Three years after the release of the Playstation 3, a modder was looking for a way to hack the system. But when Sony decided to remove this very exploit, they felt for the first time what it meant to incur the wrath of competent hackers.
After Sony removed the ability to install Linux on the Playstation 3, it drew the wrath of modders. Up until this point, the console was considered the most secure to date.
But it was only after that that things really took off. In this article, you can find out how this event could also affect the Switch 2.
GTA In Real Life - For A PS3
The Playstation 3 went on sale in America on November 17th 2006, but for many it wasn't just a console: despite the high starting price of $599, it offered more than just a gaming experience: Blu-rays were the new way to watch movies at the highest quality and despite the high price, for many users it was cheaper to buy a Playstation 3 than any other console and Blu-ray player.
This caused a huge amount of hype: people all over the world went crazy for a copy, and scalping was felt on a large scale for the first time.
One prospective buyer was even shot for it (spoiler: he also sold his console for a higher price). And a feature that was a true revolution for programmers and game enthusiasts later made headlines once again: Linux compatibility under OtherOS.
Gamer + Linux = Love
In 2009, George Hotz, a well-known security researcher, published a blog post in which he announced his intention to hack the console. Users were skeptical at first, but he described exactly how he would go about this project: using OtherOS.
It is important to note that the Playstation had not been hacked till then and was considered the most secure console up to this point. The Xbox 360 had long since been broken using the drive, but why go to such lengths with the Playstation when you have Linux?
But Sony was afraid of Hotz and his exploit. So they announced that the update on April 1st, 2010 (no April Fool's joke) would remove OtherOS. And this was anything but well received by gamers.
So It Begins...
Linux users on the PS3 were furious. Because not everyone was using this exploit and even if they were, not everyone was using a modded console as a pirate ship.
And so the Linux and mod community joined forces to fight back against Sony. Because although there wasn't much interest in it before, they have now announced a war: The console is planned to be completely dismantled into its individual digital parts.
And so it came to pass: a device that looks inconspicuously like a normal USB stick claimed to penetrate the very depths of the Playstation 3. Other members of the community were incredulous, but the device really worked! PSJailbreak was born: for $120 you could do whatever you wanted with your console. How long did Linux fans and mod enthusiasts have to wait for this?
Only 4 months.
Nintendo - Your Turn
And just as the Playstation started with Nintendo, it could be that Nintendo has ignored an event like this. Because otherwise they would know what happens when you withhold features from angry gamers or even remove them.
With everything we know about the Switch 2 so far, Nintendo is proving that the company is no longer as consumer-friendly and family-oriented as we once expected from them. With every new announcement, you can only shake your head once more. But Nintendo's new clause in the EULA has now finally broken the camel's back (you can read the article here!).
For Hackers? Not A Problem
If our consoles are to be bricked after we have made modifications to them, there must be a way to restore the console. If not, it could have disastrous consequences. What if your console shuts down for whatever reason during an update? What about corrupted saves? What does Nintendo see as a modification?
And so there must be a restore function. This means that this obstacle will not be insurmountable for modders. I can well imagine that the motivation to jailbreak out of hatred for Nintendo will reach new heights. They are shooting themselves in the foot with their new practices and who knows? Maybe they'll learn something this time.
Have you already modified your consoles, installed custom firmware or hacked them in some other way?