Sony Interactive Entertainment has released firmware update 4.91 for the PS3, addressing minor stability and performance issues.
Despite the console’s being two generations old, Sony continues to offer support, evident in this recent firmware update. The specifics of the system software update, including any potential security fixes, have not been disclosed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The official changelog for the PS3 firmware update 4.91 mentions that it improves the system’s performance. However, this is usually not the case.
PS3 Firmware Update 4.91 Patch Notes
- This system software update improves system performance.
The changelog for firmware update 4.91 does not highlight any major changes. It’s possible that undisclosed exploits prompted Sony to issue the update preemptively. Usually, the console maker offers bug bounty hunts for this purpose, where a hacker can share any exploit that they might find in the system software and get rewarded for it. Users may not notice significant changes after installing the update, which is small in size, weighing in at less than 1 GB.
The PS3’s security had been compromised long ago, however, allowing it to support homebrew and native emulation for PS1, PS2, and PSP games. There are also other homebrew tools available to take advantage of the PS3, therefore those who still have one lying around can get more out of the console.
The PlayStation 3 was released on November 11, 2006, in Japan, November 17, 2006, in North America, and March 23, 2007, in Europe and Australia, succeeding the PlayStation 2. It competed primarily against Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii during the seventh generation of game consoles. It was the first console to use Blu-ray Disc technology as its primary storage medium. It also introduced social gaming services through the PlayStation Network and was controllable remotely from handheld consoles like the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita.
In September 2009, Sony released the Slim model of the PlayStation 3, which was lighter and thinner than the original version. However, it lacked the hardware capability to run PS2 games. A further refinement came in late 2012 with the release of the Super Slim variation, featuring additional redesigns and refinements.
