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Sony can completely disable your PS3

If you think that Sony can’t ban you if you play pirated games over PSN, think again. The amount of access Sony has to your machine is greater than you probably imagine.

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hardcore19125587d ago

can sony destroy my console remotely? If so, this is unacceptable.

HarryMonogenis5587d ago

I already knew this. The same goes on Xbox Live for the Xbox 360.

hardcore19125587d ago

@ Harry

No. when Microsoft ban you, you can still play offline or you can buy a new console then you can recover your gamertag to play online. Sony can disable your console online and offline.

FailOverHero5587d ago

What hardcore said.
Plus it is illegal for Sony to completely disable your ps3. They can ban it, but by law they aren't allowed to brick it. TOS does not permit that...you listening trounbyfire?
If they could then Apple would have a field day disabling jailbroken iPhones. Fortunately we as consumers are protected against such crimes against end users...hee hee hee, sucks to be SONY right now

visualb5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

failover:

read the TOS before quoting it

if you break it, Sony can brick it, its there.

you don't have to accept this, but then you cant use your PS3.

MARKUS_MAX1MUS5587d ago

@ FailOverHero

True but then again they get you to agree to their terms of service which is a contract between you and them and if you break that contract, they are legally obliged to do whatever they stated as a consequence within that contract and im guessing this is one of the consequences.

Nitrowolf25587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

http://us.playstation.com/s...
http://us.playstation.com/s...

can you guys point me out for me where that part is located?

Although i want hackers off PSN, i always thought it was illegal for a company to disable things.

fail0verflow5587d ago

seems like dude who wrote this has his brain already disabled

R2D25587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

Blah blah blah - if Sony really could do a wave ban they would have done it a long time ago. Come on Sony, more action and less talk,lay down the ban hammer when Killzone 3 hits.

FailOverHero5587d ago

@visualb
"Such
content may include
automatic updates or
upgrades which may change
your current operating
system, cause a loss of data
or content or cause a loss of
functionalities or utilities.
Such upgrades or updates
may be provided for system
software for your PlayStation
3 computer entertainment
system, the PSP (PlayStation
Portable) system, or other
SCEA-authorized hardware.
Access or use to any system
software is subject to terms
and conditions of a separate
end user license agreement
found at http://
www.us.playstation.com/
termsofuse. You authorize
SCEA to provide such content
and agree that SCEA shall not
be liable for any damages,
loss of data or loss of
functionalities arising from
provision of such content or
maintenance services. It is
recommended that you
regularly back up any
archivable data located on
the hard disk.
Loss of functionalities does in fact NOT include DISABLING the console itself. If it did then it would render the TOS ILLEGAL as it would VIOLATE the users RIGHTS. why do people hide behind the TOS like it is iron clad? It isn't. If it is reviewed and found to violate any user rights then Sony cannot use it to justify squat. So when I say TOS does not cover bricking consoles I know what I'm talking about. Sheesh man, open a law book or something

Venatus-Deus5587d ago

@visualb

They would have to get the consumer to agree to their ToB’s before handing over their money and not when setting up a PSN account. They can only ban you from online play.

hardcore1912 is perfectly correct and there is nothing like you are describing in any of the various ToB’s.

badz1495587d ago

and the only reason they will do that to any of you is if you're caught playing pirated copies. so, it's your fault to begin with!

imvix5587d ago

Lol the disadvantages of owning a console, completely at the mercy of the console maker.

Open platform PC ftw.

cemelc5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

@FailOverHero

" which may change
your current operating
system, cause a loss of data
or content or cause a loss of
functionalities or utilities. "

From the TOS "loss of functionalities or utilities" isnt playing games a functionality?

" SCEA shall not
be liable for any damages,
loss of data or loss of
functionalities arising from
provision of such content or
maintenance services"

Also you agreed to the second quote.

They can actually stop the ps3 from playing games, and hide in the fact that is a media center that can allow you to watch blue ray movies. Its not briking the ps3, but come on might as well be.

bananlol5587d ago

If sony started disabeling ps3 they would get so sued that the rrod fiasco would pale in comparison. The only thing they can do is block psn access.

Kurt Russell5587d ago

Brick my ps3 and I'll brick your windows.

morganfell5587d ago

That sounds tough until you are sitting in jail and the misdemeanor for throwing a brick through a window is upgraded to a B class felony because someone was hurt by the glass.

Now that gesture of tough brick throwing is a permanent black mark on your record not to mention a %500 fine, 10 hours of community service, and court costs. And your PS3 is still bricked.

Suddenly that act of defiance isn't that smart. Smart would have been avoiding the piracy that led to the bricking in the first place.

And I can see people complaining right now.

"Sony bricked my PS3"

"Really sir? Why? Let's look at the information Sony provided. Oh, it seems you were playing pirated games. Do you still want to proceed with this complaint?"

