Almost twenty years on, Sony continues to support the PlayStation 3 with a fresh system software update released today. But how helpful it is will vary depending on how the console is being used.
Sony has pushed out the PlayStation 3’s 4.93 firmware update, precisely one year after the 4.92 release. As highlighted by PlayStation Lifestyle, the accompanying notes remain unchanged, stating only that the update “improves system performance.”
The same wording appears on Sony’s support page for updates 4.89, 4.90, 4.91, 4.92, and now 4.93. This suggests the update isn’t introducing anything new, but instead focuses on routine system adjustments.
Although ongoing support can seem generous, particularly when newer products are often abandoned. The update is probably intended to limit modding and jailbreaking, or at least make them more difficult.
These annual updates are generally associated with Blu-ray encryption keys. They help Sony manage the aging hardware while making things more difficult for modded systems and custom firmware, at least for a time.
Sony effectively confirms this on its official PS3 update page. The documentation notes that continued Blu-ray playback requires a refreshed encryption key, while earlier manuals specify that AACS keys expire every 12 to 18 months and must be renewed through firmware updates.
For users with an unmodified PS3 who still rely on it for Blu-ray playback, installing version 4.93 is advisable. Sony says the update requires at least 200MB of free space, and without these periodic renewals, older systems can eventually lose compatibility with newer discs. FlatpanelsHD noted the same issue last year with the 4.92 release, warning that Blu-ray playback could stop entirely without such updates.
In related news, the PlayStation 3 was back in the spotlight in February after Netflix announced it would discontinue app support on March 3. Netflix launched on the console in 2009, but due to an exclusivity deal with Microsoft, it was initially limited to the Xbox 360. PS3 users had to request a Blu-ray disc to access the service. The agreement ended in 2010, allowing a native app to be released, support that has now been discontinued.
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