PS3 Firmware update 3.21 to remove support to 'Install Other OS'

Posted on 29-03-2010

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The next PlayStation 3 software update to firmware version 3.21 is due to release on 1st April, 2010. Sony reveals, this firmware update will remove support for the "Install Other OS" feature of PS3; 'due to security concerns'.

Users may want to stick to the previous firmware and choose not to install the update. However that may cost them unavailability of some features, such as -

Users with previous firmware can no longer sign in to PlayStation Network or use any network features such as online facets of PS3 games and chatting, that require signing in to PlayStation Network.

They can not playback the PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos, or any new features and improvements that requires PS3 system software version 3.21 or later

They can not playback the copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings)

The PlayStation owners who uses any 'other OS' can also update their system to this latest firmware update, but they are precisely cautioned to back up their data to prevent data-loss.

Though, not many PS3s were ever breached when security is the primary concern, the necessity for dropping this feature is unknown as of yet. Since any secondary operating systems installed on the machine are run on a hypervisor, security shouldn't have been this big a concern.