Sony to Ban Hacked PS3s?

It's reportedly impossible for Sony to patch the latest security flaw allowing users to install custom firmware. Now it looks as though Sony is admitting they can't by looking to do the next best thing - ban users of jailbroken consoles from accessing PlayStation Network.

According to The Sixth Axis, Sony might be preparing to ban PlayStation 3 users with custom firmware installed via servers the PS3 accesses on boot.

As a user on Neogaf discovered, the PlayStation 3 accesses multiple servers when you boot it up - regardless of whether you're signed up to PlayStation Network or not.

It does so to update the What's New section of the XMB. Sony can use this to check for firmware changes - custom firmware, etc. Sony also keeps track of PlayStation 3 console IDs - what they will do when a hacked console is found is still unknown, but sources speculate a PSN ban on offending units.

Of course, if Sony prevents a PS3 from connecting to the PlayStation Network any bug riddled titles which need patching will go without. It's with some irony that the first game to be pirated using a custom firmware was Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, a title which on launch had several glitch videos on youtube.