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)
@EPIC
Why is nobody addressing the fact that PS3’s Other OS feature is horrible? It is slow and you really cannot do all that much.
IF YOU DONT USE IT OR HAVE NEVER USED IT….. HOW DO YOU KNOW?
@Musoka You can still do all those, you just can’t do new games and psn stuff. I don’t think Sony wants people using the PS3 for the reasons you listed.
@sickcivic because I am smart enough to research what I am talking about before I discuss it. My old roommate used Linux on his for a few days before he realized it just wasn’t worth it.
This is absolutely ridiculous! I paid a lot of money for this system (especially compared to Wii & XBox360) and this feature was part of that decision. My hardware is out of warranty, which means Sony does not support it. You should not be able to take a feature away from my system when you do not support it anymore. This should be optional, and I should not have to give up all these other aspects (PSN, new games, new BDs, etc) just to preserve my features.
I expect this to be an April fools joke, and the real update should actually provide features that people want, not take features away. For example, when will PS3 support voice-only chat via the XMB (w/ only a headset, not using the camera)? When will I be able to use that chat within games?
I hate it to update before i can play online!! And then it’s a boring update aswell!! :/
@Epic, what you fail to realize is that this feature is important for many people. Even though your 2007 PC might run linux faster, the Cell processor offers many differences when it comes to programming. In my assembly class we are coding for the PS3’s cell processor. I cannot buy a cheap cell processor, but I can run it on my PS3. This is the main reason I bought my PS3. I already own an Xbox 360 and a Wii for that matter, my PS3 is my educational system which I can also use for gaming. Now I must choose to either play my games or continue learning different coding techniques for the Cell. I bought the PS3 because of it’s combo of gaming and computing, and now I must choose.
Take away the feature from the slims, but let the early adopters keep their features. After all, we were the ones that believed in your platform even when nobody else did. One other note, when people decide not to update, it is costing Sony money. They will lose out on their sales of PS3 games which is the real money maker for them, not the hardware.
I will be one of the few lucky ones that will have it all. I’m saying ‘no’ to the update on my 60Gb PS3 and going out and buying a slim. I’ll have a cheap Linux Cell Processor computer that will still be PS2 backwards-compatible and I’ll be enjoying 3.21 PS3 gaming glory on my dedicated gaming console. I just have to do the data transfer soon. Like now! :)
Sony, during the ApocalyPS3: “Heh, oh well.”
Sony, after hearing about what Mr. Hotz did: “SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING!”
@ Flashtut HOLY CRAP SOMEBODY WITH COMMON SENSE.
You just don’t get it my friend, we are all in for troubled days ahead if this is the way the masses think.
@Epic, excuse me for being “ignorant” but didn’t you say that the PS3 was worthless at running linux and now you’re saying that he has common sense because he is buying another one so he can continue to run Linux. From your previous logic he would be foolish for wasting money for a worthless feature.
I hope they are kind enough to surprise us with some awesome new features lol
Who wants to bet that this update won’t even fix the clock bug that caused the ApocalyPS3
@TRIN It is worthless at running Linux, but if people want to…and can’t afford a cell processor…PS3 slims are really cheap now…that is the best option to go for.
MUST BE NICE TO HAVE MONEY IN THIS ECONOMY ME AND MY WIFE LOST OUR JOBS A WEEK APART
No Epic. It’s worth what the market will pay. Depreciation doesn’t apply to all items.
On both Craig’s List and eBay, fats sell at a premium STILL. Because they still contain features that got stripped away. People do pay for those features.
does anyone know what time this update will be released? because it’s already 4AM here
@Infinitree
Unis and the military don’t update, most of these clusters are not even connected to the internet. Those who used a ps3 for some CBE/Bedroom coding are the ones who are mostly screwed, and even then… meh.. I’m a linux enthusiast and the support that a PS3/Linux box had in the community, was practically non-existent, not to mention that at the beginning the whole linux-scene had turned it’s back on it because of the hypervisor (they wanted Shaders!). They did not get that Sony wanted them to utilize the Cell for everything, something that they never did. And the linux distros for ps3 remained crippled and ugly.
So i don’t know where all these people that say they are gonna miss the OtherOs come from.
Nevertheless the battle against hacking, from Sony, has to much of collateral damage to be acceptable without protest.
They are removing an entire feature for the love of God! And an interesting one too!
Meanwhile they have a right to protect their product and service against hack and misuse and i can understand that. So i’m perplexed…
Oh… @Epic: STFU! You’re just rude!
most that pay the premium for the old fats are paying for the BC feature your trippin, not some bootsy linux… go buy a gaming PC if your trippin that hard better yet plese do not support sony and go to microsoft get rid of ignorant whiners —->Buh bye
@Verdugo04
It’s not the real world, its just BECOMING the real world – and you’re helping, don’t be a slave – stand up for yourself, and if you aren’t willing to do that, at least shut up, no one needs your complacent apathy
Sorry to hear that sick. Good luck getting back on your feet. I don’t know, if something like that ever happened to me, my PS3 would be the least of my concerns. If it got bad I imagine it would be one the first things I sold, because to me it’s more a luxury than a necessity.
THIS BETTER BE A [DELETED] APRIL FOOLS JOKE!!!! I HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS UPDATE & THEY’RE NOT ADDING ANYTHING?!!!!!!!!! WTF SONY!!!!!!!!
Sorry to hear that sick. Good luck getting back on your feet. I don’t know, if something like that ever happened to me, my PS3 would be the least of my concerns. If it got bad I imagine it would be one of the first things I sold, because to me it’s more a luxury than a necessity.
