The Looming Software Kill-Switch Lurking In Aging PlayStation Hardware (arstechnica.com) 97
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Unless something changes, an issue lurking in older PlayStations' internal timing systems threatens to eventually make every PS4 game and all downloaded PS3 games unplayable on current hardware. Right now, it's not a matter of if but when this problem will occur. [...] The root of the coming issue has to do with the CMOS battery inside every PS3 and PS4, which the systems use to keep track of the current time (even when they're unplugged). If that battery dies or is removed for any reason, it raises an internal flag in the system's firmware indicating the clock may be out of sync with reality. After that flag is raised, the system in question has to check in with PSN the next time it needs to confirm the correct time. On the PS3, this online check happens when you play a game downloaded from the PlayStation Store. On the PS4, this also happens when you try to play retail games installed from a disc. This check has to be performed at least once even if the CMOS battery is replaced with a fresh one so the system can reconfirm clock consistency.
Why does the PlayStation firmware care so much about having the correct time? On the PS3, the timer check is used to enforce any "time limits" that might have been placed on your digital purchase (as confirmed by the error message: "This content has a time limit. To perform this operation go to settings date and time settings set via internet"). That check seems to be required even for downloads that don't have any actual set expiration date, adding a de facto one-time online check-in requirement for systems after their internal batteries fail. On the PS4, though, the timing check is apparently intended to make sure PSN trophy data is registered accurately and to prevent players from pretending to get trophies earlier than they actually had. You'd think this check could be segregated from the ability to load the non-trophy portions of the game, but player testing has shown that this seems to be a requirement to get PS4 games to load at all. Last month, Sony shut down PlayStation Store access for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable. Sony will eventually shut off the PSN servers that power the timing check for hardware it no longer considers important. "After that, it's only a matter of time before failing CMOS batteries slowly reduce all PS3 and PS4 hardware to semi-functional curios," adds Ars.
Sony could release a firmware update that limits the system functions tied to this timing check, but Sony hasn't publicly indicated it has any such plans.
Why does the PlayStation firmware care so much about having the correct time? On the PS3, the timer check is used to enforce any "time limits" that might have been placed on your digital purchase (as confirmed by the error message: "This content has a time limit. To perform this operation go to settings date and time settings set via internet"). That check seems to be required even for downloads that don't have any actual set expiration date, adding a de facto one-time online check-in requirement for systems after their internal batteries fail. On the PS4, though, the timing check is apparently intended to make sure PSN trophy data is registered accurately and to prevent players from pretending to get trophies earlier than they actually had. You'd think this check could be segregated from the ability to load the non-trophy portions of the game, but player testing has shown that this seems to be a requirement to get PS4 games to load at all. Last month, Sony shut down PlayStation Store access for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable. Sony will eventually shut off the PSN servers that power the timing check for hardware it no longer considers important. "After that, it's only a matter of time before failing CMOS batteries slowly reduce all PS3 and PS4 hardware to semi-functional curios," adds Ars.
Sony could release a firmware update that limits the system functions tied to this timing check, but Sony hasn't publicly indicated it has any such plans.
3VDC right? (Score:2)
Re:3VDC right? (Score:5, Informative)
It's not as bad for PS3 hardware since it's still in the "mostly physical" console. The kill switch affects digital purchases, which aren't as many on the PS3. However, the bigger issue right now is games may not get updates. Even though PSN is still up, many PS3 games, physical and digital can't get required updates, so you can't play online or get bug fixes.
The big problem is PS4 - a dead battery and no PSN means the PS4 is a brick. A dead PS4 battery means the PS4 cannot play ANY games - either physical OR digital. It doesn't matter that the disc can go in, the PS4 will refuse to play it.
Re: 3VDC right? (Score:2)
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It's probably over an encrypted channel with cert pinning, otherwise what's to keep modders from going "Yes, I'm totally the new firmware update server"
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So when the certificate becomes outdated then those consoles are toast anyway.
What will come first - certificate kill or battery kill?
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Just two parallel secondary lithium cells that could be replaced independently would be sufficient, alkaline starts to leak after a few years.
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Except you'd really want to replace both batteries at basically the same time anyway - connecting non-rechargeable batteries with different charge levels is an excellent way to promote leaking.
Really, you only need the second battery (or perhaps a transformer?) while replacing the first, so while you could have two battery mounts just so you can insert the new battery before removing the old, all you really need is a temporary power source connected to a pair of jumpers while you change the battery.
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It will be interesting to see how long they keep PSN going for. In Japan traditionally consoles have been supported for a very, very long time. The Famicom (NES) was only discontinued in 2003 and you could still get them repaired until 2007, when Nintendo ran out of spare parts. Sony supported the original Playstation for a very long time too.
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This is all just another reason to stick with my Atari. (later called the Atari 2600).
Or, better yet, my Odyssey . . .
and if they DMCA an capcom suicide battery fix? (Score:2)
and if they DMCA an capcom suicide battery fix? then people need to push hard for REPAIR to be part of stuff that DMCA can not take down.
