Published Mar 19, 2026, 10:39 AM EDT
Chris is a Gaming Editor at ScreenRant. He has been a professional writer since 2009, and has written for top TV, comics, movie, and video game outlets like Engadget, Polygon, Destructoid, and more. He brings with him an expertise in every game genre, no matter how niche or mainstream.
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This year, the PlayStation 3 turns 20 in November. It's hard to believe, but Sony has been a powerhouse publisher for decades, and the PS3 was essentially the midpoint of its journey through the industry.
That's why, in 2026, it's wild to see a PlayStation 3 update. According to Sony, a suite of PlayStation systems will receive updates this week.
A PlayStation 3 System Update In 2026?
Version 4.93
If you happen to boot up your PlayStation 3 this week, you'll be prompted to update to version 4.93. Although the only note is "this system software update improves system performance," it's something, and you should plan ahead if you're busting out your PS3 anytime soon. The update is estimated to be 200 MB in size, and, for reference, the last PS3 update was 4.92, arriving in March 2025.
To that end, Sony threw in this extra note if you're still using your PS3 as a Blu-ray player: "Please note, to play Blu-ray discs, your PS3 system needs a renewed Blu-ray player encryption key. Please update your PS3 system software to the latest version to renew the Blu-ray player encryption key."
Sony has been busy this week. The PlayStation Portal just got an update that adds a 1080p high-quality mode to the system, along with additional UX refinements. Cloud streaming has been updated to display game invites and trophy notifications with more detail. As a Portal user, it's a nice bonus.
A few games also got a performance boost on PlayStation 5, including Silent Hill f, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Control, Alan Wake 2, Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Nioh 3, Rise of the Ronin, Dragon's Dogma 2, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Resident Evil Requiem.
The PlayStation 3 Remains A Memorable Console
It Was An Interesting Era
The PS3 versus the Xbox 360 era was exciting. Microsoft really stepped up its game during that generation and coerced a ton of indie developers into putting games on the Xbox Live Arcade, creating a bitter rivalry with Sony that ended up producing a lot of great games.
It was also one of the first major online eras for Sony, following the less-widely adopted PS2 network adapter era. Amid the whirlwind of success that the Nintendo Wii was experiencing in 2006, the gaming industry was even busier. There were tons of unique experiences emerging in the wake of the Dreamcast's death, and the online console era was beginning in earnest.
With the PlayStation 3 in the rear-view mirror, it's tough to really define its legacy. It had a bit of a rough start, but eventually amassed quite a library and coexisted with the PlayStation era of dedicated handhelds.
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