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Sony Pulls Latest PS3 Firmware Update

Reports of bricked consoles prompt the company to pull back.

No Caption Provided

Did you install the latest PlayStation 3 firmware? I hope not.

Sony’s pulled firmware 4.45, based on reports from users finding themselves with a bricked console after patching.

“Hi guys, we're aware of reports that the recent PS3 update (4.45) has caused,” reads a tweet from PlayStation Europe. “We have temporarily taken 4.45 offline and are investigating.”

There has been no active communication from the North American arm of PlayStation just yet.

Sony has not issued recommendations to users with firmware 4.45 already installed, and what might be done to remedy the situation.

Patrick Klepek on Google+

92 Comments

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PHARAOH

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Well my 600 dollar ps3 got bricked after a bad update after a year and the warranty was up. At first sony told me i had to pay them like 180 dollars to fix it. I went into a mad insane rage on the customer service rep because it was their (()&()&* stupid )&_&_)*&_) update that bricked my console. They finally agreed to fix it for free. Which it was stupid they should fix their screw ups with their backwards update system. It was almost the ps2 all over again charging me for all those crappy consoles that broke all the time.

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PHARAOH

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Edited By PHARAOH

Well my 600 dollar ps3 got bricked after a bad update after a year and the warranty was up. At first sony told me i had to pay them like 180 dollars to fix it. I went into a mad insane rage on the customer service rep because it was their (()&()&* stupid )&_&_)*&_) update that bricked my console. They finally agreed to fix it for free. Which it was stupid they should fix their screw ups with their backwards update system. It was almost the ps2 all over again charging me for all those crappy consoles that broke all the time.

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jasondesante

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didnt have my ps3 on for a few days turned it on to see it needed an update, then it bricked the system went online to find out they pushed that update out like 20 minutes before I turned on my PS3. What bad luck! Good job to Sony for having a safe mode on the PS3 but someone or two needs to be fired over that 4.45 update.

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Crash_Happy

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@mooseymcman: Actually I think you're comment stands, since it seems likely that both ps4 and XBone will auto-install too. Ultimately the console makers need to do the right thing and replace units broken by duff updates.

It would also be nice if next time around they don't go crazy with multiple console variations.

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Bombzinski

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Next time maybe pause for a minute to test those things instead of issuing these updates what seems like every goddamn week?

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darukaru

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microshock

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@blastroid said:

Sony: Since we bricked your PS3 there is no reason not to pre-order a PS4.

And if you're console is bricked, there's a solutions for you, the PS4.

You're console. You're console? Really? You are console?

Why don't people know what 'you're' means? Isn't it embarrassing not to know basic grammar?

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Cold_Wolven

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Running on a PAL PS3 Slim and have had no issues, kind of scary that these things still happen and whether Sony rushed into releasing it or had no way of knowing regardless.

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slyspider

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Bad timing, but eh, seems to affect a relatively small amount of people. As long as they fix it SOON all will be fine

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bilbomarks

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Sony: Since we bricked your PS3 there is no reason not to pre-order a PS4.

And if you're console is bricked, there's a solutions for you, the PS4.

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sweetz

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I wonder what I should do since I installed this patch long before I saw these warnings. It didn't go brick, and I played a round of UNCHARTED 3 multiplayer. However, I haven't used my PS3 since I saw this warning yesterday.

The bug will either affect you immediately or not at all. It's not something that can occur randomly or after a period of time, so you're fine.

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grimmie92

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Scampbell

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The word "Bricked" to me refers to: unrecoverable, as useful as a brick device.

Though this **** still shouldn't happen, it might be solely caused by larger than 500 GB HDDs or maybe it is related to RPM (Revolutions Per Minute not DRM). In any case when so many people are dependent upon you, then you just have to test this stuff thoroughly.

I am curious though as to what they have changed in this firmware update to cause this problem.

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lowestformofwit

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and it's not like this kind of shit hasn't happend before...

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fastredponycar

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Ok so I haven't turned mine on to update yet and I have swapped out for a larger drive. Can I backup all my save game/hdd content to a usb thumb drive before attempting this update (should the worst case scenario happen)?

I know if it gets bricked, I can go grab the OS from Sony's website and re-install it manually like I did when I swapped the HDD out but I REALLY can't afford to lose all my save game data.

