No, you didn't accidentally wake up 10 years ago; the PlayStation really did receive a brand new firmware update in the year 2020. Just like the Nintendo 3DS did earlier this year, the PS3 has gotten an update out of nowhere, bringing the system to version number 4.87. Sony says that this new firmware serves to improve the console's system performance, but what that vague statement really means is that the PlayStation 3 got its update so that it could play the most recent Blu-ray movie discs. At least, according to the RPCS3 PS3 emulator team.

Anyone still using their PlayStation 3, and a hacked one at that, will want to refrain from updating to 4.87, though scene hacker Joonie has put out HFW 4.87.1, and says that PS3HEN should be updated relatively soon, as the new firmware doesn't make any changes to the kernel. As a reminder, HFW (hybrid firmware) does not mean CFW (custom firmware). SEN Enabler has also been updated to support spoofing the PlayStation Network for those not on 4.87.

Source

 

[Arras]

Than that's awesome...for them. But i see Gaming consoles for games. But i guess you can use them for whatever.

A bunch of people bought a ps3 specifically to play blurays because there was a point where it was basically cheaper than dedicated blu-ray players. I don't think that's the case anymore though, unless you buy a second hand one for really cheap.

 

[Flaire]

A bunch of people bought a ps3 specifically to play blurays because there was a point where it was basically cheaper than dedicated blu-ray players. I don't think that's the case anymore though, unless you buy a second hand one for really cheap.

Wasn't the PlayStation 3 the first major console to support Blu-Ray discs?

 

[Arras]

Wasn't the PlayStation 3 the first major console to support Blu-Ray discs?

It was the only one until the Xbox One launched like 7 years later.

 

[Flaire]

It was the only one until the Xbox One launched like 7 years later.

Since the PS3 I feel like Xbox is playing catch-up.

 

[The Catboy]

Why though?

 

[emigre]

Than that's awesome...for them. But i see Gaming consoles for games. But i guess you can use them for whatever.

The PS3 was a trojan house for Blu Ray. It was the key factor why Bu Ray won out over HD DVD.

That and the PS3 was genuinely one of the best blu ray players during that era. Not that surprising that a decent number of people use it for Blu Rays.

 

[eriol33]

I am more surprised that people still buy discs to watch movies

 

[linkinworm]

You'd have thought they would have been able to update just the app and certs without an entire system update. Mad

 

[osaka35]

This is nice to see as Blu ray is still popular right now.. but it's only a matter of time before it goes the way of VHS. There are probably also environmental incentives to stop producing the discs and switch to streaming.

just as an addendum to what you're saying:
streaming is lossy. they compress the data as much as humanly possible while still being able to say it's 4k or 1080p. Most people don't care if they got basic 4k with meh-hdr and compressed A/V. but if you go all in and get an uber amazing tv/surround, then on-disc will be worth the higher quality.

so basically it's more videophile/audiophile stuff, much like how cds/sacds are now...though they have flac and other lossless options, so not quite the same options.

plus, internet can be off sometimes, or maybe limited bandwidth, or data caps. so probably other reasons too. plus they look good on a shelf. but they'll still probably stop being so popular over time, i agree.

 

[lafleche]

My 4k lord of the rings and game of thrones blurays outshines every streaming option you can think of.
So yes... I still buy discs... Of course on dedicated 4k player

 

[realtimesave]

LMAO never going to give up my THREE CFW slims haha. Paid $60 each for them CASH on offerup hahahah.. good stuff

 

[MetoMeto]

The PS3 was a trojan house for Blu Ray. It was the key factor why Bu Ray won out over HD DVD.

That and the PS3 was genuinely one of the best blu ray players during that era. Not that surprising that a decent number of people use it for Blu Rays.

they did the same with PS2 and DVD player. Sales went up and Sega Dreamcast was dead basically because people bought a console to serve as a DVD player. I personally sticked to gaming only machines like Nintendo though...so thats why i dont get that trend, blue ray or DVD its all the same to me.
Consoles are for games.
Cheapest PC can do all that and more.

