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 find most of the posts on this topic to be hilarious.
You all just love to whine and complain about nothing. So what if Sony removes the Install other OS option. It’s not like the vast majority of us are going to miss it. I’m sure a few people did install Linux on the PS3 but its really a waste of drive space for other 99% of PS3 users. If you are that crazy about using Linux than pick up an inexpensive PC for a few hundred dollars. That way you will get more than 256MB of RAM that the PS3 offers.
I say take it out Sony and use those resources to do what you do best, making kick ass games!!!
It was done to stop piracy, someone found a way to run burnt games using the other os option, so it only makes sense to remove it if there wasn’t going to be an easier way to stop piracy.
don’t sell or smash or burn or destroy or shoot or pee on or throw your ps3 out the window from the top of the empire state building until april 1st to see if it is real
@ MadCat_McMeows.
How does Apple explain then why they won’t get a virus, but a PC will ?
1775: No, not quite. No piracy on the PS3 yet. Probably won’t for a long time to come too.
Unfortunately, as I’m sure others have, I have been able to get confirmation of this patch from Sony’s customer service (hit 0 at the command prompts to get a person or you’ll be stuck talking to machines). While I don’t rely on the Linux functionality heavily for day to day use, I do use it in cases where I want a Linux machine for a specific use. Currently running Ubuntu, my PS3 has had several various Linux distros. Those of you not concerned with the removal of this feature, please keep in mind that this means Sony would not show hesitation in removing other features rather than fixing security holes (if that’s to blame) in a proper manner without penalizing the user base. A console that has been advertised as doing everything is potentionally about to lose part of that.
Oddly enough Sony’s customer service rep actually recommended I post here even if it will, in reality, do absolutely nothing to change the outcome. Here’s to hoping Sony will change their mind and allow OtherOS to live, a function I (and other early adopters) paid a lot of money for.
Well…. I can say it’s a bad call. They sold a product WITH other os support. They shouldn’t be able to subtract from that. Not that it affects me much. I tried Ubuntu on here… it was so painfully slow. I was gonna use it to run stuff like BZFlag but GOD… that was the slowest “PC” I’ve used in ages. Good thing I have a computer with Linux on it…
Owner of 60GB PS3, PS3 S.S. 3.15… hoping that 3.21 is a joke. Come on now… when has Sony gone from a multiple of 5 to an off number while SKIPPING a multiple?
1773 comments and that just here they say nobody is using this feature that load of BS!
@1778, a hacker named GeoHot did find a way to get read write access to the full system memory using the other o.s option, it was a huge news story for a while.
1774
Your missing the point. The point is Sony is removing a launch featuer that all of us paid for. Just because you don’t use that featuer doesn’t mean it should be taken away. I don’t use the media server or any of the audio playback featuers, by your logic Sony should just take all those launch features away too.
@1775 no… there was NO WAY to run burnt games yet…
my bad my last post was in reference to 1775
@1774
What resources you ignorant buffoon? The option has been there from the beginning, no support needed since then. To take it away is affecting people that bought a ps3 with linux in mind. People it doesn’t affect and therefor are saying remove it need to just shut up. If it doesn’t affect you why are you even reading the comments? why are you even here!? go play your games, I’m currently writing this on my ps3 and would like to boot back into gameOS tonight for some MW2. Some people just don’t realize there is only CONS from this update.. who in their right mind would support this decision????????
Comments being deleted and covered up, i meant @1775
another disappointment from sony like when sony promised to allow people to get digital copies of their umd games on psp
@1785, I know there isn’t a way to run burnt games yet, but the hacker did open up the system which would allow that sort of thing to happen in the near future. This patch will pretty much kill that before it happens, which is good and bad, good for everyone who hates piracy and bad for those who were legitimately going to use the other o.s option or are currently using the other o.s option.
1778 The PS3 isn’t running windows it is running Linux which is even more secure the MacOS. Case in point MacOS is actually built on top of the Linux/Unix OS so your point is just made the PS3 is as secure as Apple. Further more the PS3 runs on the cell processor which is derived form a ppc archetucure, just about every other mainstream computer is running intel. Exploits are going to be completely different and since cell and ppc has such a small footprint again I would argue that the PS3 is even more secure against virus etc then any other pc you can buy.
I will lost my linux installation and files on it?
What will gonna happen?
People vote on the petition please. Let make this official. And for all those voting against, you should be ashamed.
https://share.blog.us.playstation.com/ideas/2010/03/29/dont-remove-ability-of-other-os-in-future-update/
Bad move Sony, I use the linux,One of the reasons that i bought PS3 was this feature and now besides that i´ll loose it, i´ll have to format my PS3, if i don´t, i´ll loose 10GB im my HD.