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Zevvion

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Edited By Zevvion

Microsoft: We have this vision. In order for it to work, we need to enforce these policies.
Peoples: Fuck all that!
Microsoft: Wait... really? Why? The future is in connected gaming and we introduce new features that will...
Peoples: Rabble rabble rabble rabble!
Microsoft: Okay! Okay! Fine! You're not ready for it. We get it. We drop that stuff, okay?
Peoples: ... now we don't trust you because you were thinking about doing it in the first place!

Sony: Damn, those green guys are getting eaten alive... Hey peoples! We have none of that shit!
Peoples: *remembering PSN being down for weeks* Yeah! We love you Sony! *console bricks due to update* Sony can absolutely be trusted!

Disclaimer: this was pure nonsense. I know it doesn't make sense on many levels, but it's kind off funny.

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DG991

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It sounds like it doesn't actually brick the system. You can still flash a new firmware to get it working again.

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BatmanBatman

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Edited By BatmanBatman

Still didn't had any trouble with mine, just finished the Last of us.. Not sure if I have it though, where can I check the Firmware version?

Just managed to check it, still on 4.41.. Thank god I'm a lazy Batman!

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Humanity

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@dixego said:

@commandergermanshepard said:

@falling_fast said:

@commandergermanshepard said:

All momentum gathered by E3 just thrown out the window. I knew you couldn't keep it up Sony, you never do...

heh. wait, are you serious

Yes I am, a system killing update is pretty serious.

@rautapalli said:

fyi It doesn't brick the PS3, you can still reach the safe mode to install a fixed firmware once it's released.

Hmmm I guess the term "bricked" has lost it's meaning then.

It turns your PS3 into a fancy paperweight until they release a fix. Unless they release it within a day then thats pretty shitty especially if you're in the middle of a really good game.

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Grillbar

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Edited By Grillbar

@jjor64 said:

Seems like Sony hasn't been very good with PS3 firmware updates over the PS3's life. Didn't something like this happen before?

it properly has but its kinda hard to remember since there have been people claiming every single time that the new update has broken there consoles on both consoles.

Does anyone know if it bricks your system immediately? Or could it strike at any time?

im not an expert but i think it should brick it immediately

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shishkebab09

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From what I've heard, this only affects people with larger, upgraded HDDs.

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moofey

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Nothing new here. Seems that every other PS3 firmware update bricks consoles.

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fabjan

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@patrickklepek said:

Sony has not issued recommendations to users with firmware 4.45 already installed, and what might be done to remedy the situation.

You could update the article to say that the "bricked" systems can still be booted in safe mode and updated to a working firmware visa USB, once one is availabl, even though Sony has not said anything other than "wait for another update". I have read no reports of safe mode booting not working after this "bricking".

Perhaps you don't want to write something as assertive as that without proper sources though, I'm no journalist.

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sircam73

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Edited By sircam73

I made the update, but my console is fine, hope nothing bad happens.

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Benmo316

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Edited By Benmo316

For once I'm lucky enough to not have my console affected. Yes, NA PlayStation is horrible about communicating anything, but since that came from EU I'm curious if those consoles are affected more?

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NMC2008

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I updated already and my PS3 is ok so far................ so far.

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CommanderGermanShepard

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@dixego said:

@commandergermanshepard said:

@falling_fast said:

@commandergermanshepard said:

All momentum gathered by E3 just thrown out the window. I knew you couldn't keep it up Sony, you never do...

heh. wait, are you serious

Yes I am, a system killing update is pretty serious.

@rautapalli said:

fyi It doesn't brick the PS3, you can still reach the safe mode to install a fixed firmware once it's released.

Hmmm I guess the term "bricked" has lost it's meaning then.

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Vrikk

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This isn't affecting all systems. I updated last night, played Ni No Kuni for 2 hours, never ran into a problem.

Granted, I've not turned it on since then...

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chilipeppersman

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Dixego

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@falling_fast said:

@commandergermanshepard said:

All momentum gathered by E3 just thrown out the window. I knew you couldn't keep it up Sony, you never do...

heh. wait, are you serious

Yes I am, a system killing update is pretty serious.

fyi It doesn't brick the PS3, you can still reach the safe mode to install a fixed firmware once it's released.

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ScreamingGhost

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This sucks for anyone who had their console brick, I had no idea about this problem until I had already installed it. Luckily I haven't been affected by it.

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SargeGulp

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Edited By SargeGulp

I knew I would someday be vindicated for buying a 40 gig ps3.

sigh.

