Sony has announced a new Firmware update 3.21 for it’s older generation PlayStation 3 (a.k.a PS3 phat) that would remove the “Other OS feature” from it’s gaming console.

The update will be available on April 1, will remove a beloved feature which was once a system sale-maker.

Unlike Microsoft’s Xbox 360 or Nintendo’s Wii, the original PS3 shipped with an option to run “other” operating systems, including popular Linux distributions from Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE and Ubuntu. The PS3 slim debuted without Linux support, but at that time, Sony exempted older “fat” PS3s.

At this moment opting out of the firmware upgrade may seem like a solution, but by doing so, users will be void of:

• 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

Clearly, its hard to survive for a normal gamer without access to PSN, thereby forced to update.

But Why ?

Sony calls it to “fix a Security issue” we’ve to push this update but, the actual thing is down under. Last month, the popular iPhone Hacker: George Hotz hacked PS3 hardware to make it possible to run games from internal storage, copy games which of course means piracy plus PS2 backward compatibility. Obviously, Sony is not happy about it.

Sony PS3 had encouraged building DIY supercomputers for Cheap, this is the exact reason why US Air force bulk-ordered PS3 to replace Supercomputers.

Sony’s decision to cripple PS3 is certainly an Epic fail, and without a doubt, comments on PS3’s blog clearly indiacate this.

It’s usually bad news when a company starts pulling features from its product portfolio. May be Sony should no remove ”It only does everything” from it’s ad campaigns.

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