Jack Meahoffer5587d ago

We can debate the legality of this forever but at the end of the day Sony would never do this simply because of the massive public relations impact. Even though it appears from the comments that the hardcore brand worshipers are rooting for Sony to it the chances are astronomical in my opinion.

Nineball21125587d ago

@ Nitro: " http://us.playstation.com/s...
http://us.playstation.com/s...

can you guys point me out for me where that part is located?"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the terms of service to use their "websites"? Is that the same TOS to use the PS3?

It might be, I dunno... just wanted clarification.

siyrobbo5587d ago

sony wont disable any PS3's, it would be suicide if they did and probably illegal in a lot of countries as well

cemelc5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

The problem here why FailoverFail keeps pulling the ToS out his A$$, i might not be a lawyer but i can read and its there. Will they do it? dont know, dont care.

If you have a modded ps3 dont go online thats it, i dont understand why pro modding are here having an issue you wont play online, so why go in at all???. Sony doesnt want to give psn acces or any kind of service to modders (pirates or otherwise) and thats their choice cos psn is theirs.

@Jack Meahoffer

While i do agree with you that sony wont brick consoles cos public opinion would be bad for them. They will take psn from that modded ps3 and thats just fine for me.

@Nineball2112 if you watch a few post above yours, you can see FailOverHero post copy pasting part of the ToS, and a few post below you can see mine copy pasting from his post explaning they can.

beavis4play5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

to all of the idiots above who say sony can't brick your system - they can't do it to anyone who is using the console in the proper way - but anyone who is hacking the console or playing pirated games - they certainly CAN do it to them.

those of you who suggest it's ok to break the law and then try to use laws to protect yourselves are complete losers.

Highatus5587d ago

Funny how people are saying they can't disable the console, take a look over to satellite providers when you hack the receiver they toss an ecm into the stream and brick your receiver. Same idea you are not using the hardware for its intended purpose therefore under the tos you may/will lose the privilege to use such hardware.

Apple's suit was also different in the fact that the jailbreak is a bypass and not actually changing apples software code wherein sony's jailbreak does use sonys code And the hackers freely distributed Sonys code and are altering it from its intended purpose which is clearly copyright infringement amongst other things. So anyone else using this method to hack is also infringing and subject to loss of said privileges.

jetlian5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

way they could brick it is if your renting it so no its not satellite. you bought the actual system you just don't own the software rights

If they could do it MS would have years ago

NeoBasch5587d ago

I think people forget we were rooting for Microsoft too when they dropped the ban hammer. Plain and simple, piracy is stupid. You're hurting the industry as well as yourself.

NickIni5587d ago

All this article says is that Sony CAN do it. Not will do, or have done. Just that theoretically they could.

And in all honesty, you pirate games? You deserve to have your console stripped of the right to play games. You'd have to be a serious fudgetard to think trying to sue Sony for getting what you deserved is a good idea, even in the unlikely event you were to win a case, you'd be hit with a Copyright hammer so damn big it would have been better to stay quiet.

deafwing5587d ago

yea this is nothing new, same with xbox, you'll have to spend money on anew one, start a new account, and loose all your lovely trophies (that would hurt the most I think for me; put a lot of time into those damn untouchable things :p

Seferoth755587d ago

Bricking a console is not the same as losing gaming functions while others continue to work. Sony would still be sued. No contract is perfect people.

Someone mentioned Satellite providers. In most cases you do not buy the receiver so they have every right to what they want to to their own property. That is not the same as when you own the property.

QuodEratDemonstrandm5587d ago

@jetlian

Ok so you own the hardware. Fair enough. Sony can't disable the hardware. Fine.
You pointed out that we are subject to EULA, on the software. It's not actually ours. We're paying for the right to use it, within the terms they set. They would then have the right to disable the software n the case of a particularly egregious violation, like pirating games.

They have the right to disable software.
The OS is software.
Sony can disable the OS.

Highatus5587d ago

@jetlian it seems as though you missed my point with the satellite reciever comparison.

If one is renting a reciever and hacks it then said provider bricks it is one going to call them and ask them why and deal with the legal ramifications within doing so? No. Same if one owns the reciever will one call them If one has hacked the reciever and they brick it? No, one will either try to resurrect the current system or buy another.One won't call the provider because one is STEALING their service.

Same point with the ps3, by using sony's code to unlock/hack the console you are not using the code for its intended purpose set by sony by agreeing with sony's terms of service and the end user licence agreement. Through the eula you have agreed to sony's licencing terms. You own the console however sony is free to alter the system in anyway(see firmware updates) especially if you have not adhered to the tos and eula.

