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 barely got Ubuntu 9.10 on my Ps2 a few weeks ago and now you’re taking it away? Bad move sony go find some other way to stop geohot and leave me and my Firefox alone.
I hope there more than disabling features they included with the launch price… Although I don’t know anyone who has installed another OS its still nice that they include the option. Whats with sony making new products that are taking features away from their predecessors… Backwards compatibility, UMD Drives, and now Other OS.. Whats next?? and when will you ADD something to your products!
Sony taking away features???
Might as well take away the web browser, photo viewer, media playback, and all the other crap I paid for.
[DELETED] YOU SONY!
I HOPE SOMEONE FILES A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
I was a champion of Sony and the PS3 until now. I am ashamed of this company for these draconian efforts.
Add one more person to the list of those abandoning Sony products for now.
@1526, LegendaryPhoenix,
What’s with the personal attacks? Why don’t you be civilized and grow up. My point was that if it is an April Fools joke it is not funny, and it appears not many people here think it is funny either. If you want to laugh at that then why come on here and be a troll?
Biggest scumbag move by a console maker ever.
It is completely unethical to sell a product with this feature at $500-$600 and then remove this feature after purchase.
How about you give me my money back scumbags?
“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.”
We already had all of that without you taking away linux…. poorly I might add. Before I can actually use my console, I have to screw around reformatting my hard drive, because you (Sony) decided to do such a second rate job of this.
“It only does everything…. except linux”
What a scumbag move.
I actually USE this feature and I’m very PISSED OFF right now!
For those who care, I installed YDL with FireFox and Amarok BECAUSE the build in browser totally suck and my music library is barely enjoyable with the XMB over UPnP.
For your information, I play my NAS streamed music with a BETTER quality from Xine Engine configured with 5.1 surrround sound. With Amarok it’s simply amazing. I also use Remote Desktop to connect on my Windows XP computer. From there, I can do whatever I want with Microsoft Office, my budget software, etc. All of this on my couch in front of my HD TV!
Now I’m asking you, what I’m supposed to do right now ? I choosed the PS3 over PC, XBox 360 and Wii 2 years ago because of everything it had to offer. Linux was an important feature for me. Now I’m partially screw with this new firmware “upgrade”. I don’t get it with Sony on this one.
This was my 2 cents.
Wouldn’t this be called a DOWNGRADE???
@NeoX360
I am not being a troll, you are just being an oversensitive whiner. I am sick of all the stupid children complaining about every little thing.
I am also fairly certain most of the people here complaining about the supposed loss of this feature are totally full of crap.
And complaining just for the sake of it.
Having actually used the feature, there was NO redeeming quality to it.
This is not one of the better decisions Sony has made regarding the PS3. I won’t pretend I’m going to switch to XBox, I like my PS3 for games. It might even benefit them in the short term. I was planning on getting a Slim at some point and this may have hastened my decision. I will not be updating my original model. But long term? Let’s just say I have a household full of aging Sony electronics that may not be replaced by new Sony products.
Bottom line is this is not the product I paid for.
let’s have Glenn Beck talk about this and relate it to obamacare(I’m serious)
I can understand that this is probably Sony’s response to GeoHotz’s efforts. However, surely there is a less drastic method to head off potential damage done by the hacker?
Hopefully it’s an April Fools Joke.
Class Action Lawsuit
So who’s leading the class action lawsuit? Where do I sign up and donate for a lawyer?
^ word.
wow this is [DELETED] i paid 6 bills for this ps3. the plus of having an older model was b/c and Os installation. bassicly i just paid 300 dollars more supporting you when ps3 just came out for a very exspensive ps2 now. awesome sony thx no not really wtf is wrong with you.
Even the fanboi’s have to admit…Sony hasn’t replied to a 2000 post uprising. That’s their dedication to YOU the customer. :)
Also one last thing Seriously after month’s of no update, we get a feature removal??? seriously? i hope theirs more to this update then that crap.
For those of you who think this is an April fools, I encourage you to call the support number and ask them. It is no joke and it is also unacceptable. I bought a launch ps3 for $600, I skipped out on buying an xbox360 for the sole reason that the ps3 had features like other OS. I feel cheated and unappreciated and DEMAND some form of compensation. Actually, on that note if there is anyone reading these comments with legal experience I ask you is there any legal action we can take against this? It isn’t the consumers fault that the ps3 was hacked. SONY has no right to take this feature away from us regardless of the situation.
Good Job SONY, you just lost a very big fan.
i want to donate for a lawyer too, i’m not from usa but i just want sony to pay for this!
This greatly displeases me.
I cant believe…..
I buy the ps3 for this feature.
U guys dont have another way to block the security hole?, this is the worst way.
I am very upset, I hope they change their mind, otherwise i never will buy sony things.
The REALLY stupid thing is… how many people would go pay $200 a Blu Ray burner, Disassemble their $500 PS3, solder a chip to it, install linux, and THEN burn a bunch of Blu Ray games?
…. what, would it be 1% of the fat users? 5%? The big thing is, most people, don’t want to screw with it.
Clearly makes sense to punish the 20+million people for the actions of a very few number of people.
