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)
It doesn’t matter to me that you’re removing this feature (because I didnt use it). But I do mind that PS3 owners, or just the phat ones at least, are being forced to take time to download an update that has to real use what so ever. The removing of the aforementioned feature could of tagged along with an update that was worth while. Next time Sony sends an update I hope its useful.
this board has become a broken record. let’s all go play modern warfare 2 with the new stimulus pack, so i can pwn you noobs.
Good idea, but to play MW2, we have to install the downgrade …
Well tried !
NerdRageQuit
perhaps if you posted with a Valid PSN account peeps would take you more seriously.
wait is the Stimulus pack even out yet for the PS3?
i too dont really care for the feature i never used it nor do i have any plans to. however should i ever change my mind it is my right as i have already paid for it. sony will not remove ANY of the numerous features i already paid for. period.
This is sheer idiocy. OK, so the hacker who is to remain nameless got too close to hacking the trippple. And you prevent future users from installing Other OS.
Let’s do some logical thinking here –
nameless hacker PROBABLY isn’t going to do the update. nameless hacker probably won’t feel sad when he’s not able to play certain ps3 games and blu-ray discs on his lab ps3. nameless hacker proceeds to work on his hack. In the meantime, you’re depriving everyone else (read, me) from running ‘nix on my trippple.
If nothing else, you’ve pissed off the trippple hacking community, and encouraged them further to hack your [deleted] console. You can’t stop creative minds from getting what they want. Neither can Apple. You can try, but it will make it all the more gratifying when I’m running third party apps on my ps3.
It’s pretty cool Improperlyaged.
If you put Dam Small Linux on there with some of the modules form MythTV you can stream all codecs from your computer AND use it as a DVR to record your TV shows. Mine is very useful.
most of you probably never read the eula “end user license agreement” for your ps3. If you read it you would know that they could do this at any time. also if you agreed to the eula reading it or not reading it you are bound to the terms of the eula.
EULA? Nope, State of Texas disagrees.
I filed with the state attorney general’s office. I took my packing in and showed them the “Other OS” feature listed on the box. They agreed that it is “inducement to purchase” and that a ToS and EULA doesn’t protect a a company from bait-and-switch.
They took my information, told me I was not the first in line, and there is already an investigation.
Why would Sony respond? It is only the 5 of you complaining non stop about something your not going to change. YOU SHOULD BE COMPLAINING TO GEOHOT who casued the problem that forced Sony to make the change.
Ha Ha, Really Sony, WHAT THE ^%#@ !?!?!?!?!?! This BULL$#!& is an April Fools Day joke RIGHT?????
I’m very aggravated about this update also. Some of you are not understanding that:
A) This is a mandatory update; and
B) The firmware cannot be rolled back, nor “downdated”.
The Terms of Service agreement as Amdusias440 wrote may have been broken, and this certainly warrants some legal action. I don not fully understand this ill-conceived system update, and wish that they did not mandate this to continue using online features. I think this is the worst update in the history of PSN, as well as the least advertised update. I was quite surprised right at midnight when I signed in it required the update.
Dear Sony,
Please fix it. Thanks.
Yours Loyally,
— Morris
to connect to psn without updating and without using pc-proxy servers simply use this DNS: 67.202.81.137 and you are done.
What the heck! How could the take away a feature like that! I don’t use it, but I have a original PS3 and I payed for things such as this. How could they just take it away and say eather you agree to us taking it or you can’t use the PSN basically. I mean they take forever for a new “Update” when it’s REALLY A DOWNGRADE!!!!! They don’t even give us anything as a reimbursement. I love Sony,but this has changed my opinion on them greatly….
i know right? the same people are posting the same stuff over and over just in different ways. tip: copy-paste is faster.
I had no previous interst OOS but now they’re gonna take it I WANT IT SO BADLY! I dont own a PC so this seems like something i could actually use if i got around to it .I’M SO CONFLICTED!
hey guess what guys the new york state attorney general’s office agrees with me and not sony. go figure. they stated that by printing the feature on the box it is included with the sale price and therefore can not be removed post purchase. also by labeling the box with psn access and not directly stating any firmware requirements they are illegally blocking me from accessing a feature they legally agreed to give me use to upon my purcahse. for anyone asking for a class action lawsuit here’s ur opening salvo in the war.