So by agreeing to said terms you allow sony to alter the system in any way. Since noone other than sony own the license and loan it out to devs through kits, those that hack the system are in turn accepting the consequence of their actions whatever they may be.

evrfighter5587d ago

"According to a Neogaf user , "

"According to a Neogaf user , "

"According to a Neogaf user , "

"According to a Neogaf user , "

According to a Neogaf user My pc poops out hundred dollar bills.

Scary695587d ago

@ HarryMonogenis

Funny thing is people are so incompetent that they do not realize that Sony and MS have every right to do as they please everyone agrees to the TOS. Maybe everyone should take the time to read them. LOL

jeseth5587d ago

I didn't know lawyers hung around N4G forums . . .

Oh wait, they don't.

Leave it to a bunch of fanboys and people who think they know what they are talking about, I'm sure you guys know all the ins and outs of pirating and copyright infringment. If you did, you wouldn't be trolling gaming sites.

I'm sure somewhere in the pages and pages of user agreements there are a few sentences that protect the parent company from "jailbreaking" a system. If Sony or Microsoft say they can do it, trust me, they can.

They probably have lawyers that work just to protect the company form events like this. Plus, companies...especially uber huge companies like Sony and MS...learn from past programs and you can bet your bottom dollar that they have protected themselves from this. It just becomes a matter of when if becomes financially practical to go after people. Sometimes things will go on for a while because it is not financially benefitial to address it until they really start losing money.

I hope Sony and MS brick ILLEGALLY tampered systems. All these people are are thiefs hiding behind the internet and hurting the industry. Thiefs.

Aquanox5587d ago

Ok watch them doing so and get flooded by lawsuits.

Remember what happened to MS when they corrupted the savegames in the last banwave? They had to revert this due to legal issues, let alone disabling your consoles. This is ridiculous lol.

ShinMaster5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

First of all, don't hack or give them a reason to do anything.

And second, well, think about it. It wouldn't go down well...unless you deserved it. And more than likely you'll just get banned anyway.

The PS3 is still an amazing system.
But whatever feeds the 360 fanboys/trolls and gives them a glimpse of hope I guess, Lol

pixelsword5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

I'm not planning to pirate, so I really don't care.

Edit: wait, "someone on neogaf" is the evidence?

Fake.

Druarc5587d ago

Sony don't need to brick your console if they know enough about what your doing (ie running pirated games) then they hand you details over to the right authority's and they go and take your PS3 and your ass off to jail.

Sort of like having a gun isn't illegal (with right permits) but using it to kill someone is.

Proxy5587d ago

1. Hacking isn't illegal (at least on the iPhone, the courts would have to decide about the PS3).
2. Piracy is illegal.
3. If there is a disagreement between legal consumer rights, and Sony's TOS; then legal consumer rights wins and Sonys TOS get thrown out.
4. If it were the case that anything goes in a TOS, then Sony should include a "I agree to never buy an XBox" clause in their TOS ASAP.

The Lazy One5586d ago

@"And I can see people complaining right now.

"Sony bricked my PS3"

"Really sir? Why? Let's look at the information Sony provided. Oh, it seems you were playing pirated games. Do you still want to proceed with this complaint?""

playing pirated games isn't illegal everywhere. Distributing them is illegal everywhere, but I know that the legal situation is much murkier with playing games. Also, if you purchase the game I don't think it matters if you are playing it off a harddrive or not, it is totally legal.

There's so many ways to cover ur ass if you are playing pirated games, but there are no ways to cover your ass if you brick someone's system. It's the same reason the music industry really only sues people that have distributed pirated music (seeding in a torrent counts). Once you do that you are boned.

Ryudo5586d ago

Sony does have the ability to disable PS3's, remember the internal clock error that broke all PS3 fat's for a day?

That error disabled the ability for you to play games and access PSN as well as other features.

The question is would they legally be allowed to break hardware you own and the answer for every none retard is no.

jeseth5586d ago

@ Nitrowolf

See Section 7, Paragraph G.

Enjoy eating Crow. Put it in a nice pie or stew if you like.

According to Section 7 paragraph G if you attempt to hack or reverse program ANY CODE OR EQUIPMENT in connection with SCEA and its sites, you are in violation of the User Agreement.

jetlian5586d ago

what happen when sony rootkeys pc?! thats right they were sued same thing here they can't brick your hardware.

Not being able to go online is all they can do which with most games online thats enough to make people buy legal copies.

Or we will see al ot of games shipped with faulty code which means your have to update it for it to play right.

they had games like it back on ps1

Dee_915586d ago

hmm i got a idea
how about you not do illegal shit
and you wont have to worry about this :)

Kurt Russell5586d ago

@morganfell - UK law is not that harsh, but good point none the less ^^

+ Show (40) more repliesLast reply 5586d ago
THC CELL5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

sony can do alot of things i remember a case when sony found a stolen ps3 over psn the guy was nicked, . http://gizmodo.com/5035425/...

r1sh125587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

There is no proof that sony uses such verification methods.
In any case, a hacker could just sign homebrew with a signature a dev has used on other software which would trick the logs.
e.g. back up manager called call of duty save game etc....
Sony cannot act on anything because it has not become a widespread problem, only once it has then we will know.
Its gonna be hard to fight these hacks, with homebrew hackers could log into the servers and see what is actually happening. Imagine the number of different homebrew apps that are gonna be coming to the ps3. It will be hard to identify every single one.
Thats how xbox live servers got hacked, until the consoles got banned.