Re: 3VDC right? (Score:3)
The elaborate workarounds are only needed if/when Sony takes down the private time servers the units sync with.
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Yes, but if you wanted to mod your console in this manner, you might want to do it now when cutting the power to the clock doesn't instantly brick it.
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and Twin Galaxies can ban you for that if you post (Score:2)
and Twin Galaxies can ban you for that if you post an score on your battery modded play station.
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People will have to make a 2x(2xAA) adapter for it, and replace the batteries in staggered fashion.
Or swap the battery while it's powered on.
The problem is that most owners won't even be aware that there's a battery inside.
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Will the clock reset if you change the battery while the system is powered up?
I know with computer motherboards it is possible to change the CMOS battery while the board is powered up and not lose the UEFI/BIOS settings.
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A dual CR2032 adapter would take far less space and pigtailed CRs can be mounted anywhere there is room.
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Fitness for purpose, retroactively disabling your hardware by removing a deliberately engineered in "vitamin" your hardware needs
The manufacturers always totally disclaim Fitness for Purpose regarding their video Game software and put terms in the EULA effectively allowing them to discontinue the Online components later, so Nope, not unless there is a law that puts it in force beyond the End of the stated Limited warranty period for the game purchase and prevents Manufacturers + Retailers from disclaiming
maybe in the EU they can force an refund / repment (Score:2)
maybe in the EU they can force an refund / replacement. To bad in the usa that EULA took that away and your CC is to weak to help you.
Re: Lawsuits (Score:2)
This is an imagined or projected problem, it is only an issue if Sony takes down the private time server the units sync with after the battery is replaced.
As noted elsewhere, Sony does have the option of providing a software fix to change the server it sync's with, or simply disable the check.
Until that server is off line, there is no issue - it will likely stay on as long as the PlayStation 4 is a viable gaming platform.
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With more modern consoles you're basically buying some
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Really?
I still like playing my original NES, Atari 2600 and even old Fairchild units.
With care those old units still play and are fun....why shouldn't a modern one be expected to do the same?
While a lot of the old consoles can be emulated....is there one for Red Dead Redemption PS3 version?
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Re: Lawsuits (Score:1)
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Uh, you mean like anyone who enjoys playing the enormous back catalog of games?
The system wasn't advertised as having a time limit that caused it to self destruct after X years.
Sony, leading the way. (Score:1)
Defective By Design.
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> I can still use the CDs and DVDs I bought for Windows games, or run the installer that Steam provided.
For some reason you seem to assume that Steam will last forever.
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They have stated that even if Steam went away, they will make a way for your purchased games to function.
Steam won't just go away. It will be sold, and your Steam DRM removal patch will never happen.
I have Steam games, but I don't expect them to become non-Steam games, ever. I just don't spend anything on them I'm not willing to lose.
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Re: Nope, zero sympathy (Score:1)
Re: Nope, zero sympathy (Score:1)
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How did you come to the conclusion that showing up on a random forum and taking a steaming dump here would get you anything? It won't changing anything, it won't even get your sympathy.
That's a good point. From what I've seen, we all hate this guy. It's like the crazies on the corner with an "The end of the world is near! Repent!" sign.
Nobody is going to pay any attention to you, and if they do it's to ask you to "fuck off".
Headline almost gave me a heart attack (Score:4, Insightful)
I was worried my library of classic favorites for PSX and PS2 would cease working. Crisis averted!
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Interestingly this has been going on since before the PS1 era.
Many PCs from the early 90s and late 80s had battery backed RAM to store CMOS settings, and some wouldn't boot at all if it was dead. The battery was integrated into a Dallas real-time clock chip, so there was no way to replace it without desoldering the entire thing and putting a new one in. Fortunately brand new ones are available even today, or third party replacements with socketed batteries.
Some games consoles had them too. The Philips CD-I,
CAPCOM CPS-2 (Score:2)
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At least with those boards the encryption has been cracked so you can just install decrypted ROMs and remove the dead battery.
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This was many years ago but my 386SX-33 with C&T chipset and (I think) Award BIOS would start up with "CMOS checksum fail: press F1 to continue". Once I replaced it, it was fine. Which was good because I somehow ended up with 8 of these BabyAT boards from an auction and they all ended up with the same issue. I replaced a few with a 2xAA battery holder from RadioShack, cleaned up and sold the rest AS-IS.
Honestly I should have kept them, people pay bank for retro computers now. Back then everyone wanted t
Re: Headline almost gave me a heart attack (Score:1)
PS3 and Vita have been Jailbroken 8 ways (Score:2)
Moral of story... (Score:1)
What I learned here is, replace that battery on any PS3 unit you may have. Can probably wait for some time on the PS4 battery.
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I think that's probably true also, but probably a good idea to replace the battery after this long anyway. Then you won't have to wonder later in another ten years, why the PS3 you dug out suddenly is not working.
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Re:Moral of story... (Score:4, Insightful)
What I learned here is, replace that battery on any PS3 unit you may have. Can probably wait for some time on the PS4 battery.
What I learned here is that in ten years (or more) people will pull their old gaming system and stack of games out of a closet for a dose of nostalgia only to find that a bunch of shit doesn't work.
