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)
Unacceptable Sony. The PS3 is my last Sony product I ever purchase.
You let me down Sony, let me down.
I will not be updating !
Thank you for contacting the FTC. Your complaint has been entered into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies worldwide. Your reference number is:
26794875
F#%$ing stupid update wouldn’t even call it an upgrade they shouldve called this one a downgrade. I was just learning how to put a 2nd OS on
i am with you Sony, if this makes our PS3s safer go for it, i support 100% your decision !!!! so get over it people and stop complaining for a feature that no one uses!!!
Sony just keeps on taking things away. I wonder what they are gonna take away next. When are they gonna stop doing this!?
Since it seems most people don’t understand what all the complaining is actually about LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR.
The feature being removed is not the issue at hand. Sony removing a feature that was already paid for or limiting ur access to the psn should you choose not to update are both illegal business practices. This is the issue. Do not let sony tell u what your rights are. Do ur homework and know them for urself.
Good thing searched about this update before the download was complete. Agree with preventing privacy, also positive that just by trying a little harder, this update could be adding security, instead of removing feature. A feature even though may not be popular, but definitely a point that sets the system apart from competitors. A feature that allowed many users enjoy their home entertainment system without specifically adding a personal computer system to the living room. And the extra features was what motivated me to get the system early. Those who got the slim, still got what you paid for, you’ll be fine. Those that never used the feature wouldn’t know what they’re missing and probably wouldn’t care, but at least stand up against business malpractice. Some paid full price to use all features of a product in a legitimate way.
Really lost a lot of confidence after supporting the Sony brand for so long. Truly unfair to those using what was purchased, in a legitimate manner and this definitely refrained me from promoting the brand. Am hopeful there has to be a way of improving security while maintaining the value of your product and not crippling it. It was sold as more than just a gaming console, just like buying an amphibious car (car/boat) and only able to use it as a boat after a maintenance work. Some really like to try and use full potential of a great product. This can’t be the ONLY way to combat potential piracy.
Please tell me the bright minds that made the console can come up with something better than this. What is to say other Sony products wouldn’t suffer same fate? Maybe disable music playing on all devices cause pirated music could be played. What if the next exploit is related to a more common feature and again they decide to remove it rather than working to improve? Simply a terrible business practice and another sign Sony kind of lost it’s way the last decade. This is not the way to go. Trust and faith in this brand likely less secure now.
someone should post the options they used for FTC Complaint so the lazy ones can file a complaint too.
I already filed one but too lazy to go back and look through them lol
Conspiracy theory time..
It seems like it’s been a few weeks since people started claiming that Sony was running low/out of BC models if you sent yours back for out of warranty service. Or they were getting non-BC models back.
So Sony has a problem that they can’t repair units that have more functionality than the units they’re currently making. But if they start “patching” “security holes” (read: the differences between the old and new models) they can claim all PS3s are functionally the same and it won’t matter what you get back if you send in your launch 60gb.
So let’s see if an exploit just happens to be discovered in BC in the next few months, requiring Sony to patch it out– “for your security”. Since it’s obvious people have become accustomed to just accepting whatever a big corporation says without questioning it, even in light of conflicting facts, they figure most will just go along with it and it solves a BIG problem they’ve had brewing with repairs.
also make sure u guys understand this. removing this feature in no way increases the security of ur ps3. it only prevents someone from hacking THEIR ps3 and MAYBE pirating games. This is utter bs and is most definitely illegal. This is same reason why the sony pspgo features an internal battery as a means of fighting off piracy. i repeat, REMOVING THIS FEATURE IN NO WAY HELPS PROTECT UR PS3 AT ALL.
I am going to quote the user agreement that obviously you guys dont read when you update.