EDIT: Why didnt sony ban anyone with the jailbreak before they updated the firmware?
According to the logic of the article they should have detected these USB sticks and back up managers that were running.
This article is fail, we wont know anything until sony and pirates are actually at war via PSN.

5587d ago
slyrunner5587d ago

Not disagreeing, but with sonys licencing code, they can use and find and track and destroy everything that a hacker could ever do. Its basically the software makeup of the ps3.

bailoutbenny5587d ago

What Geohot and Fail0verflow did was perfectly legal.

ECDSA is an open specification and available for anyone to implement. Figuring out the solution to a math problem and them publishing the solution is not illegal, which is what happened when the private key was discovered. Sony does not "own" a number, which is all the private key is. A private key is not Sony's IP. Nobody infringed on Sony's IP to get the key because Sony does not own the patent on ECDSA and they cannot "own" a number.

The private key is necessary to be able to get custom firmware to run on the console. Custom firmware completely replaces Sony's firmware, removing all artificial restrictions to the hardware that Sony's firmware puts in place. This is completely legal still since nobody is infringing on Sony's IP. They are replacing Sony's IP with their own.

Every other USC that was cited does not apply because the owner of the console is the authorized user of the system. They own it! They are not exceeding their authority either since, once again, they OWN the console. Most of the USC cited apply only to federal or banking computers anyway, or if the hacking/dissemination of information allows REMOTE break ins to a computer.

If Sony bricks a console, they will get sued. The problem with the TOS for Sony is that you have to agree to it before you can use the console at all. If you didn't have to do that, and if Sony didn't force firmware upgrades off the game discs, this wouldn't be an issue. But the fact that Sony forces you to accept the TOS before you can use the console as it was intended to be used is a legal problem for Sony as are the forced upgrades on games which force you to either upgrade or not play the game. In fact, a lawsuit by Sony could backfire in not only setting the precedent that consoles can be hacked just like phones, but these 2 anti consumer practices by Sony can be brought to light and pursued against Sony.

gaden_malak5587d ago

bailoutbenny

You don't have a clue.

bailoutbenny5587d ago

The EFF will be all over this like flies on shit:

http://www.eff.org/press/ar...

QUOTE:

"The DMCA should not be abused to censor online discussion by people who are behaving perfectly legally," said Tom Cross, who blogs at memestreams.net. "It's legal to engage in reverse engineering, and its legal to talk about reverse engineering."

In fact, the DMCA explicitly allows reverse engineering to create interoperable custom software like the programs the hobbyists are using.

...

"This is not about copyright infringement. This is about running your own software on your own device...you legally bought," said EFF Civil Liberties Director Jennifer Granick. "...Hobbyists are taking their own tools and making them better, in the best tradition of American innovation."

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5587d ago
TheGamerBible5587d ago

Messing with God's consoles will only serve to bring you misery. God gave us great consoles that man cannot improve through hacking. Dont hack your console and you wont face God's banhammer.

Christopher5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

That's the thing, they can only detect piracy if you play over PSN. Pirates won't play pirated games on PSN.

As far as what they'll do, they'll likely ban your current PSN accounts on the machine and use your PS3's unique signature to block the ability to create anymore PSN accounts on the machine.

Thing is that you don't need a PS3 to create a new PSN ID, just a Web browser.

They could do something more drastic, such as disable certain hardware elements, but highly unlikely they'll do that.

slyrunner5587d ago

Not true, have you downloaded a firmware update recently?? While you are downloading,they are uploading information from your console. You cant hide your ip address throughout your console, they could easily track you.As long as your ps3 in online,you are a sitting duck.

Christopher5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

Still true. Pirates won't be performing FW updates. They will just wait for CFW packages to be released by the community and install those via dongle.

And, again, pirates won't be going online with their PS3s. Piracy will be for single-player/local co-op game elements only.

DeadIIIRed5587d ago

what a lonely life that is. why bother playing games today without the ability for online multiplayer

slyrunner5587d ago

Some people have to realize that you never "own" a console or game!, you are have the licence to use the item that you have bought, Just because the Terms of Service doesn't bluntly say that they wont disable your console, if you are disobeying the Terms of Service, they are allowed to do what is ever necessary to stop the action you are taking. Why do you think the Terms of Service are so damn long! they know you wont read it half of the time so they get away by saying "its in there,you just didnt take the time to read it". AS much as i hate to agree with sony, they are right, if you were in their shoes, you would do the exact thing that they are doing. In this world, you dont "OWN' anything in value that has mechanical parts. If you didnt like the fact that sony is going with this, you shouldn't of agreed to the Terms of Service, that simple. Whine and bitch all you want, but until these hackers have given up or locked away, you are in sonys world, and in sony world, nothing goes forgotten.

