Most people who are interested in the console gaming space are already gaming on the PS4, or if you’re lucky enough to get one, the PS5. Probably not many would still be actively playing the PS3, which is a 15-year old console by now. And it looks like the console is being put to sleep forever, as PlayStation Japan announces that it’s ending repair support for the console and it’s peripherals.
PlayStation Japan put up a tweet which says it is ending after-sales service for the CECH-4300 model PS3, or the super slim model, on 30 April 2022. This will also apply to all of the peripherals for the console generation in general. Those who are in Japan can still send their consoles for repair until the cutoff date.
【アフターサービス終了のお知らせ】
PlayStation®3のCECH-4300シリーズ本体および全てのPlayStation®3周辺機器につきまして、部品在庫の枯渇により2022年4月30日（土）をもってアフターサービスの受付を終了いたします。お申込みをご検討中のお客様はお早めにご依頼ください。https://t.co/gIYzjfy0p6 pic.twitter.com/PZ6hKss5L9— Ask PlayStation JP (@AskPS_JP) February 28, 2022
According to Siliconera, the two older PS3 models were already ineligible for repair prior to this announcement. And with this CECH-4300 model being the last variant of the generation, discontinuing support means the end of the generation in general. Which is not bad, considering it had a 15-year run. With this happening in the console’s home country of Japan, other regions will likely experience the same sooner or later.
If you still have a PS3 that runs well, you can still buy games for it digitally. That option nearly went away last year, until PlayStation backtracked on the decision to shut down its PS3 and PS Vita digital stores.
(Source: Ask PlayStation JP / Twitter via Siliconera)
