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2001 — 2016 · The Complete Chronicle

THE PS3 SCENE A History of Hacking, Gaming & Culture

From the birth of the Cell processor to the fall of PSN — every hack, every firmware, every court case. The naked, unadulterated life of the PlayStation 3.

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271
Pages of History
15+
Years Documented
87M+
PS3s Sold Worldwide
77M
PSN Accounts Breached
2001
2001
The Alliance is Forged
March 2001
Hardware

The Cell is Born

Sony Computer Entertainment, Toshiba, and IBM (STI) form an alliance to create the Cell Broadband Engine processor. The STI design centre opens and begins a four-year endeavour that would power the most ambitious console ever built.

2005
2005
The World Awakens
16 May 2005
PlayStation 3 console
Reveal

PS3 Revealed at E3 2005

The world was awoken to a brand new console — not just a console, but a supercomputer. The original design was silver with a boomerang-shaped controller, three Ethernet ports, two HDMI ports, and six USB ports. It was meant to last ten years.

Wikipedia
27 May 2005
Hardware

Nvidia's RSX Still in Development

Nvidia reveals that the RSX GPU is still under development. The E3 tech demos were actually running on upcoming PC chips with similar capabilities.

8 Nov 2005
Controversy

Anti-Used Game Patent Scare

A Sony patent surfaces suggesting the PS3 would lock games to a single console, preventing used game sales. Sony quickly assures the public this is "false speculation."

2006
2006
Launch Year — Chaos Begins
Feb 2006
Delay

Delays and Plummeting Stocks

Sony stocks plummet as rumours of PS3 delays circulate. By March, Sony confirms the console is pushed to November 2006, citing problems with Blu-ray diode production.

8 May 2006
E3 2006

The Final Design Revealed

Gone is the silver prototype. The PS3 is now black with one HDMI port, four USB ports, and comes in 20GB ($499) and 60GB ($599) models. The boomerang controller is replaced by the Sixaxis — a motion-sensing pad without rumble due to patent disputes with Immersion.

"The PS3 is a computer. We do not need the PC." — Phil Harrison
6 Sep 2006
Delay

Europe Left Behind

Sony announces the PS3 will NOT launch in Europe in November. European gamers must wait until March 2007 — and they'll get an inferior version with reduced PS2 backwards compatibility.

11 Nov 2006
Original PS3 Fat console
Launch

Japan Launch Day

PS3 hits Japan with launch titles including Ridge Racer 7, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Genji: Days of the Blade. Massive fights break out at events. Ken Kutaragi himself attends the Yurakucho launch. Firmware v1.10 — the very first PS3 firmware — goes live.

17 Nov 2006
Launch Crime

US Launch — Mayhem

The American launch is plagued by violence: armed robberies at Wal-Mart, GameStop, and EB Games. A man is shot in Connecticut waiting in line. A 17-year-old has his PS3 stolen at gunpoint. People stampede into a metal flagpole at a West Bend Wal-Mart.

"With today's launch of PS3, we are officially ushering in a new era in true next-generation entertainment." — Kaz Hirai
26 Nov 2006
Scene

The First PS3 Game Rip

Warez group Paradox releases the world's first accessible PS3 rip — Madden 2007. Their NFO reads: "Well everyone here it is – the world's first accessible PS3 rip!" They joke about uploading on 56k modems from Blockbuster rentals.

31 Dec 2006
Scene

Paradox ISO Loader Confirmed

PS3News confirms that Paradox has a working ISO loader exploiting a vulnerability in firmware v1.00-1.10. Games can be run from HDD without opening the console — but Paradox holds back, waiting for the European launch.

2007
2007
Europe Joins — Scene Stirs
10 Jan 2007
Rivalry

Microsoft Attacks

Xbox's Peter Moore mocks Sony: "It's not in Sony's DNA" to build online services. Chris Satchell calls PSN "pretty much a disaster" adding "if they don't have anything, of course it's free."

