it is unfortunate that rather than address the problems directly Sony has chosen to just remove the OtherOS support entirely. But I would also rather see the GameOS continue to be improved than all development be shifted to keeping up with hacks and exploits.
How can they do this to people that supported them at the launch of the PS3. We payed the highest price for our PS3s. That’s very low.
If it’s an April fools joke, it’s not really funny…
@thiim82
You can buy cheap iMacs on Craigslist for Less then $100 bucks. I bought a MacMini 1.25 Ghz PowerPC for $100 on Craigslist. You can find plenty of older PowerPC macs for dirt cheap. I am not saying I agree with Sony here, but you don’t need to spend $1000 to test PowerPC apps.
decimalator-
you also won’t be able to play new games or bluray disks requiring this downgrade
EDIT: We still don’t have PS Store access in Croatia. What about that?
@likedatkilla
I am a hacker, I hack all the time, I dump the firmware from my phones to customize them beyond specifications, I write software to do my bidding, I bend existing software around my finger, I make hardware do more than it was designed to do, and I even make my own hardware.
I do not however do anything that may breach any agreement I have made (as much as the EULA was shrink wrapped and wouldn’t stand up in court here) nor do I do anything illegal.
Not all hackers are bad, and even those who you may think are bad may have the noblest of goals.
Removing OtherOS is just going to make those feel justified in their actions and encourage them to push harder.
Ha ha very funny.. April fools. I get it…
Oh Sony this is about as funny as when you sued the crap outta http://www.lik-sang.com/ thus driving them out of business and putting entire families out on the street.
But I feel safe now thanks to your corporate policies and procedures. Way to look out for us consumers.
Great punish those of us using the feature for legitimate purposes. That’s a load of crap Sony.
Oh yeah and another thing Sony!
How am I supposed to migrate my data to a new PS3 if I’m **** REQUIRED *** to have the latest update on BOTH PS3s?
I haven’t seen a PS3 slim in my area in over a month.
If I was dumb enough to buy a new PS3, wouldn’t I be screwed if my new PS3 slim had 3.21 installed from the factory?
Can’t use that data transfer utility with two different firmware levels.
This means that I have to either lose a feature that I paid money for or lose videos and locked saves that I paid money for.
F this S.