Sony surprised users again because the legendary PlayStation 3 (PS3) received a new system update even 20 years after its launch.
It is version 4.93, which occupies about 200 MB and brings improvements in performance, security and system stability. While Sony didn’t detail all the details of the changes, one item in particular was highlighted: an update to Blu-ray encryption keys.
Blu-ray is the reason the PS3 lives on
The main reason the PS3 continues to receive updates is support for Blu-ray Disc playback.
Blu-ray uses AACS (Advanced Access Content System) protection, which means that the device must have the latest encryption keys in order to play newer discs. Without that update, the movies simply wouldn’t work.
Unlike the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, which automatically receive these keys through system updates, the PS3 requires a manual installation, which is why Sony still releases updates from time to time.
The PS3 was not only a game console but also one of the most popular Blu-ray players of its time, so a large number of users still use the device to play movies.
In other words, even though the hardware has long been outdated for modern gaming, its role in multimedia still keeps it alive thanks to one key detail: Blu-ray licensing and content protection.