ZombieNinjaPanda5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

So if I smash my Ps3 (There's no way in hell I would) according to your logic, it would be illegal, since i only have the license to use it?

Da One5587d ago

Not necessarily but asking Sony to fix would be.

I think people are getting out of hand with this

bailoutbenny5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

Completely false. Any physical item you purchase, you own. There is an implied transfer of ownership at the time of purchase, with or without title. The concept is called "personal property," or more specifically "tangible personal property," and has its own category of law. I suggest you study up on it.

Seferoth755587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

As far as software goes he is right. It says it clearly in the TOS that you do not own the software only the right to use it. So no it wasnt completely false. You do own the disc though and are free to use it in any manner you see fit but the software is never yours to use in any way you see fit.

QuodEratDemonstrandm5587d ago

@bailoutbenny

Sony can't do anything to the hardware. Fair enough.
The OS is software. It's subject to EULA. Therefore it's not actually yours. Sony can do whatever they want with it.

QuodEratDemonstrandm5587d ago

@bailoutbenny

You own the hardware: the fan, the shell, the wires, the cord that plugs it into the wall, the PHYSICAL elements.

You do not own the software: the games the 1.x updates to the games, the OS. That's all intellectual property. Sony reserves the right to disable that, which turns your PS3 into a $300 door stop.

bailoutbenny5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

I was just correcting the OP who said that the console is licensed. It is not, you own it. The OP further said that you don't any physical piece of property. This statement, again, is false.

Custom firware should, theoretically, replace Sony's firmware completely. This means the software running on the console would not be Sony's IP. The OS used would probably be Linux, which Sony definitely does not own. If Sony causes an eFuse to blow after the custom firmware has been put on the system, Sony could be liable for damaging the customer's property.

Furthermore, when the system was sold, it was sold as a machine that plays PS3 games and Bluray movies, so if Sony tried to prevent PS3 games and Bluray movies from being played on the system through custom firmware, they would be liable for false advertising or worse. Sony cannot remove or reduce the functionality further than what the system was capable of at the time of sale. This is why Apple got into trouble with bricking iPhones. The product must do what it did at the time of sale. No EULA or ToS will ever counter that fact. Again, all Sony can do is drop warranty and online support for systems running custom firmware.

ComboBreaker5587d ago

Again, Zombie, you can do whatever you want to your PS3.

However, you can not steal Sony's private key, distribute it, and use it without a license and without Sony's consent.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 5587d ago
AliTheBrit195587d ago

This is bullshit

I bet Microsoft can do the same for the Xbox 360

If I bought the console, it is mine, I handed over money, in exchange for this console

F*ck your "licence" bullshit, it doesn't apply, I reject it, if I buy myself a PS3, I have every single right to hack if

I do not expect any further updates or help in any kind from Sony if I do this, but it is my right to do it.

Lets get this straight, the average consumer buys a PS3 and expects he/she owns it

In reality, or in a technical legal sense, Sony simply allows you to use the PS3, and tries to force you to play by THEIR rules.

mantisimo5587d ago

Ouch Ali.

Hack away and let us know how you get on.

rjdofu5587d ago

Fine, hack it, but then don't download anything else. Yeah you own your console, but only a console alone; the other contents don't belong to you.

Dark_king5587d ago

I don't get why anyone is bringing up the TOS its not involved here.They can legally brick any console running illegal code they own.They just need evidence to present that the machines were infact running illegal code.An by illegal code I mean the stolen key that is owned by Sony and being used without there consent.An by brick I mean completely lock the software up.

hakis865587d ago

Finally, intelligence. +bubble Dark_King!

bailoutbenny5587d ago

Sony does not "own" the key. This is the standard understanding in the entire security industry. Why? Because a key is just a number, and no single person can "own" a number. The only thing one can hope for is that your key is extremely difficult to figure out so that by the time it happens, and it will happen eventually, it is irrelevant to know the key anymore.

Sony cannot legally brick a console because the consumer has every right to expect that their property will maintain functionality after their purchase. By destroying the functionality of the consumer's property, Sony would be exceeding their authority and willfully damaging property they do not own. The only thing Sony can legally do is drop the customer from any services Sony provides, aka warranty and online.

40cal5587d ago

Read the terms and conditions people.

CrIpPeN5587d ago

Sony probably made a firewire that made the fan work harder on 60 GB models and break them.

and you notice before when it was wrong with the date that you couldn't excess playing online games or something. I can't remember.

