PS3 Game Update Downloader

Despite their operating systems’ “locked-down” nature, many of the consoles belonging to older generations have had some form of exploits and hacks applied, in both hardware and software forms, in order to let owners bypass the built-in security and get more functionality out of their system.

As such, those who modded their PlayStation 3 in order to run unsigned code, test third-party programs or check the emulation capabilities may want to avoid connecting to the internet to prevent an eventual ban from Sony’s official servers, which is where a neat app known as PS3 Game Updater Downloader comes into play.

Once downloaded, launching the program greets users to a rather minimalist interface focused on the essentials, with the first panel outlining the core settings from the get-go, such as picking the download directory for those who want to save the files to an external hard drive for mobility purposes. Those with limited storage space can designate a maximum amount of gigabytes to be downloaded, since large libraries of updates can pile up relatively quickly. The app can also check if files have already been downloaded to prevent unnecessary duplicates.

In early 2021, Sony initially announced it would end support for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita online stores, only to reverse the decision after community feedback. As a result, those who want to keep their game copies up to date on a PS3 system that can no longer connect to the internet due to software or hardware alterations can insert their genuine game discs into their PC’s optical drive, enter the “PS3_Game” folder and open the “PARAM.SFO” file using Notepad to copy its 9-character ID and paste it within the PS3 Game Update Downloader search box to retrieve the relevant updates.

As soon as the game is found, users can preview its version, file size and the PS3 firmware iteration to ensure compatibility with their own device’s current system. For a more elegant and better organized downloading experience, the program includes support for a “Queue” menu that lets you manage the updates about to be downloaded in case you wish to make any changes beforehand. Finally, since internet connections can be unreliable, the app’s scroll-able status window details all the actions performed in a timeline format that should be of use when troubleshooting any potential issues.

Whether your PlayStation 3 console cannot connect to the internet due to hardware-related issues, or the Homebrew-related modifications made can risk being banned from Sony’s official servers, PS3 Game Update Downloader may be a good method to keep your games up to date while also making backups in the case of a permanent PS3 store shutdown.