[dman]

This was arstechnica's summary of the 'voluntariness' - """It's pointed out that this update is strictly voluntary, although if you don't download the new firmware you won't be able to connect to the PlayStation Network, play any games online, play any games or Blu-ray movies that "require" the new firmware, play any files kept on a media server, or download any future updates. To put it simply, if you don't grab the update, the system will become useless to you as a gaming or media machine."""

[chrischen]

Not useless, you can still play games on it and play blu-ray movies. I don't think there are many blu-ray movies that "require" new firmware. Playstation Network is a free bonus service which isn't necessarily unconditionally guaranteed to you based on the purchase price of a PS3.

> "To put it simply, if you don't grab the update, the system will become useless to you as a gaming or media machine."

Not true. I didn't update my PS3 for for over half a year and during that period i encountered no problems playing my existing games or new games, or any of my blu-ray discs.

Most PS3 users do not care about the OtherOS feature. I installed linux on my PS3 and frankly it was quite useless. I'm glad Sony did not keep diverting resources into maintaining that feature for a minority of people at possibly the expense of other features.

I don't understand why people expect Sony to keep supporting legacy features for a small minority of people who purchased one of the first models of the PS3? Updates as well as the PSN are NOT obligated by Sony after you purchase the PS3. Otherwise, 20 years from now, do we all have to right to complain to Sony that their system has stopped being updated? No. That would be absurd.

If you want their free software updates and free online features, then you would obviously have to accept the separate terms for those features. If not, your PS3 is still perfectly as functional as the day you bought it.