EU PSN Video Store hack detailed

One of Sony's biggest announcements at E3, that of the new PlayStation Network video store, was also one of the least surprising pieces of news to come out of the annual industry shindig. Even more predictable to European PlayStation 3 owners was the news that despite the fact the service was launching immediately Stateside, they would have to wait for an unspecified period of time before getting a similar service this side of the pond.

One enterprising European has, however, found a way to circumvent the region lock, and has posted video proof of movies downloading to a PS3 based in the UK. On Saturday a report was posted on gaming blog vgwatchdog that demonstrated how to access the service, with instructions on the rather involved process.

This was followed up yesterday by a post with video proof of the workaround in action.

The workaround allows you to use a host computer in the US to present what is described as a "fake PS3" IP address, and requires the user to have access to a host in the USA through which they can route their PS3's Internet traffic. This circumvents the region lock by tricking the video store into thinking it is talking to a US PS3, when all the data is actually being routed to one in the UK.

According to vgwatchdog, the same workaround should work for those wishing to access the Xbox 360's US store, but this has not been tested.

Neither Sony nor Microsoft had responded to requests for comment by press time on either the workaround itself or any potential repercussions for users who exploit it.

44 Comments

  • A-S-H--1

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 8:54 am PT

    Who cares about people hacking it i just wanna download movies to my PS3 from the PS store properlly

  • world69star69

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 5:59 pm PT

    People use some common sense, this isn't a hack , and GS and it's pro ms bias is really irritating! This can happen on any system, its like a proxy server, all it is tricking the server to think you are somewhere else. This is done all the time with web sites, dns, name servers, etc.. A hack would be this: "Some one broke into the account and downloaded the movies for free" That didn't happen, the person still has to pay. I really can't see how the company can even be upset, they are still getting paid.

  • pes_king

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 10:18 am PT

    its not even a hack all you need to do is create a PSN account and instead of putting your address in the UK put in an American address, therefore it will think you live in America. its not hard to do i've heard of people who've done it before but they just deleted that profile because there's no point doing it, we might aswell wait, that's what i'm doing. we're british we're used to waiting e.g. buses

  • Freestyle_20

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 7:55 am PT

    everyone screws Europe

  • Cubehouse

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 2:46 am PT

    This isn't a hack... it's just a very clever IP Spoof. It's basically a very complicated proxy... It can be used on xbox, hulu, bbc iplayer, 4od and any other internet program that checks IP addresses.

  • rob123911

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 2:06 am PT

    I agree with sheiko its unfair on us europeans

  • raverrozza

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 1:46 am PT

    i have to say though i would rather have all the same stuff as the US but lets face it. I will NEVER dl and full or rental movie from the playstation store. never. it costs too much money and if im going to pay for a film id much rather get hard copy out of my cash. plus youd be better spending your money on a game like pixeljunk monsters which frankly will give far more hours entertainment or a similar price.

  • AriotUK

    Posted Jul 22, 2008 12:56 am PT

    --jtthegame316-- sony and getting hacked seems to be happening a lot lately psn is not safe.

    ----

    Sony nor PSN has been "hacked" - you're just fooling the server into thinking you are somewhere else in the world. You could do this to any network in the world (hence the 360 can be fooled as well) - it's not a hack into the software though.

    I always find it useful to have a thought and then say it out loud to make sure it is correct and then write it onto a forum - you may find this saves you from looking silly in the future.

  • Blizz99

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 11:50 pm PT

    READ ppl, it's not only sony, it's supposed to work on xbox too

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:30 pm PT

    sony and getting hacked seems to be happening a lot lately psn is not safe.

  • Daveiops

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 5:09 pm PT

    Less dan a week wen it was announced and already hacked? geez sony some1's doing his homework way faster dan u are.

  • dunk_420

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 4:44 pm PT

    when will it come to canada??

  • Sheiko

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 3:49 pm PT

    Give the Europeans the same stuff that Americans have and Vice versa!

  • moose3469

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 3:41 pm PT

    Oi! As if sony doesn't already have enough problems...

  • cybergooch

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 2:08 pm PT

    As long as there are computers and software, there will be hax0rs. Hackers are like roaches in that you can not kill them and they will be here after you...

  • DeadnBuried

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    I don't care about the movie store, i wouldn't use it anyway, but the fact that us in Europe are once AGAIN getting a feature after everyone else is annoying. Feels like Sony's screwed us over every step of the way to be honest.

  • hama666

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:49 pm PT

    I agree with Hungry_Bunny.

    Wouldnt have happened if Europe was regarded in equal light to the US, and the PS3 is also doing better in Europe than it is in the US - ungrateful muppets.

