After almost 20 years of quietly hanging on, the PlayStation 3 is finally losing one of its last meaningful modern features: Netflix.
The streaming giant is officially discontinuing Netflix app support on the PS3, with service ending March 2, 2026, according to a report first spotted on Yahoo
And let’s be blunt. This isn’t shocking. It’s overdue.
What’s actually happening
Netflix isn’t degrading performance or slowly limiting features. It’s simpler and harsher than that: the app will stop working entirely on PlayStation 3. Once the deadline hits, opening Netflix on the PS3 won’t load anything.
Players who still fire up their nearly 20-year-old consoles for Netflix will soon be greeted with an in-app message informing them the service will no longer be available and directing them to Netflix’s supported devices page once the cut-off date arrives.
There’s no workaround, no patch, and no legacy mode — just a dead app.
Why this hits different
If you owned a PS3 in the late 2000s or early 2010s, you already know this console wasn’t just for games. It basically acted as your entire entertainment system: your Blu-ray player, your YouTube machine, your Netflix box, and for a lot of people, even your dorm room TV replacement.
Back in 2009, streaming Netflix on a console actually felt futuristic.
Smart TVs were unreliable, streaming sticks barely existed, and connecting a laptop to the TV was a hassle. The PS3 was genuinely one of the easiest and most convenient ways to watch movies and shows on a big screen. So yeah, emotionally, this feels like the end of a small era.
But here’s the reality (no nostalgia goggles)
Let’s be logical. The PS3 launched in 2006, which makes it older than Instagram, older than the iPad, and older than most of today’s streaming devices. Maintaining an app for hardware this old simply doesn’t make business sense.
From Netflix’s side, it means continuing to update security protocols, maintain outdated architecture, and support a microscopic user base: all for what’s likely less than 0.1% of viewers.
That’s not sustainable. It’s dead weight. Companies don’t keep legacy tech alive for sentiment; they cut it when it stops paying for itself.
The bigger picture
This isn’t some sudden betrayal. The PS3 ecosystem has been slowly stripped down for years, with storefront features removed, media apps disappearing, and services quietly sunsetted. Netflix is just the latest domino to fall. If anything, it’s surprising that support lasted this long.
Most devices lose streaming support after five to eight years. The PS3 surviving almost two decades is, honestly, rare.
Who does this actually affects
Let’s be honest. Almost nobody. If you’re still using a PS3 daily for Netflix in 2026, you’re deep into edge-case territory. A cheap $20 streaming stick today offers a faster interface, 4K playback, better codecs, and ongoing updates. Compared to that, the PS3 just can’t compete.
Clinging to it as a streaming device isn’t practical anymore. It’s nostalgia. And nostalgia doesn’t scale.
The bottom line
This isn’t dramatic or corporate cruelty. It’s just math. A 19-year-old console losing modern app support is exactly what should happen.
Still, it’s hard not to feel a small sting. For a lot of people, the PS3 wasn’t just a gaming system. It was their first real streaming hub. Watching Netflix disappear from it feels like the last light going out in a house you used to live in.
Not tragic. Just the end of something.
Can PS3 still use Netflix?
No. Netflix will stop working on the PlayStation 3 after March 2, 2026. Once the shutdown happens, the app will no longer stream movies or shows on the console.
When is Netflix shutting down on PS3?
Netflix support for the PlayStation 3 officially ends on March 2, 2026.
Why is Netflix removing support for the PS3?
The PS3 is nearly two decades old, and maintaining modern streaming apps on outdated hardware isn’t cost-effective. Most users have already moved to newer devices, making continued support unnecessary.
Will other streaming apps still work on PS3?
Some legacy apps may continue for now, but support for older platforms typically gets phased out over time. Netflix’s exit suggests more services could follow.
Can I still watch Netflix on newer PlayStation consoles?
Yes. Netflix continues to work normally on newer PlayStation systems like the PS4 and PS5, as well as smart TVs, phones, and streaming devices.