EULA justification for removing capabilities ?
The problem is simple : I didn’t accept the EULA (Read THIS EULA) but, anyway, they remove me PSN access.
How can a contract be appliable even if you refuse it ?
I REFUSE THE EULA, THIS WOULD SAY I’VE REFUSED ALL THAT IS IN THIS EULA, EVEN THE FACT THAT SAID IF I REFUSE, I CAN’T GET PSN ACCESS !
I have been watching Sony’s Stock ticker today.
it just took a BIG dip.
I can’t sign in unless I update. Denying me that because I don’t want to update and lose a function is wrong. Good thing I have a 360 as well. I was owning earlier on the stimulus package maps. Love the double points. Sony, you SUCK!
Is it me or does it seems like this subject hit a record for the number of posts on a firmware downgrade. I don’t think I have enough baby bottles for all the whining on this post today.
@Amdusias440
Ty for the info, keep us posted.
Considering doing the same thing myself in Montana.
“Has anyone read the EULA?”
Yes.
Have you read hundreds of comments asking that very question?
no
#5000?
Some of us already did but all the people as fed up as we are – please file a complaint at ftc or local consumer protection agency. Thanks.
Playing online with 3.15, sweet freedom :)
With so many legitimate uses of “Other OS” why shut it down due to a couple people who will inevitably wait until the firmware is circumvented and pirate anyway?
Releasing this patch takes away something that we were promised on the box when we purchased the device and is one of the main benefits to owning an early release console.
Add to that the fact that the fact that the consoles are now out of production and it makes absolutely no sense to roll this patch out and piss off so many people.
Your problem is fixing itself. New consoles don’t include the ability to run another OS, so no additional purchasers of the console will become “potential pirates”.
This is a terrible move and it’s really ticking people off.
I mean honestly, the least Sony could have done is take away this feature when they added a new and interesting feature. We haven’t had any really great things added to the firmware in the past few months and suddenly we’re getting an “update” that has a sole purpose of disabling something on our system. Stupid.
Sweet, 5000th post :)
Finally, 5000 comments.
@ vitor =D
wow… it seems that posts are possibly being erased. can’t find mine.
Just got off the phone with a friend who has spent two hours on the phone with Sony. He was prompted to update, so followed the instructions. 3.21 dowloaded and updated to 99%, then froze his PS3. He called tech support and they walked him through a few ways to try to get around it. No luck. His system boots and starts the install, freezing at 99% every time. PS3 Slim bricked by firmware 3.21.
Luckily his system is only 6 months old so it’s still under warranty. Unfortunately, he has put a lot of time into MW2 and other games. They will not transfer his files over and say that they can only offer him a refurbished system in exchange. They are sending him a “coffin”. He is debating whether or not he wants to get back into PS3 gaming after this.
Sony, you have GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CRAPPY CUSTOMER CARE!!!
So hoping the racist dies is OK vitorshigutso? Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black.
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
^ Use this and file a complaint against Sony!
That is seriously uncool!
They’ve crippled my PS3.. I can no longer play multiplayer games with games I’ve PAYED FOR with a console that I’ve PAYED FOR.
I’ve also PAYED FOR the ability to run Other OS, AS ADVERTISED.
And all because one hacker (and the rest of the open source community) wanted access to the GPU and system memory to be able to play video on the PS3…
This is illegal, I’m seriously considering going to a lawyer with this..
I own a ps3 for quite some time already and recently purchased a sony bravia lcd tv. If this update had come out before my purchase I would have definitely purchased another brand of tv.
very disapointed in sony’s move and will think twice before ever buying sony again.
netherlands.
@ rollotomozi
If a big dip is 0.28% than I guerss you are correct. I own Sony stock and it has been on a run all year. It is back to it’s pre-crash number. So much for your crap comment. It’s up nearly 100% in the last 52 weeks so I guess someone thinks the Sony Execs are doing a good job.
@darini actually according to the new york state attorney general’s office ur very own judge rita arnold is completely WRONG.Removal of the feature would technically constitute removal of the software not the hardware. this would be illegal as they specifically stated it on the box with no termination date or restriction. also since they did the same thing with psn access they can not remove access as it was paid for when u purchased ur system. again blocking this feature post purcahse regardless of firmware is illegal. their eula does state that firmware may hinder certain functions but again nowhere does it state you have to update hence the customeres legal loophole. technically according to the nys attorney general’s office a system running firmware 1.00 should be allowed access to the psn or sony would be in violation of breach of contract and theft of service.
epic fail….
