Forgotten PlayStation 3 feature is something you've probably never used

Sony's PlayStation 3 has one more semi-secret feature left that most users would hardly have noticed, even over two decades after the console first came out: printing. The PlayStation 3, a seventh-generation behemoth, faced a number of problems during its life cycle, but the biggest of them all was how demanding it was to develop games for it.

Given the PlayStation 3's incredible game roster, it's no surprise at all that many want to emulate the console from the ground up. Projects like RPCS3 make CELL CPU emulation a distinct possibility even on really low-spec hardware, such as the Steam Deck, but the PS3's eclectic presence goes far beyond games and dodgy processing architectures alone. Print functionality is proof enough of that.

PlayStation 3 can print photos and more

Reddit user geeelectronica posted about the PlayStation 3's “Printer Settings” functionality on r/PS3 and wondered if anyone had ever used the feature. While it was possible (but not necessarily advisable) to install Linux on the PS3 early on, the console's game mode used its own printer drivers for the feature, allowing printing of game photos or documents found through the PS3's built-in web browser. This is probably not one of the features that Sony wants to emulate on the PS5 via backwards compatibility with the PS3.

The fascinating thing about geeelectronica's post is that some people commented about using the PS3's print function. Some printed Grand Theft Auto cheat codes to use while playing, while others relied on the PS3's SD card reader to print camera photos. It's still very much a niche use case, but it speaks to the PlayStation 3's remarkable flexibility as a comprehensive multimedia device, rather than just a games console. In some ways the PS3 was more impressive than the PS5 when it comes to sheer feature offerings, but that's also why it was such an expensive device to begin with.

While the prospect of playing PS3 games on the PS5 is extremely exciting, there is something to be said for seventh generation consoles in general and its experimental nature. It wasn't really just about the games themselves at the time, but the wider excitement around cutting-edge technology and the unexpected, wild use cases people could find for it.

For those who don't yet feel old, it might be worth reconsidering, as the PlayStation 3 is officially considered a retro console as of 2026. That's GameStop's assessment, to be fair, but the fact that the PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii are now actual retro devices may well give some whiplash with how much time has passed since their heyday. On that note, it might be worth wondering how many working PlayStation 3 consoles are still out there. As time goes on, fewer and fewer of these remarkable consoles will be available for retro gamers to use, especially if they're after the coveted first-gen PS3s.