Thanks for nothing
Kind of laugh at the people stating they’re going to get a lawsuit out on Sony for doing this.
How many of you have checked Sony’s terms and conditions lately ?
Here’s statement 13 from that terms and condition:
And, finally, we reserve the right to change anything in these terms or on this site at any time. So you’re definitely going to want to hop on and check out our new and exciting changes as often as possible but you may also want to visit this page just to confirm none of the rules have changed since your last visit.
I think Sony has already dealt with lawyers and all of this is legal.
@1792
Be careful. If the update reformats your hard drive you might lose saves and game data as well.
I, like most other Phat PS3 owners, are very disappointed.
One of the main reasons I chose PS3 over the other competitors was the ability of running Linux. We supported and bought our PS3s at $600 when all other competitors were relatively much cheaper.
There must be some other better ways preventing hacking.
anyone noticed it says disabled instead of removed
PS3 FIRMWARE UPDATED FTW
I’m really upset! Adding to my 1729 post: what became clear is the PS3 is doing less and less. I have tried to use it’s internet browser and everyone know it’s one of the worst feature – and I have tried hard, I even bought that keypad to attach to my controller. For ages there is no improvement in this browser. The reality is the PS3 is losing any leverage against the XBOX for instance, to just turn a mere game console. In 2008 it really was a box with unique features but no more. The blu ray thing it is now and ordinary stuff – you can buy a dedicated – Sony – player by 130.00 or add to you PC a drive that also write blu-ray stuff by less than 200 bucks. One year ago I built my HTPC using a desktop I had just adding a good ATI graphic card – with HDMI streaming both sound and HD video to my receiver – and this is a real media center – all way beyond the PS3 can do right now. Sony with the PS3 was cutting edge back in 2008 but now it does just gaming. I will think very carefully about the PS4 system in the future.
I am not sure if it has been discussed here or not but the issue over Sony’s TOS and EULA ios being discussed on the Sony forums. I don’t claim to know everything there is to know about contract law but I would imagine that just because someone writes language into a contract that doesn’t mean that said language is legal. Further more I see this more of a breach of contract issue in that us as users were sold a good with a set of services and to sumarily remove one or all of said purcahsed features would be illegal.
1800.
I’m pissed at sony right now.
Hacking is fun anyway.
Get lives.
over 1800 comments in a short time, sony get the picture
@1794 GGCAN:
EULA agreements are generally suspect out of the gate. Additionally, no one agrees to them when purchasing hardware at PoP–even though the feature set at the time is highly marketed by Sony to encourage purchases of said hardware.
Just because Sony makes an effort to stake a position in its boilerplate, unilateral EULA language; affected users should not be dissuaded from asserting their rights in this case based upon that EULA language alone.
If this isn’t an April Fool’s joke, I am officially skipping Sony’s next console, and maybe ALL future consoles from them. You’d think a Japanese company would have more honor. Instead they continue to crap on their customers, typically piling an extra layer onto their more faithful customers.
sony we control if you get our money so listen to us, we are the reason the ps3 is still popular
Pretty sure Sony has already reviewed this with their lawyers and all is legal.
Companies as big as Sony, normally won’t do anything until all legal issues have been verified…but if people want to rant and rave…I guess they’re entitled to.
As stated in previous posts, report Sony to your state’s Attorney General.
They’re willfully crippling functioning hardware.
Not happy at all, I actually use my PS3 as an apache server for my local CS contests. Then afterwards we play games on it. What about the penguins SONY where will they live!!!!!
You guys are pretty full of yourselves. 1800 is nothing. I think when it reaches about 2200 that will be everyone who ever installed Linux on PS3.
edit: @1807
They’re willfully crippling functioning software.
People there’s a petition on the blog share thing for not removing this feature. Please vote on it.
“update V3.21” turns ps3 – 2 – 1 haha
epic fail sony!!!!
i have used the OS feature on my ps3 from the start. i do not understand what your production team is thinking. the other os function has been a bragging point to all who enter my domain, NOW I WILL JUST HAVE A CONSOLE nothing more. ps3 now just high powered ps1.
Now considering buying stuffed YLOD’d PS3 to fix and run linux on, and never put it on psn.
for someone who LOVES I.T this is boned spent $1,000 on something that may as well have just been an xbox which i am also now considering to buy as SONY IS LOOSING IT!!!
