Problem after update to PS3 firmware (opens in new tab)

Not bricked since it still boots stuff and can be fixed. Oh well, everyone's taken a liking to say they are bricked - it sounds so much more dramatic.

What happens if an official update bricks your device and the warranty expired?

These may not actually be bricked but I had an old ps3 that actually was bricked after the update following the psn hack and consequent month-long outage. This ps3 had linux installed on it at some point (from back when ydl had a ps3 tailored distro) but that was overwritten by a sony update that I grudgingly agreed to since I didn't want to give up my access to psn. When psn came back up after the long outage I got on immediately and the update was downloaded, but as soon as it finished and before any indication of a restart I heard a 'click' and it was gone, forever. Sony told me they would 'pass on' my info about having linux legally installed previously but admitted nothing and it remains useless to this day. Luckily, I received a new one as a gift... but now I am afraid to update it ;) I'll wait a couple days I think to be sure.

It will be interesting to see how this type of situation would be handled in the XBox One, which can't play games unless you're checking in online. It's not like you'd avoid connecting in order to see if people have problems with a patch.

Seeing all the drama about XBox One vs PS4, I can't help but laugh. The PS4 may seem a better solution (lower cost, more freedom) but then I remember, this is Sony. Gaming network hacked many times, company that attacks hobbyists that hack on the hardware they own, and then situations like this.

I would imagine they can roll out the rootkit PR campaign almost unchanged. In order to protect our IP, sometimes extreme measures have to be taken ... Along with a healthy dose of the ole "In order to save the village we had to destroy the village"