I will not be updating.
It appears that Final Fantasy XIII was the last game I bought for the PS3.
@EpicNotion: You may not use the feature, but some of us do, and it was advertised as part of the package. If they were removing some feature that I don’t use (like online gaming, for example), I would still be upset at Sony because the PS3 was sold with that feature included.
@Epic. Nobody should be required to buy a new PS3 in order to keep features. The features were there and advertised when the product was purchased, so it shouldn’t be removed. It looks like Sony is looking to sell more PS3’s by forcing people to own 2 for what one could have done in the past. I guess research institutes better hurry up and buy them before they are updated.
On the bright side, my PS3 which won’t be updated may actually increase in value as research capable PS3’s begin to disappear.
We’re already long into April 1, 2010 JST. It should be close to noon if my math is right. Unless it isn’t set to appear until later in the day, looks like this might be fake.
@garrod629, let’s hope! It is currently 11:25. Maybe, just maybe it won’t be released? I suppose we still have some hope
I don’t think so. Some guy said that he called customer support and they said it was official (customer support cannot lie about such things).
Just to let you know how bad Sony tech WAS on the phone, they actually said this…
“You need to call Linux.”
Why do XBOX and Wii sell more games than PS3? I thought PS3 was the only one of the 3 without hacking problems? I thought hacking problems destroy game sales.. something doesn’t add up? Just fearful old men afraid of kids peeking inside their black box
http:// http://www.linuxinsider.com /story/ Sony-Kicks-Linux-Out-of-the-PS3-Club-69648. html
@greatTeacherdebo XD they told me the same
hey got the lenux insider website theres a lot there
my other post is being moderated
@sickcivic mine too lol
@GreatTeacherDebo: Maybe this could help prove that a lot of them probably don’t even really know if the update is real, and simply tell you what somebody else told them lol.
Also, Patrick Seybold posted this, how come it wasn’t posted by Eric Lempel? Patrick wouldn’t be allowed to make -OFFICIAL- firmware announcements like this.
Want the real deal? Wait for Eric Lempel to announce it.
use spaces in urls
http ://www. facebook. com/group. php?gid=108684749155032
Doesn’t Sony normally release an update in the afternoon?
Like 3-5 p.m.
So we have a few more hours left before it is JST afternoon.
@gamesadict
I don’t know what you mean…but I guess I should clarify. They gave the canned speech that the post describes. “You have the choice of not downloading 3.21…yata yata.”
Everyone answering the phones knew all about this yesterday. Just don’t expect to hear anything more than, “This came from the executives, and we can’t do anything more.”
i had heard that linux drop sony but from what i read at www. linuxinsider .com/ story / sony- kicks – linux -out of – the ps3-club -69648 .html
I have always been a big supporter of Sony and their playstation brand but the way sony are disabling features that i paid full price for is a disgrace. Sony should be ashamed of themselves saying that the update is optional when really it isnt, as refusing to update basically locks you out of everything making the machine unusable. This is something Microsoft has never done which is why I’ll be supporting them from now on.
I have now lost faith in you Sony, you have now reached a new low and I’m bitterly disappointed with your company behaviour towards your consumers.
This time you really have shot yourself in the foot.
THIS IS WASTE OF TIME — NICE TRY SONY YOUR PS3 HAS FAILED NOW I CAN’T BELIEVE SONY WOULD TAKE A THE BEST FEATURE OF THE PS3 AWAY I LOVE MY LINUX IN MY PS3 — STOP THIS MADNESS I AM BOYCOTTING THIS UPDATE!!
I SAVE MY HARD EARNED MONEY AT A HIGH 535 DOLLAR PRICE TAG TO BUY MY PS3 AND YOU REMOVE THE BEST FEATURE THAT A CONSOLE HAS EVER HAD WAKE UP SONY THIS ISN’T HELPING ANYTHING, BUT P*SS OFF YOUR CUSTOMERS. SEE IF I EVER BY ANOTHER SONY PRODUCT AGAIN!
Sony has confused the meanings of “buy” and “rent” – we bought our PS3, you can’t castrate it, you can’t hold us to “terms” of our own hardware. I know you WISH you could rent stuff out instead of sell it, but guess what, no one would be interested and you’d never make any $. So instead, you lie about selling, but really wish to maintain control of what you sold to us?
Screw you – boycott SONY
THE UPDATE IS OUT NOW. THOSE WHO DON’T CARE ABOUT OTHEROS CAN INSTALL IT AND TELL US WHAT’S NEW IN IT.
Version Check Link:
http: //dus01. ps3. update. playstation. net/ update/ ps3/ image/ us/ 2010_0401_3a08ef6164a7770ae3e7d5b9f366437a/ PS3UPDAT.PUP
Download link:
http: //dus01. ps3. update. playstation. net/ update/ ps3/ image/ us/ 2010_0401_3a08ef6164a7770ae3e7d5b9f366437a/ PS3UPDAT.PUP
Remove the spaces before going to the addresses.
Wrong Version Link Check. Correct one:
http:// fus01. ps3. update. playstation. net/ update/ ps3/ list/ us/ ps3-updatelist.txt
THE UPDATE IS OUT NOW. THOSE WHO DON’T CARE ABOUT OTHEROS CAN INSTALL IT AND TELL US WHAT’S NEW IN IT.
downloading now will let yall know what comes up other than no other os
Yes, please. Tell us what the update actually does…
I’ll be playing on PSN… without updating :)
And, no, not through CFW :)