 

[JFizDaWiz]

[redacted]

 

[Something whatever]

Nintendo and Sony: we dropped support and manufacturing for said game system

also them:
Going to throw out an update just for shits and giggles

 

[ragnar14]

newer ones? well no, imagine that sony doesnt update their bluray keys(sony and every bluray player that is) when a bluray releases on 2022 for instance the ps3 wont be able to play it but every bluray ever made until 2021 will work just fine since their decoding keys are still there.

every bluray player must update every couple of years for new encryption keys.

I kinda think the decryption keys have an expiry date too. I left my CFW system on the same FW for years because I was too lazy to update stuff, and one random day a year or 2 ago it just stopped playing Blurays. Including discs I own that I know it played before. Rolled the system up some current 4.8x CFW and everything started working again. Maybe some setting was messed up when CFW was installed years ago, but...?

But yeah, the PS3 will continue receiving updates as long as Blurays are a thing. If Sony is stupid enough to drop it, I imagine it would significantly damage Bluray sales. I have no intent to ever buy another Bluray player.

 

[driverdis]

I don’t recall ever needing to update my 2009 or 2011 release year Sony Blu-ray players for new encryption keys, my region-free player from 2011 still plays new movies as well. I assume the encryption key thing is a PS3 “feature” that just makes the current key store expire. I wonder if Sony will disable this “feature” once their dev team is tired of pushing updates just for the AACS keystore refresh.

a little rant below on Blu-ray and AACS key stores.

if I recall Blu-ray Discs themselves update the disc drive’s AACS keystore with their new keys and key blacklist when you play a movie which is why old players from as far back as 2009 still play new movies without any software updates.

devices who have their keys revoked no longer play any Blu-ray movie discs once you attempt to play a newer Blu-ray Disc that has that device key on it’s AACS blacklist as it will update the player drive keys and be revoked.

EDIT: PCs on the other hand do rely on software such as PowerDVD since the software handles any AACS decryption but this is worse than PS3 since PowerDVD hides AACS key store update behind a paywall where you pay to upgrade to the new PowerDVD version. The only cost effective way to use a PC as a Blu-ray player is to use AnyDVD HD, which will decrypt discs so you can use old free PowerDVD versions that came with Blu-ray drives years ago to play new movies or stick with your newer version without being forced to upgrade or not watch movies.

 

[pedro702]

I don’t recall ever needing to update my 2009 or 2011 release year Sony Blu-ray players for new encryption keys, my region-free player from 2011 still plays new movies as well. I assume the encryption key thing is a PS3 “feature” that just makes the current key store expire. I wonder if Sony will disable this “feature” once their dev team is tired of pushing updates just for the AACS keystore refresh.

a little rant below on Blu-ray and AACS key stores.

if I recall Blu-ray Discs themselves update the disc drive’s AACS keystore with their new keys and key blacklist when you play a movie which is why old players from as far back as 2009 still play new movies without any software updates.

devices who have their keys revoked no longer play any Blu-ray movie discs once you attempt to play a newer Blu-ray Disc that has that device key on it’s AACS blacklist as it will update the player drive keys and be revoked.

EDIT: PCs on the other hand do rely on software such as PowerDVD since the software handles any AACS decryption but this is worse than PS3 since PowerDVD hides AACS key store update behind a paywall where you pay to upgrade to the new PowerDVD version. The only cost effective way to use a PC as a Blu-ray player is to use AnyDVD HD, which will decrypt discs so you can use old free PowerDVD versions that came with Blu-ray drives years ago to play new movies or stick with your newer version without being forced to upgrade or not watch movies.

you are wrong there is no such thing as a bluray player that plays any bluray without updates just google it, your device might be getting updated on its own if its on the internet or you just lucky you buy blurays encoded on older keys, many bluray players that arent update crash on loading screens or cant play special features or straight up dont start on some discs.

 

[DJPlace]

that's a shocker that this came out i swear i wish i can play online with my legit games go on PSN store to get them and not get banned.

 

[stanleyopar2000]

So they support old consoles, but they don't support old consoles. Interesting.

Only to stop piracy on a fucking 10 year old console.

 

[Tweaker_Modding]

ps5: *releases*
sony: so anyway i started updating the ps3