23 Mar 2007
Launch

European Launch

PS3 launches in Europe. At the Virgin Megastore in London, Sony gives the first 100 customers a free 46" HDTV and taxi ride home. Meanwhile, Microsoft employees hand out branded chairs to people in the queue.

In Germany, 50 people at Saturn received free PS3s after smashing their Xbox 360s by throwing them off a wall.
4 Mar 2007
Scene

PS3HaX is Born

A website dedicated to hacking the PS3 called PS3HaX is created. Its main aim: bring homebrew to the PS3. It would become one of the scene's most important hubs.

7 Mar 2007
Feature

PlayStation Home Announced

Sony reveals PS Home — an online social world similar to Second Life, coming to PS3. It would take until December 2008 for the public beta.

28 Aug 2007
Scene

First Scene Fakes Emerge

The early PS3 scene is plagued by fakes. Multiple people claim ISO loaders, mod chips, and exploits that never materialize. The community grows skeptical of every claim.

The Key Milestones

A decade of innovation, controversy, and relentless hacking.

2006

Dual Launch

Japan and US launch within a week. Violence, shortages, and a $599 price tag shake the industry.

$599launch price
2007

Europe Arrives

EU launch with reduced PS2 compatibility. Scene begins forming around PS3HaX and PS3News.

6Munits shipped by March
2008

Blu-Ray Java Homebrew

The very first homebrew runs via BD-Java. LittleBigPlanet, Metal Gear Solid 4, and Fallout 3 define the year.

1sthomebrew via BD-Java
2009

PS3 Slim

Sony launches the PS3 Slim at $299, nearly half the original price. Sales surge worldwide.

$299slim price point
2010

GeoHot Hacks PS3

"I have hacked the PS3. The rest is just software." — One line that changed everything.

R/Wfull memory access
2010

PS Jailbreak

The first USB jailbreak device. $130+ for a dongle that lets you play backups. Clones appear within days.

$130dongle price
2010

fail0verflow @ 27C3

Private keys are exposed at the Chaos Communication Congress. Sony's security crumbles completely.

27C3keys exposed
2011

PSN Breach

77 million accounts compromised in gaming's largest-ever data breach. PSN goes dark for 23 days.

77Maccounts compromised
2012

LV0 Keys Leaked

The PS3's master boot key is leaked. Custom firmware can now be created for any firmware version.

LV0master key leaked
2013–16

The Legacy

Scene matures with Rebug CFW, multiMAN, webMAN MOD. The PS3 lives on through its community.

87M+PS3s sold total
2009
2009
A Slimmer Hope
18 Aug 2009
PS3 Slim console
Hardware

PS3 Slim Announced

At Gamescom, Sony reveals the PS3 Slim — 33% smaller, 36% lighter, at $299. It would reignite PS3 sales and bring the console to profitability for the first time.

PS3 Slim Wiki
1 Sep 2009
Firmware

Firmware v3.0 — The Big Update

Major PS3 system software overhaul. The XMB gets a visual refresh with the "What's New" section and dynamic themes. PlayStation Store is redesigned.

2009
Games

The Golden Age Begins

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, InFamous, Killzone 2, Demon's Souls — 2009 is the year PS3 exclusives start dominating awards and proving the hardware's potential.

2010
2010
The Walls Come Down
23 Jan 2010
Hack

GeoHot Hacks the PS3

George "GeoHot" Hotz announces full read/write access to the PS3's system memory and hypervisor-level access to the processor. After years of the PS3 being considered unhackable, one man changes everything.

"I have read/write access to the entire system memory, and HV level access to the processor. In other words, I have hacked the PS3. The rest is just software." — GeoHot
GeoHot on Wikipedia
George 'GeoHot' Hotz George "GeoHot" Hotz
1 Apr 2010
Firmware Controversial

OtherOS Removed — Firmware v3.21

Sony's nuclear response: firmware v3.21 removes the ability to install Linux (OtherOS) on the PS3. The move triggers multiple class-action lawsuits and turns thousands of legitimate users toward hacking.