But it made a lot of mess just for that.

ChronoJoe5587d ago

If you have EVER signed the PSN tos

You know that if you are EVER signed into PSN, Sony have the authority to change or remove functionality from your console at will. (it's in the ToS)

Nothing says that couldn't be something such as the ability to play games, at all - on your system. Bottomline is if you're messing about with this stuff. DONT connect to PSN, else expect to lose:

PS3 functionality
PSN access
PSN accounts
PSN purchases

hakis865587d ago

I'm sorry, but is there any proof that this is true? Proof that Sony can (or will?) diable you PS3 online AND OFFLINE, and not just ban you?
It hasn't even started yet and people are talking like Sony is destroying their PS3.

I know many people don't like this, but if YOU made a console wouldn't YOU try to make it un-hackable?

Da One5587d ago

the LBP devs did an interview along time ago before LBP was released. They said they had the power to brick consoles remotely but didn't think they would ever use it.....

guess what it isn't new

farhad2k85587d ago

WOOOO! Finally some good news :D
Hope these fucking pirates die a long painful death :)
And I also hope they keep on hacking their PS3's so they lose out :D :D :D :D
My dick is large right now :D

Mahr5587d ago

Technically possible but entirely impractical. A PSN ban is difficult to circumvent through personal modification of the system and will almost certainly hold up in court.

On the other hand, bricking the system will accomplish little in deterring hackers -- I have every confidence that the Homebrew community is working on a Pandora/BootMii style program to back-up the boot software and functionally brick-proof the system.

As for the legality of attempting to take away potential features of hardware that a customer has bought and paid for, here is what happened when all Sony did was remove OtherOS functionality.

http://www.maxconsole.net/c...

I look forward to the absolute *nightmare* it will be for Sony's legal vultures (and their PR staff) if they have to justify getting rid of the system's operational functions at the ground level.

"read the TOS"

Saying that you can completely break a legally-purchased piece of property without a legitimate cause is, by the standards of essentially all reasonable people, an excessively unfair term.

Ta-dah! Unconscionability.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

blahblah5587d ago

TOS only applies to PSN. and i don't have one single thing to say against it, PSN is free and they have the right to control it.

EULA on the other hand...

Vherostar5587d ago

Its in your terms no doubt buried they can basically do this..

blahblah5587d ago

do you really care? i don't, i'll buy games while using ps3. but, i would really like decent multimedia player (especially audio) for ps3. homebrew player or linux is one thing i'd use for multimedia. but, like it seems hell will froze before ps3 gains one single thing i'd like.

i bought ps1-3, but my 4 will be kept safe at sony. if they want it so badly, they can keep it. i'm only buying what is mine.

gypsygib5587d ago

I think Sony and MS intentionally break consoles or are willfully ignorant to the possibility of certain models breaking every time they release a firmware update.

I swear the minute after I downloaded that update that allowed 360s to save to a USB stick my 360 RROD'd.

+ Show (15) more repliesLast reply 5586d ago
trounbyfire5587d ago

if you break TOS sony can brick your console read the TOS

Klipz-Wish5587d ago

Im pretty sure that would be going to far. I also think they would be in alot of legal trouble if they tried something like that.

RememberThe3575587d ago

How can you be sure of that? Have you read up on the laws on this subject. I'm pretty sure most of us have no idea what we're talking about when it come to laws.

Acquiescence5587d ago

if the terms and conditions are stated from the outset. And they are. So everybody knows and risk and no one has an excuse.

visualb5587d ago

@remember

exactly

the fact is...its there

unfair? probably

but is it real? yes.

is it bad? probably

can it happen? yes.

Klipz-Wish5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

@RememberThe357
A company can't destroy something they sold you purposely once they sold it to you. Where not talking kicking you off PSN where talking rendering the product they sold you in the first place useless and keeping your money. Also the TOS(Terms of Service) relates to a "service" which PSN is and PS3 is not.

trounbyfire5587d ago

did you read the TOS...

besides Microsoft has done millions of bans and no legal trouble so yeah...Sony can and will probably if it get out of hand.

you do know that microsoft can send a update to blow a fuse in modded 360s right and look at all that legal trouble they are in....OH WAIT they are not in trouble because you agree to there terms when you buy their product.

if people want to hack or mod a ps3 then erase everything sony of the ps3 and then they can have at it otherwise they are asking for trouble

bananlol5587d ago

@trounbyfire
All 360s blow a fuse when you update them, its a eFUSE though. Thats the reason the 360 gets updated so seldom, it has a finite number of future updates.

Pillage055586d ago (Edited 5586d ago )

TBH if they bricked your console completely cause you were pirating games...it really wouldn't matter if it was legal for them to do so. Are you really going to take them to court over a 300 dollar piece of hardware admitting you were pirating games which would carry a much stiffer penalty than $300. think about it.

