An estimated 87 million Netflix subscribers might find themselves cut off from the service this weekend as the company discreetly discontinues support for older hardware.
This change primarily impacts those who still use Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS3) to stream Netflix, according to warning messages shared by users on social media.
The message reads, “Regrettably, Netflix will cease to be available on this device after March 2, 2026. For a list of compatible devices, please visit netflix.com/compatibledevices.”
Although Netflix has not made a public announcement, the PS3 was the last of the seventh-generation consoles to maintain official support, marking it as the final device from that era to be affected by Netflix’s latest compatibility updates.
Modern consoles, such as the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, remain unaffected by this change.
For those who still depend on the PS3, streaming is still possible through most contemporary smart TVs, which usually come with built-in Netflix applications, or through budget-friendly streaming devices that provide faster performance and more extensive app compatibility than the PS3, which is nearly 20 years old.
Industry analysts have also warned that smart TVs more than a decade old may soon lose Netflix support as the company continues to retire legacy hardware.
It remains unclear exactly which smart TVs will be affected, but the move is consistent with Netflix’s previous efforts to retire apps on older devices.
It affects users who still watch Netflix through Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS3), according to screenshots shared by viewers, which show a warning
About a year ago, Netflix retired support for older Fire TV devices after nearly a decade of service, TheStreet reported.
Two years prior, the streaming app was removed from aging smart TVs and from second and third-generation Apple TVs that do not run tvOS.
The PS3 sold approximately 87.4 million units worldwide during its production run, which ended around March 2017.
Although no longer manufactured, the console remains in use, with reports from late 2023 suggesting there are nearly two million monthly active users.
It continues to hold appeal as a legacy device among collectors and gaming enthusiasts.
In recent years, Netflix has gradually phased out support for outdated devices as part of an effort to streamline operations and focus on newer technologies.
In 2023, the service ended compatibility with Sony televisions sold between 2011 and 2013, followed the next year by dropping support for first-generation Apple TV devices, which had reached the end of their practical lifespan.
These changes underscore the rapid pace of innovation in the streaming industry, where advancements in video quality, interactive features and data security necessitate more capable hardware.
Netflix has not issued an official announcement, but the PS3 was the final seventh-generation console to retain official support, making it the last device of its era affected by the company’s updated compatibility policies
Many older devices lack the processing power or software architecture necessary to handle high-definition streaming, interactive elements, or enhanced encryption protocols that safeguard user data and content.
Reports to cut PS3 service come just two months after Netflix ended the ability to cast video directly from your phone to a bigger screen, a move many frustrated users claim came without any warning.
Instead of beaming your show from your phone, users will only be able to cast video by grabbing their TV remote and browsing Netflix directly on the TV.
Casting is a handy way of sharing movies or shows with friends and family, or just enjoying a better view than on a small mobile device.
Popular tools like Google Chromecast make this easy by turning your phone into a remote control for the TV.
The change impacts both Android and iPhone users casting to most modern TVs or streaming sticks, such as the newer Chromecasts or Google TVs.
The only way Netflix users can continue casting is if they have older hardware like the original Chromecast from 2013 or early Google TV streamers with built-in Google Cast support.
However, casting will only work for customers who have Netflix’s ad-free plans, which cost at least $18 per month – a major catch that has infuriated many of the streaming service’s 300 million subscribers.
