3 ms·

AFAIK, they pulled it because geohot got an "exploit" running under linux (unlocked the GPU or something, can't remember now) and their reaction was it was too

AFAIK, they pulled it because geohot got an "exploit" running under linux (unlocked the GPU or something, can't remember now) and their reaction was it was too much risk that it could lead to piracy

giobox 5y ago
This is the actual reason the "Other OS" support was pulled. The other speculation in here is pretty funny. It was also pretty limited for many purposes - you couldn't access the GPU at all reducing total system memory to 256mb IIRC. https://www.theregister.com/2010/01/25/playstation_cracked_wide_open/ https://www.theregister.com/2010/01/25/playstation_cracked_w... https://tedium.co/2020/11/27/sony-linux-otheros-geohot-history/ https://tedium.co/2020/11/27/sony-linux-otheros-geohot-histo... It's arguable giving hackers a platform to explore the innards of the PS3 was the biggest contribution Other OS made to the PS3, and I'm not surprised it scared Sony management. In the release notes for the PS3 firmware update that removes "Other OS", Sony also state it was for "security concerns": https://blog.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/ https://blog.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-u... "...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." The "security concerns" were of course geohot/others using it to crack the PS3 DRM.