"Note to the people who removed OtherOS, you are potentially turning 100,000+ legit users into 'hackers'." — GeoHot
14 Jul 2010
Scene

GeoHot Leaves the Scene

Fed up with impatient, ungrateful trolls, GeoHot closes his blog and Twitter. "I didn't fully realize most of the current scene don't care unless they are getting something. Now I do."

19 Aug 2010
Hack

PS Jailbreak — The USB Dongle

PSX-Scene announces PS Jailbreak — a USB plug-and-play device that jailbreaks the PS3. Compatible with all models (fat and slim), it lets users play backups from HDD. Price: $130+. The scene's biggest moment since GeoHot.

PS Jailbreak Wiki
1 Sep 2010
Hack

PSGroove & PSFreedom — Open Source Freedom

Mathieulh and team release PSGroove (open source PS Jailbreak clone) and KaKaRoTo releases PSFreedom for Nokia N900. The $130 dongle is now free. Sony patches the exploit in firmware v3.42 five days later.

7 Sep 2010
Homebrew

First Homebrew App Released

CJCP releases an FTP server — the very first homebrew application for jailbroken PS3s. The floodgates are open.

29 Dec 2010
Hack

fail0verflow at 27C3 — Keys Exposed

At the 27th Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin, the fail0verflow team reveals catastrophic flaws in Sony's security implementation. The PS3's private ECDSA signing keys are exposed. GeoHot publishes the metldr key. Sony's entire security model is permanently broken.

27C3 Talk fail0verflow
2011
2011
War — Sony vs. Everyone
11 Jan 2011
Legal

Sony Sues GeoHot

SCEA files a lawsuit against George Hotz for publishing the PS3's security keys. The case gains massive media attention. Sony subpoenas PayPal accounts and obtains IP addresses of everyone who visited GeoHot's blog since 2009.

Court Case Wiki
26 Jan 2011
Scene

Custom Firmware Era Begins

The PS3 signing keys enable custom firmware (CFW) on firmware 3.55. KaKaRoTo releases the first PS3 CFW, followed by Geohot's 3.55CFW, Waninkoko's CFW, and many more. The scene explodes.

16 Mar 2011
Homebrew

Showtime — The Media Revolution

Andoma releases Showtime — the first homebrew media player for PS3. For the first time, PS3s without Linux can play MKV files, stream live TV, and handle formats Sony never supported.

31 Mar 2011
Scene

Rebug MFW Released

Team Rebug releases their first Modified Firmware (MFW), combining debug and retail features. Rebug would become the gold standard of PS3 custom firmware, maintained for years.

4 Apr 2011
Conflict

Anonymous Declares War on Sony

The hacktivist group Anonymous wages war on Sony, demanding: allow end-user modification, end legal action against hackers, and don't pursue collected IP addresses.

Operation Sony Wiki
11 Apr 2011
Legal

GeoHot Settles with Sony

After a high-profile legal battle that saw GeoHot flee to South America mid-trial, both parties settle. Hotz consents to a permanent injunction. He donates $10,000 of his legal defense fund to the EFF.

"It was never my intention to cause any users trouble or to make piracy easier." — GeoHot
21 Apr 2011
PSN Breach

The Great PSN Hack

PlayStation Network goes dark. Sony initially blames maintenance, then admits an "external intrusion." Over the next days, the full horror emerges: 77 million accounts compromised. Names, addresses, emails, passwords, and potentially credit card data — all stolen.

"We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network." — Sony
PSN Outage Wiki
15 May 2011
PSN

PSN Restored — 23 Days Later

After 23 days offline, PSN begins partial restoration. Sony offers a "Welcome Back" package including free games (LittleBigPlanet, InFamous, Dead Nation, and more) and 30 days of PS Plus. The total cost to Sony: an estimated $171 million.

2012
2012
The Master Key Falls
Feb 2012
Scene

Scene Tools Mature

2012 sees an explosion of homebrew tools: multiMAN v4 (no longer needing Cobra dongle), XMB FileManager by DeViL303, XMBM+, True Blue reverse-engineered payloads, and countless CFW variants. The PS3 scene hits its stride.

