Editing PlayStation 3 (section)

=== Leap year bug ===
On March 1, 2010 (UTC), many of the original PlayStation 3 models worldwide were experiencing errors related to their internal system clock. The error had many symptoms. Initially, the main problem seemed to be the inability to connect to the [[PlayStation Network]]. However, the root cause of the problem was unrelated to the PlayStation Network, since even users who had never been online also had problems playing installed offline games (which queried the system timer as part of startup) and using system themes. At the same time, many users noted that the console's clock had gone back to December 31, 1999. The event was nicknamed the '''ApocalyPS3''', a play on the word ''[[wikt:apocalypse|apocalypse]]'' and PS3, the abbreviation for the PlayStation 3 console.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--this press release was released at 00:01 on the 25th--> Previous post Next post |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/03/apocalyps3/ |title=ApocalyPS3: Buggy Clock Drives PlayStation 3 Haywire &#124; GameLife |website=Wired.com |date=March 1, 2010 |access-date=August 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100902081057/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/03/apocalyps3/ |archive-date=September 2, 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The [[error code]] displayed was typically 8001050F and affected users were unable to sign in, play games, use dynamic themes, and view/sync trophies.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/sony/7344758/Sony-PS3-network-glitch-affects-thousands.html Sony PS3 network glitch affects thousands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418035612/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/sony/7344758/Sony-PS3-network-glitch-affects-thousands.html |date=April 18, 2018 }} ''The Daily Telegraph'', March 1, 2010,</ref> The problem only resided within the first- through third-generation original PS3 units while the newer "Slim" models were unaffected because of different internal hardware for the clock.

Sony confirmed that there was an error and stated that it was narrowing down the issue and were continuing to work to restore service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/03/01/playstation-network-status-update/|title=PlayStation Network Status Update – PlayStation.Blog.Europe|work=blog.eu.playstation.com|date=March 2010|publisher=[[PlayStation.Blog]]|access-date=August 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715142033/http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/03/01/playstation-network-status-update/|archive-date=July 15, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> By March 2 (UTC), 2010, owners of original PS3 models could connect to PSN successfully and the clock no longer showed December 31, 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/ps3-issues-apparently-resolved-game-on/ |title=PS3 issues apparently resolved, game on |date=March 2, 2010 |publisher=Engadget |access-date=August 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503221220/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/01/ps3-issues-apparently-resolved-game-on/ |archive-date=May 3, 2010 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Sony stated that the affected models incorrectly identified 2010 as a [[leap year]], because of a bug in the [[Binary-coded decimal|BCD]] method of storing the date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10461881-1.html|title=PS3 console errors fixed, leap year bug to blame|first=Jeff|last=Bakalar|publisher=[[CNET.com]]|date=March 1, 2010|access-date=March 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617081239/http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10461881-1.html|archive-date=June 17, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/technology/02sony.html|title=Error Blocked PlayStation 3 From Using Its Network |first=Hiroko |last=Tabuchi |author-link=Hiroko Tabuchi |newspaper=New York Times |date=March 1, 2010 |access-date=March 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305065339/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/technology/02sony.html |archive-date=March 5, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, for some users, the hardware's operating system clock (mainly updated from the internet and not associated with the internal clock) needed to be updated manually or by re-syncing it via the internet.

On June 29, 2010, [[Sony]] released [[PS3 system software]] update 3.40, which improved the functionality of the internal clock to properly account for leap years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us.playstation.com/ps3/features/ps_ps3_softwareupdates.html|title=PlayStation 3 Features Software Updates|access-date=September 3, 2010|publisher=[[Sony]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305182405/http://us.playstation.com/ps3/features/ps_ps3_softwareupdates.html|archive-date=March 5, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>