I mean as long as they had full proof of you pirating games, I guess I don't see what anybody could do about it.

hazelamy5586d ago

and you think if they did this they'd never make a mistake and brick the wrong console?

it's inevitable.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 5586d ago
BYE5587d ago

Sony is not the law. Them breaking your console for breaking their TOS would be illegal in many countries.

5587d ago
BYE5587d ago (Edited 5587d ago )

If you're intellectually able to specify why you find this comment stupid, you might do so now.

Otherwise your statement applies to yourself.

blahblah5587d ago

@Cassarrath

he is not wrong. TOS is terms of service with PSN. if someone invalidated TOS, they could ban him legally at best

PSN is not your whole console.

and judging him he is 5 years old, i'd say... you are 3?

hazelamy5586d ago

ceekay's right, the TOS doesn't give sony the right to break the law, and in many countries deliberately sabotaging your customers purchases would be illegal.

even if the TOS does say they can break your machine they can't do it if it's illegal.

the TOS does not override the law, the law always takes precedent of any license agreement.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5586d ago
toaster5587d ago

Not surprising, PS3 is a closed platform after all. The Man can have his way with you.

ChristianGamer5587d ago

If sony lose the lawsuit, then by law it would be ILLEGAL for them to disable your ps3. The furthest they can go is disable PSN capabilities. In fact, as it stands, it is illegal for sony or microsoft to brick consoles because of modding

RememberThe3575587d ago

How is that? Sony disabling consoles is not apart of this case so there wouldn't be a ruling on that subject. Now, if they brick a hackers console and the hacker sues and wins then your probably right. But as of this Geohot and fail0verflow case, I think not.

I'd like to see the actual law that prohibits them from bricking a console that has violated the TOS or and laws. If you have violated their software that is protected then I don't see why they wouldn't be able to stop you from using it. You could probably still run the hardware in some way, but not form their code? I would actually really like to see that law. This Geohot drama has got me all interested in previously boring legal crap.

bananlol5587d ago

Well i believe that it would be higly illegal to brick ps3s in most countries. But sony could easily lay "traps" in the next fw that fools the hackers into bricking the system.

jerethdagryphon5587d ago

they cant destroy a system out right what they can do it make it unusable and if i was gonna do it i know where and how id strike

the eprom that hold the initial start up codes and bios is the ideal place to go make most major games have a update that checks against a list via server for pkg files that dont belong if it finds any it install a hidden firmware update that locks the eprom into being a rom and fills it with dead coade so the system freezes at boot and wont work

irepbtown5587d ago

If (In the Terms&Conditions) it states that they can brick your consoles, or anything close to that, they have every right.
Why?
Because YOU'VE agreed to it.

Titanz5587d ago

I guess Sony doesn't sell their PS3's, they lease them.

The Meerkat5587d ago

I only does everything, except belong to you.

blahblah5587d ago

LOOOOOL, best... comment... evah...

Nitrowolf25587d ago

The hardware belongs to us, the software belongs to Sony even though the software is what makes the PS3 operate.

trounbyfire5587d ago

Really like this is new. every console you brought that had a TOS pretty much states that you don't really own the console or software.

PS3 PS3 360 xbox wi gamecube and so on.

so you are right its basically on lease and Sony and microsoft can brick your system. microsoft has already bricked console and people just buy new ones

jmare5587d ago

You are incorrect.

You own the hardware. However, because consoles are closed systems, the software used to operate the console belongs to the console manufacturer. It would be perfectly legal to take a PS3 or 360 and strip it down and get it to run code of your own creation, assuming you kept that information to yourself. The reason hackers get in trouble is because they want to run their own code plus retain the original functionality which is operated by code owned by someone else which means you must alter that code which is protected by copyright laws.

5587d ago
Show all comments (242)
80°

(For Southeast Asia) New Price Changes for PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal remote player

For Southeast Asia, new price changes.

Prices effective starting May 1st, 2026.

Read Full Story >>
blog.playstation.com
3d ago Replies(1)
BeHunted3d ago

Looks like PlayStation took a hit with Marathon and is now quietly adjusting prices worldwide to recover the losses

andy852d ago

Lets be honest raising prices doesn't do that when no one's buying it. I imagine the profit it greater selling 10 times more at a lower price

Pergele2d ago

Whatever you say buddy, let's all wear the tinfoil hats.

IceKoldKilla2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

LMFAO Your comment alone says a lot more about you than anything else. When has one game not selling 10 million copies made a company raise the prices of their console? Then Xbox would be costing $5000 by now lol. You remind of the crazy drug addicts on the street rambling on about conspiracies. xD You sure you don't need a hug, buddy?

ChunkyMonk2d ago

One game that Sony payed $200 million for. lol
Also, you sure were quick to get triggered. Maybe your the one who needs a hug?

