PlayStation 3 System Update Kills Off Key Features

Sony Interactive Entertainment has released new updates for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, but don't get too excited.

Where system updates traditionally add exciting new features and fixes, the PS3 and Vita are actually losing some things. It makes sense, given that Sony has long since moved on from both consoles... but it still stings a little.

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As spotted by starwolf326 on Twitter, updates 3.74 (Vita) and 4.89 (PS3) were just released. While the systems' websites have yet to be updated to detail the latest information, it looks as if both updates are primarily concerned with the removal of account creation and certain account management settings.

A new system software update for #PSVita (now 3.74) and #PS3 (now 4.89) was just released. Changes for both systems:
- Removed account creation from the PS3/Vita
- Removed some account management settings
- Device password required for sign-on

— StarWolf3000 (@starwolf326) May 10, 2022

There's some concern that this update is in aid of making the PlayStation Store more difficult to access on the older systems, with a view to ending it altogether.

Last year Sony announced that it would be shutting down the the PS3 and Vita stores, before fan feedback led to the company almost immediately changing its stance.

"When we initially came to the decision to end purchasing support for PS3 and PS Vita, it was born out of a number of factors, including commerce support challenges for older devices and the ability for us to focus more of our resources on newer devices where a majority of our gamers are playing on," PlayStation boss Jim Ryan said at the time.

"We see now that many of you are incredibly passionate about being able to continue purchasing classic games on PS3 and PS Vita for the foreseeable future, so I’m glad we were able to find a solution to continue operations."

While the PS3 and Vita stores do remain open, it's clear that Sony would rather they be closed. And there's an awful lot of wiggle room in the term "foreseeable future".