I Support Anyone Who Is Taking This Matter Further (please let me know if i can help in anyway)
This is NOT GOOD!!! OtherOs was one of the reasons I bought my 80 Gig WHEN SALES WERE NOT GOING SO GOOD!!!! So my Other OS is going to be gone?? Are you advising people to back up their data on OtherOs during this so called “Update”? I AM A VERY PISSED OFF CUSTOMER!!!!
I suspect that the real reason for this downgrade is to protect 3D BlueRay disk content. And it may be forced on Sony Computer Entertainment through contracts with Sony pictures and other movie studios to allowed the PS3 to support 3D movies, in the very near future probably with the 3.21 firmware.
I installed the other OS and, frankly, I haven’t used this much. I understand Sony’s choice, expecially given the rampant PSP piracy issue, but I am still irked. I have to choose between losing 10 GBs or reformatting my drive, which will take a bunch of time to backup and reinstall everything.
It would be good if this update – or another very soon – included a feature strong enough to compensate for this loss. PS2 compatibility for middle-models, maybe? Or at least some sort of awesome LBP costume! Also, I’m still waiting for my PSN faux-leap year outage compensation, dammit! *shakes first angrily*
dumbass idea. the kid just said people shouldnt update cuz hes going to make a custom firmware for other o.s users.
This, in my opinion, is a very unfortunate move for Sony’s PlayStation platform.
I enjoy running Linux under my PS3 for the processing power that it offers and to experiment with coding for the Cell processor. The Sony PS3 is the only affordable consumer device, at the moment, which has a Cell processor. The fact that this console could run Linux was the primary reason why I actually bought a PS3 in the first place.
Hopefully this will pave the way for more open consoles and other companies offering viable gaming console or even Cell processor alternatives.
”
On Fri, 2009-08-21 at 09:58 -0700, geoffrey.levand at am.sony.com wrote:
The feature of “Install Other OS” was removed from the new
>> “Slim” PS3 model to focus on delivering games and other
>> entertainment content.
>>
>> 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.
…
Please understand that in my position as PS3-Linux maintainer
I can really only provide users with technical support for
Linux and the LV1 hcall interface.
The text above was provided to me by SCE management. If
you have any questions regarding it or any other feature
of the PS3 please contact the Playstation Customer Support
in your country. Using Playstation Customer Support will
insure your inquiry is processed through the correct
channels within SCE.
-Geoff
”
So Sony management lie to staff as well?
how come phat ps2 can run linux(with special equipment) but the ps3 can’t
What are we getting out of this? I’ve been around the homebrew community and they don’t plan on using the Install Other OS as a method to get it on. There are many other ways. What are you going to stop the use of games on the PS3 to stop homebrew?
Worst thing ever. I say nobody download this to support the keeping of Install Other OS
Excuse me, Sony?
I bought my PS3 at launch for $600 (considerably more than the cost of a 360). I happily paid that price for the wealth of features the PS3 offered. In particular, I swap between two hard drives; one with Gentoo Linux installed as the larger partition.
I paid for a product that was promised to offer Linux AND provide me with an online service! Now you’re punishing your original, loyal customers by making us choose? WHAT FOR? Frankly, I am considering speaking to an attorney to begin the process of a class-action suit.
To be clear, I WILL refuse to update; rendering PSN useless for me. You should know that, up until now, I typically default to PS3 for online multiplatform titles because PSN is free. I will now be purchasing EVERY multiplatform game (regardless of multiplayer) for my Xbox 360 and encouraging everyone I speak with to do the same.
Watch my PSN account and see, Sony.
People…..go to Blogshare….if you want Linux still on, vote for it, if you don’t then don’t vote for it.
Currently appears from Blogshare that it’s being down voted.
Instead of flaming the blog, I think it’s better for you to vote.
Vote and be counted.
@1806 GGCAN:
Actually, considering that SCE slipped this announcement in on a Sunday evening–only after the information was leaking out to the ‘Net as rumors–with very little transparency, apologies, or real explanations to the community suggests to me that they are circling the wagons, so to speak, in preparation for a legal fight.
I think SCE was planning to give zero notice whatsoever to users. Had that been the case, then no matter what the legal fallout, SCE could likely argue that it would be too difficult to restore the feature after the fact–thus denying that sort of relief to users even if SCE were to ‘lose’ in a litigation.
I think the only reason we had this announcement on the Blog was due to the fact that Nikkei and Bloomberg had caught wind of this early. SCE is probably crossing its collective fingers, hoping that no one initiates a cause of action and/or that no court grants an injunction to stop the update before April 1.
Given what piracy did to the first Xbox (killed it), SCE figures any potential litigation survives the cost-benefit analysis of a worst-case, piracy scenario on its hardware.