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OtherOS is a feature of early versions of Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation 3 video game console, allowing user installed software, such as Linux or FreeBSD. Software running in the OtherOS environment has access to 6 of the 7 Synergistic Processing Elements.[1] Sony implemented a hypervisor that restricts access to the RSX Reality Synthesizer graphics chip. IBM provided an introduction to programming parallel applications on the PlayStation 3.
The feature was controversially removed by Sony since system firmware update 3.21, released on April 1, 2010.[2] A class action lawsuit was filed against Sony on behalf of users, but was dismissed with prejudice in 2011 by a federal judge. The judge stated: "As a legal matter, ... plaintiffs have failed to allege facts or articulate a theory on which Sony may be held liable."[3] However, this decision was overturned in a 2014 appellate court decision[4] finding that plaintiffs had indeed made clear and sufficiently substantial claims. Ultimately, in 2016, Sony settled with users who had installed Linux or had purchased a PlayStation 3 based upon the availability of OtherOS.[5]
The settlement was then rejected in February 2017 by judge Yvonne Gonzalez, citing two problems: the lawyers' high fee percentage, and the users' difficulty in collecting.[6][7][8] Sony responded in September 2017, offering each member of a single proposed class up to $65. This is a change from $55 and $9 payouts for members of two separate classes in the prior proposal.[9]
- ^ SPE Access Archived October 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "PS3 Firmware (v3.21) Update". PlayStation.Blog. March 28, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- ^ "Sony Tosses PlayStation 3 Upgrade Claims Aside". Courthouse News Service. December 9, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
- ^ "Appellate Court Puts PS3 Class Action Lawsuit Back in the Game". topclassactions.com. January 8, 2014. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ^ Kravets, David (June 21, 2016). "Sony agrees to pay millions to gamers to settle PS3 Linux debacle". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ^ "Game over for PS3 Linux settlement". ArsTechnica. February 2, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Judge Rejects Settlement In PlayStation 3 "Other OS" Lawsuit". Consumerist. February 13, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Judge Nixes PS3 Linux Class Action Settlement". Consumerist. February 10, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
- ^ "Sony Asks For Approval Of Revised $3.75M PS3 Settlement". Law360. September 5, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2017.