If your gaming outlet of choice is the PC, then you should take this next story as just one more example of why you should be thankful you choose to kill your spare time on an open platform. According to user reports Sony’s new 3.50 mandatory PS3 firmware update is killing off support for third party USB devices, a move that will no doubt simply convince more users to jailbreak their consoles. The update adds support for 3D Blu-Ray, a report abuse option for PSN, along with the ability to link certain game features to Facebook.

The disabling of USB devices wasn’t mentioned specifically in the patch notes, but Sony did warn users on their website "SCEA does not support continued functionality of counterfeit or unlicensed controllers in system software updates and these devices may cease to function in the future because of system software updates." The PS3 was always the geek’s choice for console gaming since it allowed users to upgrade their own hard drives, and even install Linux. Sony however has slowly been taking back control as the platform matures, and seems to be doing so unapologetically.

So if you download the official Sony update you can watch 3D Blu-Rays, and spam your friends on Facebook. On the other hand if you jailbreak your console you gain access to SNES and Dreamcast emulators. What would you choose? I think I’ll need to find a TI-84 to help me tally up the votes.