Oct 2012
Hack

LV0 Keys Leaked

The PS3's LV0 decryption keys are leaked to the public. While Mathieulh had decrypted LV0 in November 2011 but refused to release, a group called "The Three Musketeers" published them. This means custom firmware can now be created for ANY firmware version. Sony's last line of defense has fallen.

25 Sep 2012
Hardware

PS3 Super Slim

Sony releases the PS3 Super Slim (CECH-4000) — the third and final hardware revision. Even smaller, with a sliding top-loading disc tray replacing the slot-loader.

PS3 Super Slim The PS3 Super Slim (CECH-4000)
2013
2013
The Last Great Year
14 Jun 2013
The Last of Us cover art
Game

The Last of Us

Naughty Dog releases The Last of Us — the fastest-selling game in PS3 history. A masterpiece that proved the PS3's raw power and cemented the console's legacy in gaming history.

Wikipedia
17 Sep 2013
Game

Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar's magnum opus launches on PS3, pushing the aging hardware to its absolute limits. One of the best-selling games of all time.

GTA V Wiki
2013
Scene

CFW Ecosystem Thrives

Rogero CEX-4.41, multiMAN v4.50, Iris Manager updates, Gamesonic Manager — the custom firmware ecosystem is fully mature. Scene devs continue pushing the limits of what PS3 homebrew can do.

15 Nov 2013
Next Gen

PS4 Launches — The Torch is Passed

The PlayStation 4 launches in North America. While the PS3 era isn't over, the focus shifts. But the scene lives on, and PS3 homebrew development continues for years to come.

2016
2014–2016
The Long Sunset
2014
Scene

PS3 HEN — Homebrew Without CFW

Homebrew Enabler (HEN) development progresses, eventually allowing homebrew on consoles that can't install full custom firmware. The barrier to entry drops dramatically.

2015
Scene

Rebug 4.75+ & ManaGunZ

Team Rebug continues updating their CFW through firmware 4.75, 4.76, and beyond. ManaGunZ, webMAN MOD, and RetroArch bring the PS3 to its full potential as a retro gaming and media powerhouse.

Sep 2015
Game

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

Hideo Kojima's final Metal Gear game launches on PS3. One of the last major AAA cross-generation titles, a fitting swan song for the console's gaming legacy.

Oct 2015
End of Era

Sony Stops Shipping to New Zealand

Sony announces it will no longer ship PS3 consoles to New Zealand retailers — the first market to officially end PS3 availability. The sun begins to set.

Nov 2016
Scene

The Scene Lives On

webMAN MOD 1.45, IrisMAN 4.80, LaunchPAD, Rebug 4.80 — even as the PS3 era officially ends, the community continues to push the console beyond its original limits. The PS3 scene never truly dies; it evolves.

From $599 to Freedom

What began as a $4 billion gamble on the Cell processor became the most thoroughly hacked console in history. Every security measure Sony built was eventually defeated — not by corporations, but by passionate individuals who believed in the right to own what you buy. From GeoHot's first exploit to the LV0 key leak, from PS Jailbreak to Rebug CFW — the PS3 scene wrote a chapter of computing history that will never be forgotten.



Based on "PS3History — The Complete History of the PS3" by GregoryRasputin (2010–2017)

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Everything you just read exists because one person — GregoryRasputin — spent years documenting every hack, every firmware, every court case in the PS3 scene. He created PS3History.net, wrote over 62,000 words, and published it all for free.

He pays for hosting out of his own pocket and worries about keeping these sites alive for future generations. If this timeline meant something to you, here's how you can help his work survive.

Visit PS3History.net Get the Free Book Gregory's Blog PSX-Place Thread

"PS3History isn't my personal blog or forum, it is a place for all of you, for everyone to enjoy,
it is an unbiased look at one of the best consoles to be released." — GregoryRasputin

The Compendium

Names, tools, exploits, and terms — everything you need to know about the PS3 scene.

