Netflix has begun notifying users that its streaming app will stop working on the PlayStation 3 console next month. End of support is also looming for a number of other smart TVs and set-top boxes.
According to several threads that appeared on Reddit this week, PlayStation 3 owners were reportedly warned of the impending end of support via a pop-up message, which said that the app will no longer run on the console after March 2. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave users much time to find an alternative if the PS3 is all they have.
The Sony PlayStation 3, along with the older Xbox console, was once one of the most popular ways to access Netflix. In 2010, it accounted for more than 30% of all Netflix users. Notably, it was also the first platform to support Full HD 1080p streams on Netflix.
Back in those days, smart TVs and streaming sticks were still relatively new things and very few people had them, and so it could be argued that the PS3 became the most popular platform due to a lack of alternatives. But that has changed over the intervening 16 years, and most households own a smart TV or a streaming stick that allows them to access the web, so consoles are no longer the go-to option for streaming Netflix.
Smart TVs generally offer a better experience too. The PS3 doesn’t support advanced HDR formats like Dolby Vision or HDR10+, nor the Dolby Atmos surround sound format. It also consumes more power relative to smart TVs, and lacks features such as frame rate matching. So it’s no longer really the best way to see Netflix movies.
Given the reality of where the tech world is today, it’s perhaps surprising that Netflix continued to support the PS3 as long as it did. The console launched in 2006, and the Netflix app debuted one year later, meaning it’s had an impressive 19-year run. But the time has come for the Netflix sun to set.
It’s unlikely that there are many people still using their ancient PS3 console as their primary hardware for watching Netflix, but those who haven’t moved on will be forced to do so in the next couple of weeks. Netflix could, perhaps, have given those users a little more time to be prepared, but there is a consolation of sorts. These days, the cheapest streaming sticks cost next to nothing, and they will likely provide better picture quality compared to what the PS3 does.
If it's not yet time to invest in a new smart TV, some of your best streaming stick options include the Roku Streaming Stick, Thompson's Cast 150 dongle, Xiaomi's TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen) and Amazon's Fire TV Stick HD, which can all be had for under £50.
Netflix makes these decisions from time-to-time because older devices such as the PS3 are unable to support the new codecs and security features it relies on. Rather than spend lots of energy trying to create workarounds for these issues, the company simply stops supporting them if there's no longer a big user base. But to its credit, it does usually ensure each device has had a good run first. In 2023, it stopped supporting a number of older Sony TVs sold between 2011-2013, but most of those were more than 10 years old. In 2024, it stopped supporting the first-generation Apple TV devices, which were also a decade old.
If you own a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, you'll be relieved to hear that Netflix has no plans to drop them anytime soon. However, FlatpanelsHD says it has seen reports that some other devices will be affected, including set-top boxes such as BT's Z4 TV Box and BT G4 TV Recordable Box. It said it’s likely that some other older devices and smart TVs may also lose support next month.