“From time to time, SCE may provide update, upgrades or services to your PS3tm system to ensure it is functioning properly in accordance with SCE guidelines or provide you with new offerings. Some services may be provided automatically without notice when you are online, and others may be available to you through SCE’s online network or authorized channels. Without limitation, services may include the provisions of the latest update or download of new release that may include security patches, and new or revised settings and features which may prevent access to pirated games, or use of unauthorized hardware or software in connection with the PS3tm system. SOME SERVICES MAY CHANGE YOUR CURRENT SETTINGS, CAUSE A LOSS OF DATA OR CONTENT,OR CAUSE SOME LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU REGULARLY BACK UP ANY DATA ON THE HARD DISK THAT IS OF A TYPE THAT CAN BE BACKED UP.”
That last part was not in all caps but i put it that way so you can see the most important part of that statement. there is more in that paragraph but it was about third party stuff and their terms. so there it is take it how you want it.
Oh and buzzy42 if you send in a hacked ps3 you are screwed buddy because you tampered with it.
THE_SILENCE_> EULA does not override law. As has been said a thousand times already. Don’t keep reposting that crap.
Also he’s not sending in a hacked PS3 – he’s sending in a PS3 with features he expect to retain – ie. Other OS and gets one back WITHOUT said features. No hacking involved.
“Tux’s very angry with Sony”.
Yes ! 12.000 reports ! Only for the US. Let’s see if I can find something about EU …
SONY, you’re on a very bad move …
The Silence– A> Please try to comprehend what I actually wrote and not what you think I wrote. I never said a word about sending in a hacked PS3. My point is that if Sony keeps removing functionality so ALL PS3s are equal functionally to a Slim, that Sony can just send Slims as “refurbished replacement” unit that has the same functionality. So the 99% of people who just blindly update won’t have any argument if they’re not happy with the replacement.
B> HOW MANY TIMES MUST IT BE REPEATED: Sony cannot bind you to an agreement that violates state or federal laws!!! Sony can’t say “We will come to your house and take your PS3 if you violate this agreement” as breaking in and stealing your PS3 is against the law.
Just because a company wrote it, and a lawyer “approved” it, does NOT make it legally binding!
(and if you seriously believe that no company in the history of time has violated a contract, probably with their fleet of lawyers’ help, you need to turn off the PS3 and read up on history a bit)
hopefully, Sony can just issue another firmware update to switch the OtherOS option back on after they get inundated with FCC complaints..
Just thought I would add this in there…
The EULA will hold up in court…but it doesn’t absolve them from anything. They did not steal anything from you. You did not pay for the Other/OS feature. You paid 300, 400 or in some cases 600 for a Playstation 3 system. The features it comes with are free of charge.
YOU ARE NOT BUYING A FEATURE, IT COMES FREE WITH THE SYSTEM. Also, you would be a fool to think a EULA does not protect them in this case. Physically they did not steal anything from you and the hardware still works post update. Yeah it sucks, but not much you can do. If you want to boycott Sony from now on, feel free to…it won’t matter though..the company is too big to be hurt by a few people boycotting…especially when there are so few major players in the game console production industry.
This is also an interesting “feature” that we get with the update:
“New Blu-ray discs could even disable the Blu-ray drive entirely if they contain an AACS Host Revocation List that affects the old firmware version.”
Unless you have proof about the amount of complaints, stop posting nonsense on here. Making up numbers to defame a company is fraud and you can go to jail for that. The FCC is legally not allowed to tell you how many complaints they received against a company that you do not work for or have any ownership in. Owning a PS3 or a Sony phone does not make you an owner in the company by the way.
Even if they had 20,000 complaints, that doesn’t mean anything. 50,000 people could claim they don’t like the color blue, but that doesn’t mean it will be removed from the color spectrum.
This is [DELETED][DELETED] Sony!!!
I love this feature and you are screwing us…
I thought you were supposed to be better than the competition…
What are you thinking.
PUT THIS FEATURE BACK!!!
You are going to lose my loyalty…and I have spent near 100g’s on your products.
Put it back or perhaps the competitor may find my dollars from this point on.
How does that sound?
[DELETED]!
So what other features did I not buy when I bought a PS3? What other bullet points on the box can Sony just ignore “because they’re not important”? PS2 game compatibility? Media center playback? SACD?