A
Anonymous Group
Decentralised hacktivist collective that launched "Operation Sony" in 2011, DDoSing PlayStation Network and Sony websites in retaliation for Sony's lawsuit against GeoHot.
B
BD-Java Concept
Blu-ray Disc Java — the Java-based application layer on PS3 Blu-ray discs. Exploited in 2008 to run the first homebrew code on unmodified PS3s by burning custom BD-J applets to disc.
Blu-ray Hardware
Optical disc format co-developed by Sony. The PS3 was the first mass-market Blu-ray player and its inclusion was a major factor in the console's high launch price ($599). Production delays of the blue-violet laser diode pushed the PS3 launch back by months.
C
Cell Broadband Engine Hardware
The PS3's custom CPU, co-developed by Sony, Toshiba, and IBM (the STI alliance) beginning in 2001. Featured one PPE core and eight SPE co-processors. Notoriously difficult to program but extremely powerful when fully utilised.
CFW (Custom Firmware) Firmware
Modified versions of the PS3's official system software that enable homebrew, backup loading, and features Sony never intended. Made possible after the signing keys were leaked in late 2010. Major CFWs include Rebug, Rogero, and Habib.
Cobra Tool
A USB dongle and later a firmware payload that enabled advanced features like ISO mounting, stealth for PSN access, and disc-less game loading on CFW PS3s.
D
DEX (Debug) Firmware
Debug firmware variant used by game developers. Rebug CFW famously combined DEX and retail (CEX) features, allowing debug-level access on consumer hardware — crucial for homebrew development and testing.
E
ECDSA Keys Concept
Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm keys used by Sony to sign all PS3 software. Catastrophically compromised because Sony used a static random number instead of a truly random one — exposed by fail0verflow at 27C3 in December 2010.
EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) Group
Digital rights organisation that supported GeoHot's legal defense against Sony. GeoHot donated $10,000 of his remaining legal defense funds to the EFF after settling.
F
fail0verflow Group
Hacking team that presented "Console Hacking 2010: PS3 Epic Fail" at the 27th Chaos Communication Congress (27C3) in Berlin. Their talk exposed Sony's ECDSA implementation flaw, permanently compromising PS3 security.
G
GeoHot (George Hotz) Person
The hacker who first jailbroke the iPhone and then cracked the PS3's hypervisor in January 2010. Published the metldr key, was sued by Sony, settled in April 2011, and later went on to found comma.ai. Released the iconic "Light It Up" rap in response to the lawsuit.
graf_chokolo Person
German hacker who worked on restoring Linux (OtherOS) to the PS3 after Sony removed it. Was raided by German police in 2011 on behalf of Sony. Known for his hypervisor-level research.
H
HEN (Homebrew Enabler) Tool
A software-only exploit that enables homebrew on PS3 models that cannot run full CFW (such as super slims and newer slims). Dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for the PS3 homebrew scene.
Hypervisor Concept
The lowest-level security layer on the PS3, sitting between the hardware and the operating system. Controlling it means controlling everything. GeoHot's 2010 exploit was significant precisely because it achieved hypervisor-level access.
I
IrisMAN / Iris Manager Tool
A homebrew backup manager and file manager for CFW PS3s. Alongside multiMAN and webMAN MOD, one of the essential tools in the PS3 homebrew ecosystem.
K
KaKaRoTo Person
Scene developer who created PSFreedom (free PS Jailbreak alternative for Nokia N900) and the first PS3 custom firmware. Real name Youness Alaoui. A key figure in the open-source PS3 hacking movement.
Ken Kutaragi Person
"The Father of PlayStation." Led PlayStation's creation and pushed the ambitious PS3 hardware design. Attended the PS3's Japan launch in person. Retired from Sony in 2007 after the PS3's troubled launch period.
L
LV0 Keys Concept
The PS3's master boot loader decryption keys. Leaked publicly in October 2012 by "The Three Musketeers" (after Mathieulh decrypted them in 2011 but refused to share). Their release meant custom firmware could be created for any future firmware version.