  • runstalker

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 12:34 pm PT

    Calling it a "hack" is a little strong, really. It's more of a complex work around to a store front end. Technically the PSN protocols are identifying and approving the right IP, since the guy is using the US tunnel server as an IP base. It's not some line of code any user can run and presto, "hacked." He's not smuggling free videos out by doing this, simply accessing another region's online storefront via proxy.

  • internationaal

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 11:58 am PT

    I don't really understand all this negativity. I mean... why not buy or download it! I just don't see the need for a movie store. Gonna be the same blockbusters you see weekly on TV anyway!

    Or am I missing something here....

  • Carlito911

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 11:18 am PT

    Hopefully they have big announcements for Region 2 territories on the upcoming TGS event....... video store!.

  • theclaw135

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:42 am PT

    Until Tales of Eternia and Breath of Fire III reach PSP in the US, Sony systems are better in Europe.

  • aarun27

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:39 am PT

    Yeah I aggree with AranJatt. There are eager gamers in the world waiting, if they don't get what they want they'll hack until they do.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:22 am PT

    Hopefully they'll just leave the exploit as is... I realize the difficulties of international law etc. can make things like the store problematic, but really, everyone's getting their money, so who cares?

  • Drake007_1

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 10:14 am PT

    I swear, Sony loves America and hates us. Not only do the yanks get all the good stuff first, then Sony try their very hardest to make sure we can't use any of it for six months, and then, when we do finally see the light of day, it costs twice as mush as it does in America! Those bastards better get their act together soon, or I might consider buying a 360 just to try and piss them off... Well, it probably wouldn't work, but here's hoping...

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:36 am PT

    what repurcusions they gonna have ... bad boy you bought our product ..... oh noes rofl ... sony doesnt care if you spend that freakin much effort to get a video you can go to the store and buy/rent anyway.

  • Hungry_bunny Site moderator

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:28 am PT

    If they had launched all features world-wide every time... they wouldn't have to bother with as many hackers, chips, imports and other annoyances as they do now.

  • runstalker

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:20 am PT

    The PSN video store should be all sorted out for UK and Canadian customers within a month or two, but those regions are becoming impatient with the catalog/lack of availability. Sony needs to blow it wide open and get all major English regions concurrent - especially with the weak US dollar.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:16 am PT

    Damm thats dirty. geeks unite. you can't stop the wize guys.

  • Garforth

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 9:04 am PT

    Though seemingly complicated, surely this should give Sony the kick up the arse it needs to just bring it to the UK already!!

  • markB0SS

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 8:49 am PT

    Why go to all that trouble when you can just download films of the net straight onto your pc?

  • Ice_N_Fire

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 8:26 am PT

    Ok Sony, I'll lay out for you. If you don't sort out this blatant favouritism that you seem to hold towards the US (even though they frigging hate you stateside by and large, we all know it's 360 land) then you've lost me as a customer and I'll go back to PC only gaming and be trading in my PS3. You make more money in Europe than in the states right now - start acting like it.

  • hannify

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 7:52 am PT

    They brought it upon themselves - if your too slow expect the consequences

  • UltimateRAGEX

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 7:50 am PT

    Nice, piracy is a really good thing.

  • shadowkiller11

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 7:24 am PT

    it sounds lilegal but still i would raher sony just let us have movie store now, the worst thing is they said its just about to come out yet thats just u.s they could of said a release date for europeans and japan

  • AranJatt

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 7:10 am PT

    sony have something against europe we always get things late, no wonder people spend ages doing thing like hacking.

  • richardson409

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:49 am PT

    a lot of effort perhaps, but these movies will probably cost twice as much when they finally come to the uk, everything always does.

  • phase4illini

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 6:19 am PT

    Sounds like a whole lot of work for not a lot of positive benefit... he must work in government.

  • ian_armstrong

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 5:52 am PT

    sounds too compicated

  • LastPRmarine

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 5:32 am PT

    Sony bring it to the UK and PR my cousin can't get it because he lives in PR

    I think the guy might want to watch his back because they might try to kill him

  • HolteEnder4Life

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 5:32 am PT

    i download them for free anyway

  • Altiar25

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 5:26 am PT

    hmm just bring it to teh UK already

  • CreepyBacon

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 5:14 am PT

    Pretty much everyone in the UK on a digital service should have access to hundreds of movies for cheaper and with no download required..why on earth anyone would go through that effort is beyond me.

  • raverrozza

    Posted Jul 21, 2008 5:01 am PT

    very enterprising of this guy! but it does seem like an awful lot of work just to dl movies. still hopefully it might encourage sony to speed up the process and get it here in the UK faster!!

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