Planned obsolescence (Score:5, Funny)
Buy a PS5. Problem solved. At least until that CMOS battery runs out.
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Then you're an idiot. I'm going to wait for the PS6!
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What is a PS4, or Play Station?
Re: Planned obsolescence (Score:1)
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Buy a PS5. Problem solved. At least until that CMOS battery runs out.
Not a problem, when that happens you just buy a PS7.
NTP tho? (Score:2)
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I was going to say why you couldn’t just set a local server to whatever address it looks for but knowing Sony they probably used some proprietary protocol.
Re: NTP tho? (Score:2)
All the checking of purchases are done on the console, based on the internal clock, that is why it needs to have an accurate local clock.
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but at the very least let it do basic ntp just to get back after dead battery and then it can pull an full sync with demo auth.
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It is DRM to implement limited time trials on software and enforce timed rentals.
Phew! My PSX is safe (Score:1)
Gotta get back to my game of Final Fantasy 7 ...
Chip shortage (Score:2)
Re: Chip shortage (Score:2)
Apple may sue you for stealing their business model, LOL.
right to repair needs stop stuff like this! (Score:4, Interesting)
right to repair needs stop stuff like this! /year+ service plan for years 0.5-5 to work.
As well ban max time outs on hardware. Like after 3-5 years they can't say system will not work at all and you can't renew the $20-$60 year service / update / online plan no you need to buy an starting at $600+ new system. That will need an $20-$60
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Implementing a secure system clock is what lets them let you play potentially time-limited content offline. The alternative is to require an internet connection to a trusted server that authenticates software entitlements. Remember all the hot water MS got into over when they announced the Xbox One would be required to be online even to play single player games? This is the flip side of that.
They made a couple of dumb choices, like caring about the integrity of trophies and tying boot of non-time-limited
What does it look like? (Score:3)
What does this battery look like? A coin cell in a socket? Wires that plug in? Soldered in? Voltage?
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Google is your friend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
It's a CR2032 "coin" battery.
Re:What does it look like? (Score:4, Informative)
I tried to watch the video. 18 minutes+ The guy just rambles on and on. What could have been a 2 minute video, was, after 9 minutes had just got to taking the covers off - and he never explained how. Must be rocket science. After the 9 minutes my eyes glazed over. Stopped the video playback. Alas, many You Tube videos are like that.
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If it really is a CR2032, or anything vaguely similar, solder leads onto a replacement *now*, piggyback it into the circuit, and immediately take the original out of the circuit (before it gets warm bleeding the new one, and, well . . .).
Oh, and make sure you get a *real* brand of battery, and not something made in china (I have a tray of off-brand watch batteries where maybe one in 7 is usable for more than a few hours . . .)
Fool me once, shame on you... (Score:2)
Somehow I'm not surprised Sony failed to learn its lesson from the kicking they took for installing malware on users' equipment under the guise of DRM. It's almost like they want to be hated and reviled.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal [wikipedia.org]
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They don't care if they are hated. They only care if people purchase their stuff. And all evidence shows that the 2 things aren't related as people don't seem to have stopped buying Sony stuff.
Re: Fool me once, shame on you... (Score:1)
Not a problem... (Score:1)
FUD ...all without a time machine....
Only the store is closing.
You'll still be able to download previously purchased games, activate consoles...
and Yes even sync time.
I'm shocked, (Score:2)
, shocked, that Sony learned nothing from the rootkit scandal of 2005.
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People don't change, that's all. You take the comment too literally.
Sony giveth... Sony taketh away... (Score:2)
Remember the hoopla when Sony removed the Linux functionality they publicly advertised for the system? Yes, they were so paranoid about PS3 getting hacked, they removed a feature people paid for. (My earlier system for example had the Linux option).
What makes one think they will add a patch to essentially "open up" the system to not require future updates? I personally have zero faith in this happening, ever.
But I would be happy to be proven incorrect.
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Sonys internal culture will never allow this. A former PS team member posted an AMA on reddit about it.
Re: Sony giveth... Sony taketh away... (Score:1)
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Not suddenly, the PS2 had an official addon linux kit that you could buy, the PS3 included everything necessary as standard.
Re: Sony giveth... Sony taketh away... (Score:1)
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Not really, given that they provided official linux support for the ps2 via an optional kit, and official linux support for the ps3 at launch people had every reason to believe they would continue to do so, at least for users who had already bought devices advertised as supporting linux.
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They didn't just remove it from newer models, they basically blackmailed those who bought the earlier models - either lose your linux install, or lose the ability to play online or play any new games.
Luckily a third option opened up not long after, install a hacked firmware and retain the functionality you paid for.
Re: Sony giveth... Sony taketh away... (Score:1)
PlayStation Store access not shut down (Score:2)
They only announced PS3 won't be able to buy any new games or content from the PlayStation Store. They can still download their existing purchases and presumably do the time check for an indefinite period.
hmmm... (Score:2)
"the clock may be out of sync with reality" (Score:1)
Re: "the clock may be out of sync with reality" (Score:1)