M
Mathieulh Person
Controversial scene figure who decrypted the PS3's LV0 keys in November 2011 but kept them private. When "The Three Musketeers" later leaked them, the scene erupted in drama over hoarding exploits vs. sharing them.
metldr Concept
The PS3's master encryption/decryption loader — a root-level module responsible for decrypting and verifying all other loaders. Its key, published by GeoHot in early 2011, was the linchpin that broke PS3 security wide open.
multiMAN Tool
The most popular homebrew backup manager for PS3. Created by Dean (deank). Features a visual game launcher, file manager, FTP server, and Blu-ray/DVD playback. The quintessential PS3 homebrew app.
O
OtherOS Concept
A PS3 feature allowing installation of Linux and other operating systems. Removed by Sony in firmware v3.21 (April 2010) as a security measure after GeoHot's exploit. Its removal sparked class-action lawsuits and pushed many users toward hacking.
P
Paradox Group
Warez group that released the first accessible PS3 game rip (Madden 2007) in December 2006 and had a working ISO loader for firmware v1.00-1.10. One of the earliest PS3 scene groups.
PS Jailbreak Tool
The first commercial USB jailbreak device for PS3, announced in August 2010. Priced at $130+, it enabled backup loading on all PS3 models. Quickly cloned as open-source PSGroove and PSFreedom. Sony patched the exploit within days.
PSN (PlayStation Network) Concept
Sony's online gaming and digital distribution service. Suffered a catastrophic breach in April 2011 exposing 77 million accounts — gaming's largest data breach at the time. Was offline for 23 days.
PS3HaX Group
One of the earliest and most important PS3 hacking community websites, founded in 2007. Served as a hub for scene news, tutorials, and homebrew development throughout the PS3's lifetime.
R
Rebug Firmware
Widely considered the gold standard of PS3 custom firmware. Created by Team Rebug, it combined retail (CEX) and debug (DEX) features, enabling advanced functionality. Maintained for years through multiple firmware versions.
RSX Reality Synthesizer Hardware
The PS3's GPU, designed by Nvidia. Based on the GeForce 7800 series. Was still under development when the PS3 was first shown at E3 2005 — the tech demos were actually running on PC hardware.
RetroArch Tool
Multi-platform emulation frontend that runs on CFW/HEN PS3s. Turns the PS3 into a retro gaming powerhouse capable of emulating dozens of classic consoles and arcade systems.
S
Showtime Tool
The first homebrew media player for PS3, created by Andreas Öman (Andoma). Enabled playback of MKV, AVI, and other formats Sony never officially supported, plus live TV streaming.
Sixaxis / DualShock 3 Hardware
The PS3's controllers. The Sixaxis launched with the console, featuring motion sensing but no rumble (due to an Immersion patent lawsuit). The DualShock 3 restored rumble in 2007 after Sony settled.
SPE (Synergistic Processing Element) Hardware
The Cell processor's co-processors — eight in total (seven accessible on PS3). Independently programmable vector units that gave the PS3 enormous parallel processing power when properly utilized.
T
The Three Musketeers Group
Anonymous group that leaked the PS3's LV0 decryption keys in October 2012, after Mathieulh had refused to release them. Their leak ensured permanent custom firmware capability for the PS3.
W
webMAN MOD Tool
A VSH plugin for CFW PS3s that runs in the background, enabling game mounting, fan control, temperature monitoring, FTP, and remote access via web browser. One of the most essential and actively maintained PS3 homebrew tools.
X
XMB (XrossMediaBar) Concept
The PS3's distinctive horizontal/vertical navigation interface, inherited from the PSP. Iconic in its simplicity, it was the face of the PS3 experience until the console's end of life.
27C3
27C3 (27th Chaos Communication Congress) Event
Annual hacker conference in Berlin where fail0verflow presented their devastating PS3 security talk in December 2010. The event where Sony's private signing keys were exposed to the world, permanently breaking PS3 security.