Katarzyna Petru
Netflix is gradually organizing its list of supported devices. This time, it has affected PlayStation 3, which for years has been one of the most popular platforms for watching the service. The app will stop working on this console after March 2, 2026. At the same time, support is also being dropped for some very old Smart TVs and select TV boxes. An official, complete list of devices has not yet been published, but users have already started receiving notifications in the app. This is another step in cleaning up older hardware from the Netflix ecosystem.
End of the PS3 Era as a Multimedia Center
In the first half of the past decade, Netflix experienced huge traffic specifically on the PS3. The console accounted for a significant percentage of streaming at a time when dedicated devices were less popular. It was also one of the first to offer playback in 1080p.
Today, however, the hardware is nearly 20 years old and does not support modern video or audio formats. The decision to turn off the application is therefore more of a symbolic closure of a certain chapter than a real blow to users. PS4 and PS5 are not affected by this change.
Older Smart TVs and set-top boxes are also on the list
Reports from users indicate that the issue also affects certain Smart TVs that are over 10 years old. Older operating systems are often no longer updated, which prevents the installation of newer versions of applications. Support is also expected to be dropped for some set-top boxes, including selected models used in the United Kingdom. This continues the trend from previous years where Netflix withdrew the app from very old Fire TV devices and first-generation Apple TVs without the tvOS system.
For most users, the change will not be painful. Cheap streaming devices today offer better picture quality, support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and lower energy consumption than old consoles. The discontinuation of support for PS3 is rather a signal that Netflix is consistently cutting ties with outdated infrastructure. The platform focuses on modern standards and compatibility with current hardware.
Netflix is ending support for PlayStation 3 and some older Smart TVs and set-top boxes starting March 2026. This is a natural step towards modernizing the ecosystem, although for some it may mean the necessity of replacing the device. The era of PS3 as a streaming center is definitively coming to an end.
Source: Reddit