Just because YOU don’t use a feature doesn’t somehow mean it’s “not important”. It was on the box, it was supported, it’s on an equal footing with any other feature similarly listed.
@#$%&/(“#/)! Sony!
From the moment we are not allowed to use the PSN, update is no longer optional. We all pay a lot of money for our consoles with all features. How will compensate for that?. With this kind of things give you more desire to sell the PS3 and buy an Xbox360
FTC complaint number – 25993737
BURN SONY!! BURN!
Honestly, this was a smart move. By removing this option it opens up more memory on the HDD so that we can save more games. On top of that it helps against hacking. People are going to get upset just because they are loosing something paid for but never use. Me as well as my friends who have a PS3, don’t ever use the option that they are taking away, niffty option, yes; useful, eh not really.
This would just say SONY can ‘break’ your PS3 if they want !
Very cool SONY.
When is SONY going to acknowledge this update? No one but posters here have said anything since Mar. 28.
http s://w ww. ftccomplaintassistant .gov
FILE A COMPLAINT! (delete spaces in link)
@#$%&?! Sony. What else will remove next?, You going to delete the media center?, Are they going to charge for PSN? I WANT MY MONEY BACK!
Kalaness– please tell me how much more space *your* PS3 HD has on it after the update than it did before. Go ahead, go check.
Hint: The OtherOS feature probably took up a few hundred kilobytes, if that, in the firmware. Since it’s in the firmware, it’s either in non-volatile RAM, or possibly in a reserved area of your PS3 HD (if you have a Slim, which can’t run OtherOS anyway), which was never accessible anyway. (which is why you get like 203GB free on a 250GB slim– some is “reserved” and some is the hard drive 1GB isn’t 1GB issue)
Additionally, it appears people who did have Linux installed have to reformat their HDs to get the space back.
So, no, you don’t get hard drive space back.
I’m done…either they put the feature back or I’m going to sell off my Sony products.
Close to 100g’s of it…
Bye TV’s, bye everything.
Soooooo sick of sony D!@King us around!
OMG….ARE YOU FRIGGING JOKING ME RIGHT NOW???!!!
This had better be a AprilFools Joke!!!
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@the silence
ok lets forget the fact that the agreement actually violates federal law in itself. sony no where in any eula or tos specifically states that they will discontinue ur access to psn if u choose not to update ur firmware at anytime. therefore by restricting users who choose not to upgrade so as to maintain their systems linux support they are in fact BREAKING THE LAW. psn access is an advertised feature on the original box. since their is no disclaimer advertising the recent firmware as necessay they have no choice but to allow them to access psn or they are violating numerous federal and state laws.
Nice. Sony’s censoring the info I’m posting regarding my submission to the BBB.
Anyways, make sure you all submit. This is not legal practice for them to remove advertised features.
This feature is not a legal consumer right, whoever convinced you that it was really should have their right to speech revoked for making you believe something like that.
What I love is you all want Sony to burn and go out of business because of this. So what then? Then you have a expensive game console that has no support or new content coming out for it. Brilliant move guys!
For someone who thinks they know so much about “rights”, you’re sure excitable about removing them or throwing people in jail.
If it is advertised on the box, Sony is responsible to provide that feature. No amount of hemming or hawing changes that.
@darini
ur a fool. this is exactly a consumer rights issue
complaint filed with BBB
If you can file a complaint on there for this, I can file a complaint against you guys for being so stupid. Reading your comments is robbing me of my dignity and brain cells so I need to be compensated for that. It is my consumer right!
See I can make up laws as I go along too!
