class=”alignleft size-full wp-image-74032″ style=”margin: 10px;” title=”Slim Playstation 3 (PS3)” src=”https://www.heyuguys.com/images/2011/02/ps3_220x150.jpg” alt=”Slim Playstation 3 (PS3)” width=”220″ height=”150″ />Hackers’ joy at finally being able to ‘break’ the PlayStation 3’s code has turned to despair after Sony have started shutting down the PlayStation Network accounts of pirate users.

It all started earlier this year when George Hotz managed to crack the PS3’s long-held defences, spreading the word and essentially making it open to all.

CVG reports that users on a popular hacking forum have received an email informing them of their ban.

In corporate wordy speak, as follows:

“A circumvention device and/or unauthorized or pirated software currently resides on your PlayStation(R)3 system. Immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from your PlayStation(R)3 system. Failure to do so will result in termination of your access to the PlayStation(R)Network and access to Qriocity(TM) services through your PlayStation(R)3 system.”

Unsurprisingly, users who refused to remove the software were subsequently banned.