An estimated 87 million Netflix users could lose access this weekend as the streaming service quietly phases out support for older devices.
The warning affects users who still watch Netflix through Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3), according to screenshots shared by viewers, which show an on-screen alert.
The message states: 'Unfortunately, Netflix will no longer be available on this device after March 2, 2026. Visit netflix.com/compatibledevices to see a list of supported devices.'
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.
Newer consoles, including the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, are not impacted.
Users who still rely on the PS3 can continue streaming through most modern smart TVs, which typically include built-in Netflix apps, or through inexpensive streaming sticks that offer faster performance and broader app support than the nearly two-decade-old console.
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.
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 as well as the 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 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In recent years, Netflix has gradually phased out support for outdated devices as part of an effort to streamline operations and focus on newer technologies.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.
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 TV 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 right on the TV itself.
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 300million subscribers.