Eonjay2d ago

If nothing else, we should be united against the real issue here. AI and unnecessary tariffs that are effecting all gamers.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2d ago
Athlon1013d ago (Edited 3d ago )

The price increases are due to the RAM demand associated with AI and the US-Iran war. You can look to any business news website and local news to see that. Heck, even the 2026 Asus Zenbook Duo I've been eyeing has faced delays and has had a price increase of $400; that laptop has two specs. Asus is doing a staggered release with per-orders for the lower spec now and shipping in May and pre-orders for the higher spec that I'm eyeing starting in June. Basically, all computer manufactures are affected. It'll most likely start affecting smart phones too if it hasn't already. I can't remember the last time any major console maker (Nintendo, Sony, Sega, etc) increased the price of their console mid cycle outside of Microsoft just to make more profit.

S2Killinit2d ago

Its not the war. Its the RAM issue.

jznrpg2d ago

War is causing gas prices to rise. Transport of everything requires gas so the prices of those items go up as well. So it does have an impact

Athlon1012d ago (Edited 2d ago )

The blockage of the Straight of Hormuz due to the US-Iran war has affected raw components used in semi-conductor manufacturing such as bromine, aluminum, and helium. Iran had attacked the liquified natural gas (LNG) plant in Qatar which is a large producer (1/3 globally) of helium which is used in semiconductor etching. So it's the both the war and the RAM crises.

badz1492d ago

Oh no...should I get the Pro now before the price increase?

80°

Former Xbox Exec Says Developers Didn't Want a Sony Monopoly

Former Xbox executive Ed Fries comments on the early days of Xbox, the opinion of Japanese game companies, and more.

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
16d ago Replies(2)
Reaper22_16d ago

I dont think that'll ever happen. But i must say back in the day, they were definitely trying because they were more cash rich than their competitors.

CosmicTurtle15d ago

I think MS were and still are the richer company. They tried to acquire Sega back in the day (and considered doing so again more recently), they obviously bought exclusivity to Halo which was originally shown as a Mac title. I don’t think as a company MS can claim the moral high ground here. It’s a wilful lack of self awareness.

Of course Sony would try exactly the same if they had the resources, but when the PS2 dominated the industry was in a much healthier place with an abundance of great third parties.

This has been a depressing generation as far as first party decisions are concerned. The fact we are debating business plans rather than which game is better is a sad reflection of the state of things.

Darkseeker16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

There was Nintendo as well, Sony wouldn't have had a monopoly. In fact, the world would be better today if Xbox never existed in the first place. They pretty much brought all bad practices we have today. We might have gotten all of it either way, but not this early. In term of franchises, I don't think there is anything Microsoft released that would actually be missed if it didn't exist. Even Halo the world wouldn't notice if Halo didn't exist.

S2Killinit15d ago

MS was definitely a bad influence on gaming.

raWfodog16d ago

I think almost everyone will agree that a monopoly is not good for the industry. But that being said, the competition needs to be smart and strategic with their business. Simply buying up publishers and traditional third-party studios just to keep them out of the other companies reach is not a sustainable practice. That goes for all parties so don't think I'm just referring to Xbox.

I'm no business guru by any stretch of the imagination but I firmly believe that the best way to drive consumers to your software and hardware is to invest smart in your first-party studios. Give them full support and guidance in making unique, fun games that are only available to play in your ecosystem and the gamers will come.

Reaper22_16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

But first party studios aren't enough. They only make up a small portion of the industry. Without 3rd party there would be no industry for Microsoft or sony.Developing games take time and money and sometimes you gotta make moves to stay competitive.

raWfodog15d ago

Nah, I never said first-party was enough. I said it’s the ‘best way’ to drive gamers to your platform. 3rd-party is a free-for-all and there’s no guarantee that gamers will use your hardware to play the game. If you want to push your own software and/or hardware you need first-party, or at least exclusive deals with third-party studios.

SimpleDad16d ago

They Shure did a great job... 25 years later Xbox is dead.

Reaper22_16d ago

Then why be so emotional and continue to talk about it. Xbox will never die be ause it stays in so many people's head.

lodossrage16d ago

How can you even see him being "emotional" in that comment?

If anything, you're the emotional one, constantly trying to go at anyone that says anything against Microsoft. So when you call him emotional, it comes off as deflection

Elda15d ago

I own an XBSX & I can say it's becoming irrelevant out of the 3 current consoles.

15d ago Replies(2)
Show all comments (34)
40°

Sony Shows Off 20 Minutes of Crimson Desert on a Base PS5

Sony uploaded gameplay footage of Crimson Desert on a base PS5 running in what appears to be Quality Mode at a stable 30fps at 4K.

Read Full Story >>
powerupgaming.co.uk
BlazedKong41d ago

looks god awful on the base systems