One of the PlayStation 3’s greatest former features, the ability to run other operating systems, is unofficially restored thanks to some hackers/hobbyists. This allows Linux to install on the PS3, something that outraged many when Sony removed this feature back in March.
Hacker Graf Chokolo said the OtherOS++ can “read or write anything” and is “very useful” for HV hacking, according to a report on Games Industry (via Destructoid). The hack apparently takes advantage of an older Firmware that allows for more control of the system’s memory.
The ability to install other operation systems, including Linux, was a defining feature of the pre-Slim era of the PS3. A firmware update in March eliminated this feature to “ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.” Essentially, this was Sony’s way of thwarting theft, hacking, and security issues.