Almost exactly a year after its last update, PlayStation has just released another patch for the PS3. No, that's not a typo. Even though the PS3 is approaching its 20th anniversary, PlayStation updates the console with surprising regularity. The thing is, it never goes into detail about what exactly was updated.
The patch notes for PS3 update 4.93 are now live and are, unsurprisingly, quite brief. All PlayStation is willing to say is that the patch “improves system performance.” How exactly the update handles this is a mystery to all but the good folks at PlayStation. What's more, it's the same one-sentence patch that was used to describe the PS3 patch before this and the one before that.
We've heard this before
In fact, this is the fourth PS3 patch in a row where the notes have contained nothing but the same single sentence. Released at a rate of one update per year, you have to go back to PS3 patch 4.89, which was applied during the summer of 2022, to find notes that were more detailed.
Even then, it was only because PlayStation implemented passwords for all its active devices for advanced protection. The update before that had the same, cryptic one-sentence handle.
Whenever these annual PS3 updates are released, there's the usual mix of jokes and appreciation. The first as people commenting on an almost 20 year old console that still gets updates and the second from the few people who still use their PS3 and appreciate that PlayStation is still thinking of them.
What do these annual PS3 updates really do?
Without explaining exactly what the updates are supposed to improve, however, with each patch, more people want to know if they actually do anything at all. You have to imagine that the updates do something, otherwise what would be the point of applying them and announcing their arrival? But some PS3 owners are increasingly skeptical of updates year after year.
Of course, there are updates for a reason, and it's likely that PlayStation doesn't want us to know about it. Precautions to prevent people from running off on their PS3 and using the console for things that PlayStation never intended it to do. If that's what these updates are for, you have to wonder why PlayStation cares at this point.
The PS3 will be 20 years old this November and it will be interesting to see if PlayStation has anything planned for the occasion. Despite having sold nearly 88 million units, it is the best-selling home console that PlayStation has ever released. Even PS5 sales have already surpassed it.
The PS3 is also notorious for holding its games captive. The complex nature of the console's inner workings means that getting games that were exclusive to the PS3 off the platform and onto a modern console is incredibly difficult. Only now, 18 years after its exclusive release on PS3, are we getting Metal Gear Solid 4 on other platforms for the first time.
- Mark
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Sony
- Original release date
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November 11, 2006
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$499, ¥49,980 (20GB model) / $599.99, ¥60,000, £425, €599 (60GB model)
- Operating system
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CellOS
- Processor
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Cell
- Resolution
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480i – 1080p
