If one console has really stood the test of time, it’s the PS3.
Although it launched 20 years ago and has long since been succeeded by the PS4 and PS5, I’d argue it’s still going strong in 2026. Of course, the graphics aren’t up to par with newer consoles, but there’s no denying that the PS3’s game catalog and its Blu-ray player still make it an extremely fun console to play in 2026.
I recently booted up my PS3 to play some of my favorite games again, like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and GTA IV, and it was amazing to revisit what was arguably one of gaming’s best eras and use its Blu-ray player to watch a few old movies. But one thing in particular shocked me when I first booted up my PS3 again: it had a pending update.
That’s right, 20 years later, Sony is still updating the PS3. So even though the PS3 may have reached its “expiration date” for new games a decade ago, Sony is still releasing system updates. However, while Sony has kept up this practice for a while, it unfortunately won’t last forever, and some big changes are in store for the PS3 soon.
Sony’s support for the PS3 is slowly coming to an end
The PS3’s Blu-ray player lives on, but its PlayStation Store doesn’t
One of the main reasons Sony has continued to update the PS3 over the years is to support the console’s Blu-ray player. The PS3 has what is known as a Blu-ray encryption key, which allows it to decrypt and play Blu-ray discs. However, this key needs to be renewed about every 12 to 18 months to keep playing Blu-rays, so every year, around March, Sony releases a PS3 update to do exactly that.
The last update Sony released for the PS3 was in March 2026, titled software update 4.93. In its release notes, Sony said the update “improves system performance” and updated the PS3’s Blu-ray encryption key, with the company putting out the following message for PS3 owners:
“Please note, to play Blu-ray discs, your PS3 system needs a renewed Blu-ray player encryption key. Please update your PS3 system software to the latest version to renew the Blu-ray player encryption key.”
However, while it’s great to see Sony still supporting the PS3’s Blu-ray player, unfortunately, the news isn’t all good when it comes to the console’s longevity.
Back in July, when Sony controversially announced it would stop producing physical discs for the PS5 starting in 2028, the company also announced it would begin gradually shutting down the PS3’s PlayStation Store, meaning you’ll no longer be able to buy digital games or DLC for your PS3.
The PlayStation Store on PS3 already shut down in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua in August, and Sony says it will shut down in more Latin American and Middle Eastern countries in late 2026.
Then, in all other countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU, the PlayStation Store on PS3 will shut down in July 2027.
Sony originally tried to shut down the PS3’s PlayStation Store in 2021 but reversed its decision due to user backlash. That isn’t happening this time, though, and after 20 years, the PlayStation Store on PS3 will sadly come to an end.
The only silver lining is that Sony says you’ll still be able to download any games you bought on the PlayStation Store on PS3 “for the foreseeable future” after it shuts down, so you’ll still be able to access anything you’ve bought, at least.
QuizGame consoles through the ages
Trivia challenge
From Atari to PlayStation 5 — put your gaming knowledge to the ultimate test.
HardwareHistoryNintendoFirstsGenerations
Which company released the first commercially successful home video game console?
Correct! The Magnavox Odyssey, released in 1972, was the first commercially sold home video game console. It predated Atari’s famous Pong arcade machine and ran entirely without a microprocessor, using simple analogue circuitry.
Not quite. It was actually Magnavox with the Odyssey in 1972. While Atari is often mistakenly credited as the pioneer, Magnavox beat them to market by several years with this remarkably primitive but groundbreaking device.
What was the original name of the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan?
Correct! The NES was launched in Japan in 1983 under the name Famicom, short for Family Computer. It became a massive cultural phenomenon in Japan before Nintendo adapted and rebranded it for Western markets in 1985.
Not quite. The correct answer is Family Computer, known more commonly as the Famicom. Nintendo launched it in Japan in 1983 and it dominated the Japanese market before being reworked and renamed the NES for its Western release.
Which console was the first to include a built-in hard drive as a standard feature?
Correct! Microsoft’s original Xbox, released in 2001, was the first console to ship with a built-in hard drive as a standard component. The 8GB HDD allowed game saves, downloadable content, and even music ripping, setting a precedent for all future consoles.
