14 DAY TRIAL // Hardware manufacturer and publisher Sony has announced the launch of the 3.42 firmware update for the PlayStation 3 home gaming console, which is reported to be designed to eliminate any possibility of using the recently released mod chip for the platform.
John Koller, who is the director of hardware marketing at Sony, posted this update on the official PlayStation blog: “Hi everyone! A minor update to your PS3 system is now available via system software update v3.42 that includes additional security features. For more details and instructions on how to update the system software for the PS3 system, please visit the PS3 System Updates page.”
The firmware update is compulsory for all those who want to have access to the most recent video games and other content from Sony.
The download is also available from Softpedia.
The company is not directly talking about the new features that are added through the firmware but everyone is pretty sure that Sony is putting it out in order to eliminate any possibility of the new mod chip for the PlayStation 3 working.
The mod chip was apparently created in China or in Taiwan, presumably using tools that Sony itself is using to access PlayStation 3 consoles that have been sent in for repair.
Near the end of August, Sony launched its first attempt to limit sales of the mod chip in Australia, getting a decision from a law court that a stops a retailer from moving them to customers.
Ever since of the existence of the mod chip appeared observers of the video game industry have speculated that Sony would simply launch firmware updates designed to close down the access points of the jailbreak system.
The mod chip makers might work on breaking the new firmware and will probably put out a new dongle and software combo that will allow for the PlayStation 3 to be hacked but Sony can then keep launching more firmware updates to stop intrusions.