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Mycroft_Ampersand

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Very glad I decided not to play anything last night as I would have just downloaded and installed this without thinking about it. Hopefully Sony comes out with something more than "looking into it" quickly.

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courage_wolf

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Goddamnit Sony.

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Subjugation

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Edited By Subjugation

Hahaha, ouch. That's a pretty big "oops" on Sony's part. A firmware update that can KILL your system? GG Sony.

Maybe this is their way of trying to prepare to people to move on to the next generation.

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fisk0

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Edited By fisk0  Moderator
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FoxxFireArt

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I wonder what I should do since I installed this patch long before I saw these warnings. It didn't go brick, and I played a round of UNCHARTED 3 multiplayer. However, I haven't used my PS3 since I saw this warning yesterday.

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fisk0

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fisk0  Moderator

So I auto-update. Now I'm scared to turn my PS3 on.

LAST OF US. WAIT FOR ME

Thankfully the PS+ auto-update feature will only download the update, not install it, as it requires you to agree to the terms of service every single time there is a system update, so as long as you don't press "I agree" you should be OK. I'm not entirely sure what'll happen once they push the new, working patch out though, if the PS3 will start with installing the update it's already downloaded before it starts looking for another one, or if it will start by checking if there's a more recent update before applying the auto-downloaded one (and whether the auto-update feature will replace one update that hasn't yet been installed with a more recent one)..

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goatsoap

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@mooseymcman: auto updates are not inherently bad, when they go through minimal testing and are sent out to a large user base, thats when shit can get bad

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darukaru

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If you got the XMB after installing it then you're probably all right. I don't think anyone has reported it suddenly crapping out after a successful install.

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Klaimore

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My PS3 works great so far.

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kai333135

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Edited By kai333135

Does anyone know if it bricks your system immediately? Or could it strike at any time?

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CommanderGermanShepard

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@commandergermanshepard said:

All momentum gathered by E3 just thrown out the window. I knew you couldn't keep it up Sony, you never do...

heh. wait, are you serious

Yes I am, a system killing update is pretty serious.

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darukaru

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Edited By darukaru

I got zapped by this. It's definitely not a "true" brick but it's super annoying.

There's actually two bugs crashing into one another here. First is the system software bug that's causing the XMB not to load, and then a second issue with large capacity drives that causes the filesystem repair tools to fail. So what do people do when the XMB loads? They boot to the recovery console and try to repair it, which triggers bug #2.

The PS3 really does not like large capacity hard drives--they'll work, but backups and restore operations get slower and slower the larger your drive is, and if you try to rebuild the filesystem on a hard drive above a certain size, it will always fail and prompt you to reformat. Even if you decline the reformat, your disk is still trashed. This has been the case for some time--I assume that the recovery tools can't be touched by system updates, otherwise they'd have fixed it by now.

Anyone who has a large capacity hard drive and didn't try to check and rebuild the filesystem probably stands a decent chance of recovering with a USB firmware flash. Anyone who did try to rebuild the filesystem on a big drive is probably screwed.

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lead_farmer

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So I auto-update. Now I'm scared to turn my PS3 on.

LAST OF US. WAIT FOR ME

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xxNBxx

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Edited By xxNBxx

Dear: Sony

Thanks.

Yours truly

Microsoft

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49th

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Fuck, I should probably go check my PS3.

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SomeJerk

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Edited By SomeJerk

@brackynews said:

@somejerk said:

Even YLOD isn't a bricked PS3, it can be resuscitated for hours to months, enough time to back everything up to a new machine.

I just wish a YLOD was my problem (from months and months ago).

It can do a fan test and boot into repair mode, that's about it. New HD no worky. Old (stock 120) HD no worky in other PS3. Trying one more hail mary attempt over the holiday weekend before I trash it and 3 years of save games. Lesson learned to always expect technology to break in new and amazing ways.

Sounds like a dead and defeated HD :(

You have my sympathies, no console HDs lost but important ones containing work from 1980s to early 2000s to a physical HD crash, and then 3com drivers bugged out hard and erased all quicklaunch bar-associated folders on my drive later in 2003..

1) With luck it's "just" that flimsy little logic board with connectors that's lost it on the drive, saved a few HDs that way for local clients (replacing it)

2) I'm going to tell people to cloud-save PS4/XB1 the moment they notice a weird hitch or the HD reports a bad bit