Not quite. The answer is the original Xbox from Microsoft, released in 2001. While the PlayStation 2 had an optional hard drive add-on, Xbox was the first console to include one as a standard built-in feature right out of the box.
The Sega Saturn and the original PlayStation were both released in 1994. Which region got them first?
Correct! Both the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation launched in Japan in 1994 before reaching Western markets. Japan has historically been the first region to receive major console launches, given that both Sony and Sega are Japanese companies.
Not quite. Japan was the first region to receive both consoles in 1994. North America and Europe had to wait until 1995 for both systems. Japan’s early access reflected the home-country advantage both Sony and Sega naturally prioritised.
Which console introduced the first official motion-sensing controller in a mainstream home gaming system?
Correct! The Nintendo Wii, launched in 2006, revolutionised gaming with its Wiimote controller that used accelerometers and infrared sensing to detect motion. It brought gaming to entirely new audiences, including families and older players who had never picked up a controller before.
Not quite. The Nintendo Wii was the correct answer. Launched in 2006, its iconic Wiimote changed how people interacted with games entirely. Sony did follow with the PlayStation Move, but the Wii was the mainstream motion-gaming pioneer that inspired the entire industry.
How many units did the PlayStation 2 sell worldwide, making it the best-selling console of all time?
Correct! The PlayStation 2 sold over 155 million units worldwide during its lifespan, cementing its place as the best-selling home console ever made. Its success was partly driven by its built-in DVD player, which made it an attractive multimedia device as well as a gaming machine.
Not quite. The PlayStation 2 sold over 155 million units, making it the best-selling console in history. A big part of its appeal beyond gaming was its built-in DVD player, which was a genuinely affordable way to watch DVDs at the time of its launch in 2000.
Which Nintendo handheld console was the first to feature a clamshell folding design?
Correct! The Game Boy Advance SP, released in 2003, introduced Nintendo’s first clamshell flip design for a handheld console. It also added a front-lit screen and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, fixing two of the biggest complaints fans had about the original Game Boy Advance.
Not quite. It was the Game Boy Advance SP in 2003 that first used Nintendo’s clamshell design. While the Nintendo DS also used a clam shell form factor, the SP came first. The SP also added a rechargeable battery and a built-in screen light, which were long overdue improvements.
What was the name of Sega’s last home console before the company exited the hardware market?
Correct! The Sega Dreamcast, discontinued in 2001, was Sega’s final home console. Despite being innovative — it was the first console with a built-in modem for online play — it could not recover from the Saturn’s poor reputation and the looming launch of the PlayStation 2.
Not quite. The Sega Dreamcast was Sega’s last console before it exited the hardware business in 2001. It was actually ahead of its time, featuring online gaming via a built-in modem, but fierce competition from Sony and poor public perception ultimately ended Sega’s run as a console manufacturer.
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Now’s the best time to dust off your PS3
It still has time left
While the PS3 may have reached its expiration date long ago with the launch of the PS4, and later the PS5, the PlayStation Store and its Blu-ray player have helped keep it alive, in a sense. However, with the store now shutting down, it’s hard not to feel like the PS3’s time is finally coming to an end. Plus, app support is also dwindling, as Netflix pulled the plug on its PS3 app earlier this year after 18 years.
…if you have an old PS3 lying around, I’d say now is as good a time as any to dust it off and give it another try.
Really, the only thing that’s still unclear about the PS3’s future is how much longer Sony will continue releasing software updates to renew its Blu-ray encryption key. Hopefully, the company will keep renewing it for the foreseeable future, but with Sony announcing the end of physical disc production for the PS5 and seemingly moving away from physical media as a whole, I’m not too optimistic that it will continue updating the PS3 for much longer. But I hope I’m wrong.
All in all, if you have an old PS3 lying around, I’d say now is as good a time as any to dust it off and give it another try. The PlayStation Store on the PS3 still works in most countries, so you can browse it to see if there’s anything you’d like to pick up before it shuts down. And if you have a collection of Blu-ray movies, they still look great on the PS3, even after all these years.