Complaint Confirmation
Thank you. Your reference # is 25995587.
You have submitted a complaint via the online complaint form and it has been entered into our complaint database. You can access it to update or correct it by contacting us and identifying your complaint by its reference number.
get in line. the rent-a-lawyer window is 10-20 deep.
um so for the naysayers please read my last post and argue with the nys attorney general’s office cuz i now have legal grounds for a full lawsuit and plan to follow up on just that. please try and refute or argue what an actual lawyer with corporate law and civil suit experience working in a state attorney general’s office just told me. i can’t wait to hear how dumb and uneducated he is.
I’ts gonna be funny when PS4 comes out and all the ‘boycotters’ forget this incident and buy it on day 1. Come on, you know thats exactly what will happen (unless, you know, you’re a sad little cry baby)
PS. Theres nothing wrong with crying about it now, but in 5+ years time?
@MISTHERO
You are a genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hahahahha I’m on PSN again with no firmware update!!!
i love it!
I am very, very, very desappointed with the Sony to remove Linux from PS3!!
When PS3 Slim was lauched I run to buy fat version exclusively to install and use linux in PS3.
Now they remove Linux from all PS3 versions saying that it´s for security. Why they wait four years to discover this security fail!
The truth is “There is no security problem related to Linux on PS3, it´s only for a information from a hacker who said unlock but didn´t prove nothing”.
Unhappy good users pay for false informations!!
Probably I will sell my ps3 and buy a xbox360 and one wii!!
Well this is my latest news …I already filed a complain .. I tried to call sony CS the waiting time 30min (no thanx) ..I play my games & downloaded content (games ,videos,music) without a problem , it just saids “theres a new update blah blah blah .. get it now?” I Just push circle and my games start (x means you agree) …also I played MAME in my other OS & send a message of farewell to all my friends on the PSN…& then I read something interesting from a dude AZAMcg? …IF WE PUT BACK OUR OWN ORIGINAL HDD(THINKING U ALREADY SWITCH TO A BIGGER HDD) & RUN THE NAZI UPDATE 3.21 ,CAN WE STILL RUN THE OLDER VERSION OF FIRMWARE ON THE BIGGER HDD OR IS THE UPDATE IN THE SYSTEME BASE DATA?? ANYONE HAS TRY IT THIS?? CAUSE ILL TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM! but it has to be later I gotta go to work now… I LL see u 2nite!! & like president barack said “YES WE CAN” can we figth sony stupidity ? “YES WE CAN”
On a lighter note, the dummy’s in Somalia who think they’re all big and bad pirates attacked a US warship last night. The US warship captured the 3 on board the little boat as well as 2 more on their mothership(as they call it). After taking them in custody on our navy ship they sunk their boat. HA, wish I could’ve watched it sinking. They are not pirates, they are thugs. No more No less.
This is the biggest Fiasco from Sony, ever!!!!
Sony forced a legion of users to strikes back. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF POSTS AND COMMENTS AROUND THE WEB PROPAGATING ITSELF SHOWING TO ANYONE HOW TO SIGN INTO THE PSN WITHOUT UPDATING – AND IT IS VERY SIMPLE. These tools and methods are around for a while – mostly used by people afraid to update and get bricked – and very soon now everyone will know ho to do also.
CONGRATULATIONS SONY, THIS IS THE BIGGEST INCEPTIVE TO HACKING IN THE HISTORY OF VIDEOGAMING. Better start taking lollypops from children than messing with earlier technologies adopters!!
Google by yourself right now! Don’t waste your time here. Go online with your old firmware and be happy. As fast they play unfair, faster they will be hacked. Enjoy for now, because they will have to release a version 3.22 in a matter of days or even will have to change the whole way how the system is connected!!!
I’ve waited 4 years to get a PS3, then I had to hunt for an older large PS3, then I had to find a 60GB PS3, which were nearly impossible to find, so I purchased a broken one and had Sony repair it.
Now after all this trouble, the damn thing doesn’t read discs anymore, and they’re taking away features from MY PS3 with a required update.
Seriously? What the crap is going on here? I’m starting to think I should have bought an Xbox to being with!