Sony = Scumbags
sony is scared of smarter people LOL PEOPLE(?) FROM SONY ARE COWARDS
I am sorry to say, if you actually mad about something like this you should go drink a cup of bleach and die in a fire. They are taking out a feature that will only cause problems later down the road. Sure there is a handful of people that actually care to put another OS on the ps3, even though you can do next to nothing because PS3 doesn’t have many key components a PC does so you are very limited to what you could run on the OS anyways.
Remember this is a gaming machine, not a wannabe PC, I am happy they are removing this feature.
This isn’t really an update its more of a downgrade. So you can’t really call it an update can you? Because you’re not updating anything.
Ahhh, Crap. I Was Actually Contemplating Throwing Linux On My PS3 To Use My TV As Another Computer… Ohh Well. Hopefully Sony Releases Another Update ADDING Options Soon…
what next?…diable usb ports…come on!!!
Don’t do it… April Fools?
i am 1900
Hey Sony,
Instead of removing features how about fixing the blasted issues with the Web Browser freezing. How about changing the web browser to FireFox or some other such browser, then at least people can see something positive…
@1895
really? Happy? is it going to suddenly improve your gaming experience? get out of my internet you fool.
Also to note, they are doing this for piracy reasons, and upcoming Online titles, you can run bot/hacking tools for some games while playing them because other OS. For upcoming titles like Final Fantasy XIV, this is a big deal, there are gonna be hundreds of thousands of people playing that on day one. Some of you won’t care because you don’t play MMO’s or other games that can be hacked this way, but this patch was foreseen long time ago.
Sony this is complete BS! You are taking away a feature that we have paid over $400 for. If I would have know you guys were planning on taking away every feature one by one, I would have just bought a 360 instead. If the firmware on April 1st is released and I am not able to use this feature with being able to play online, then you have just lost another customer to Microsoft.
Don’t lie 1904, you didn’t pay over $400 for this feature, and if you did, you lack something called a brain. Why would you buy an microsoft? Oh let me guess, because they charge you to play every game online and use all the free features sony has, that sounds brilliant. If you want a PC, buy a GD PC, and don’t [DELETED] about it
@1903
Source?
Bot/Hack via a install otherOS option on the XMB? Really? Please enlighten us.
You know what?
Thank you Sony for protecting your millions of PS3 users from potential identity theft.
As for the PS3 hacker guy? I just want to say, leave the system alone, the vast majority of us users don’t need or want you around.
Finally an update and its only to take things from us? Sucks.
SONY, YOU SCREWED UP
1895
“They are taking out a feature that will only cause problems later down the road.”
Exactly what problems will this cause? It’s because of the possible threat of piracy, from a very small potential group of users. Like all anti-piracy measures, it punishes legitimate users while doing little if any at all to deter the pirates.
“even though you can do next to nothing because PS3 doesn’t have many key components a PC does so you are very limited to what you could run on the OS anyways”
Even if you haven’t, many people have found the feature to be quite useful.
“Remember this is a gaming machine, not a wannabe PC”
Then why did they advertise its Linux functionality when it was first released?
“I am happy they are removing this feature.”
I don’t understand why anyone would be happy about this. Even the users it doesn’t hurt will not benefit from this.
its not an aprils fool joke, sony is japanese and they have no sense of humor..
sony, what are you guys affraid of? piracy? your console is 4 years old and still hasnt been hacked, and it sells a lot and has a lot of success!
doesnt that say anything to you? continue to deliver quality games and people will buy them like they have so far!
damn, is it really worth losing your credibility? how can i buy more sony products knowing that features might be removed later from them!
awfull mistake.. i wouldnt be so mad about this if i didnt actually use linux in it on a daily basis..
way to go sony.. way to go..
@1909
Thank you. Someone that’s not a complete bot.
I recently purchased an older Fat PS3 (60GB) along with a replacement harddrive with the full intent of installing Linux. If I wanted another toy I would have purchased a second Wii. A lot of people purchased these machines at full price when they first came out and even recently Sony was advertising these as being able to install a second operating system. I believe this may in (at least cases of new purchases) possibly be a violation of contracts between Sony and the end users. I hope Sony knows what they are doing. It should not be an issue for Sony when univesitys and other groups purchase multiple PS3’s to combine together for a virtual supercomputer as they are still getting profits from the sale as well as some excellent advertising that money alone can not buy. I hope Sony thinks long & hard about this and reconsiders as in many cases this seriously reduces the value of their machines.
with BD drives on PCs now it is easier to have bootleg games without using a ps3 to make them
Dam
So we’re getting cross game voice chat? Oh that’s right, Sony never gives us what we really want.
Well that’s it, looks like my PS3 is never booting into the game OS again… Too much important stuff in the linux partition and there’s NO WAY I’m buying a second one after this.
There’s a guy who has been bragging for the last couple weeks on his blog about how he has used the Other OS option as a backdoor into the PS3. He’s the guy who hacked the iPhone, so there’s no doubt that he managed to do it. Unfortunately, Sony were pretty much put into a corner here. They could leave it and have this guy and others like him open the door wide open to PS3 piracy. Or they can get rid of a function that only a very small but loyal percentage actually use. In the end, the only choice they can have is to get rid of it. I do not like it, at all. But I can understand why they’d have to do it.
This takes away a feature I paid for and use. It’s not acceptable.