There are plenty of ways to watch Netflix, whether it’s on your phone, laptop, tablet, or smart TV, but one of the oddly charming ways I’ve enjoyed watching it recently is on my PlayStation 3 (PS3).
However, sadly, after more than 16 years of service, Netflix ended support for its PS3 app on March 2, 2026, and the streaming service no longer works on the console.
Netflix was one of the first streaming apps to launch on the PS3. When it first arrived in 2009, the only way to watch it was with one of Netflix’s Instant Streaming discs. It wasn’t until 2010 that Netflix released a standalone app you could download and use without a disc. And despite the PS3’s aging hardware, it kept working all this time — until now.
With Netflix now gone on the PS3, the streaming giant has officially stopped supporting all the consoles it originally launched on, including the Xbox 360, Wii, and Wii U.
But if you still have and use a PS3 in 2026, as I do, don’t worry — Netflix might be gone, but there are still other streaming options available. In fact, two of the biggest streaming platforms on the planet continue to work on the nearly 20-year-old console.
Google and Amazon still support the PS3
The PS3 may not be as fast as the PS4 or PS5, but it can still stream just fine
While Netflix has given up on the PS3, Google and Amazon seemingly haven’t.
Fortunately, both YouTube and Prime Video still work on the PS3, and having tested them recently, I was surprised at just how well they work.
That said, the PS3’s hardware has its limits. These apps aren’t nearly as fast as they are on a PS4 or PS5, but with a little patience, they load content and videos just fine. I had no issues streaming a few hours of YouTube videos and watching a couple of shows and movies on Prime Video on my PS3.
In my view, the biggest limitation isn’t speed — it’s resolution. The PS3 is capped at 1080p for streaming, so if you’re used to watching on a phone, PC, or a newer console, the lower resolution might stand out. But if you’re using your PS3 on an older TV rather than a 4K screen, it’s not as noticeable.
So while it sucks that Netflix has pulled the plug on its PS3 app, YouTube and Prime Video are still viable alternatives. Yes, the experience isn’t on par with a PS4 or PS5, but if you still enjoy using your PS3 and want to take a break from gaming to stream, YouTube and Prime Video work well.
Both Prime Video and YouTube are available to download from the PlayStation Store on the PS3. And speaking of the PlayStation Store, yes, it’s still operational on the PS3, so if you want to buy and download PS3 games digitally, that’s still possible all these years later. My primary hope now is that the PlayStation Store, Prime Video, and YouTube continue to work on the PS3 for the foreseeable future.