So complain all you want, just because you don’t like or agree with something…that doesn’t make it illegal.
sony y’all been failing as of late it’s been taking that long and all you folks give us is just a damn remove the OS install feature
After reading some of the most STUPID comments I had seen..I got to say to those IDIOTS who act like they dont care about lossing this feature ..YOU MORONS DIDNT SUPPORT SONY FROM THE BEGINNING ,WE DID!! so stop acting like u been here for 3 years ,U HAVENT! u IDIOTS just start joining after SONY lower the price of that piece of SH..! SLIM that only does 1/3 of everything!! u IDIOTS never had BC on PS2 games ,linux support, &4 USB slots,CF slot,SD/mini sd slot,& so on…so STF !! u never knew what we are missing & u never will be put in a situation like us from the NAZI REGIME OF SONY!! if you dont support us is fine..but please dont open u mouth as if you know what the hell u talking about..u werent here since the beggining…u just join the PS3 when cheap was a factor… I TOO WILL COMPLAIN WITH FEDERAL AGENCY.
@4953
If they are educated, why the f*** are they pulling a stunt like this?
ok seriously does anyone know a decent lawyer with experience in class action suits??????
And people like me that bought four (4) launch units at $600 a pop to more effectively render 3d animation AND play games feel pretty taken advantage of right now..
I have had Sony gear forever! the 80’s was all about the walkman! I even had a BetaMax VcR!!! PSone, 2 PS2’s, a PSP, TONS of games/controllers/camera, now 4 PS3’s!
I am the ultimate Sony customer/fanboy…but now when i actually feel like Sony did something against the interests of consumers (like the Sony BMG rootkit debacle) everyone says we are just whiners and complainers, and not real Sony fans..
sad, small minded people on the internet are sad, small minded people.
captain obvious has stuck again!
@Sponge-Worthy
well said!
and good advice, too!
:)
You are dealing with Sony, one of the top 3 entertainment companies in the world …
We now all know about those big compagnies. You know, thoses who fire their employees to make their boss more and more rich.
You think seriously thoses compagnies know something else than $$$$ ?
Yes, that’s a good idea, simply ignore them.
Because telling SONY is a thief, could push them to complain to their mother, but, at the same time, they put online their racism …
Strange world !
@darinl79… definite fanboy. Unfortunately he is full of crap…Even Samsung and Toshiba rank higher.. Dude, go crawl back to your Sony Fanboy forum. Sony fell from 7th to 10th and imho, will continue to decline because of STUPID decisions like this one…
Rank
2009 Rank
2008 Company Country of origin Revenue
(million
$ USD) 2009/2008 changes Market share
1 1 Intel Corporation United StatesUSA 32 095 -5.0% 14.2%
2 2 Samsung Electronics South KoreaSouth Korea 17 123 +1.3% 7.6%
3 3 Toshiba Semiconductors JapanJapan 10 640 -4.0% 4.7%
4 4 Texas Instruments United StatesUSA 9 612 -13.2% 4.2%
5 5 STMicroelectronics FranceFranceItalyItaly 8 400 -18.6% 3.7%
6 8 Qualcomm United StatesUSA 6 475 0.0% 2.9%
7 9 Hynix South KoreaSouth Korea 5 940 -1.4% 2.6%
8 6 Renesas Technology JapanJapan 5 664 -19.3% 2.5%
9 12 AMD United StatesUSA 5 038 -7.6% 2.2%
10 7 Sony JapanJapan 4 670 -32.8% 2.1%
The worst part of all of this is SONY ignoring it’s customers. It’s incredible. 6000 comments between US and EU post. That’s consumer service. ooooh yeah sony.
The next time just put a gun against our heads,
“Update or we are going to blow your head.” Great!
Question: If I switch my HDD with my old 60g one, can i run 2 seperate firmwares?
Thanks FritoZ.
And truthfully, Sony’s abject silence on this issue, lack of apology, and oddly strict message control is the primary indicator that Sony expects both a popular and legal backlash. They made a decision and pulled the trigger, and they will deal with the fallout as it comes.
There’s no way Sony’s in-house counsel’s office could predict, with 100% certainty, that criminal and civil legal challenges, arising out of all the jurisdictions in all the territories where PS3s are sold, would all fail. Just not possible. What they can do is estimate how the legal repercussions and liabilities might impact Sony’s bottom line.
Sony is taking a gamble here. The gamble is that the negative reaction and any legal sanctions down the road will pale in comparison to the imagined piracy they hope to prevent on the platform.