Videos - Secret Quality Assurance Menu Unlocked + QA Downgrading

Mathieulh, an underground hacker, has released two videos showcasing retail consoles which have been converted to special quality assurance consoles. He has managed to set a special QA flag in his console which unlocks a secret Quality Assurance menu. In the video he showcases some very unique options which typically are only available in Sony's QA Centers and their R&D Department. In one of the videos he also demonstrates how Sony officially downgrades their consoles using these QA options. Unfortunately, Mathieulh is infamous for not releasing his methods and has stayed true to form with this latest development.

Update - rms elaborates on why QA Flagging is difficult:

Ever since Mathieulh released his video, some people just want to QA flag their consoles. Now, let me tell you one thing, it’s so not easy.
Besides, if you want to use the QA flag, you have to have a valid QA token, and you have to be on a specific firmware range. Now, what’s so special about the token is that it’s generated in a funny way, I am not going to disclose that here. But, remember, PS3 hypervisor can also make tokens. But these tokens.. don’t do /anything/ except just unlock the QA repository node.
Besides, the fancy menu requires a very weird key combo on the Sixaxis, and it only works on retails. On debugs, it just removes all restrictions.
Remember, the QA flag in Syscon also requires a valid token. (reiterated again.)
So, in the end QA flagging = (Piracy*Warez)++;. Don’t do it.

What is a QA flag?

QA flag is the internal console flag used by Sony, it enables hidden options and removes restrictions for both retail and debug consoles alike. It is used for QA centers and the R&D Department, there are 2 levels of QA flags, Minimum and Advanced, this console has been set to the Advanced one.

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Video Description:

I just QA flagged my Metal Gear Solid 4 Limited Edition console and I thought I’d show you the hidden options for the sake of it. (and because I was bored)
I am sorry for the unstable camera, I only have two hands and the options are hidden and require (along with the actual flag) a crazy button combo to pop up. (I kid you not)
Sorry I am not telling you how to do this, please do not ask.
Yes, this video is real

Relevant tweets:

Mathieulh:
@dantezteam It’s an UNMODIFIED RETAIL FIRMWARE.
@KaKaRoToKS For various reasons, one of them being that you can warez with this, and the flag stays even after updating.
@KaKaRoToKS The QA flag happens to remove a bunch of restrictions that have the side effect of preventing you to warez.
@dantezteam The console is QA flagged, The firmware checks for this flag and will enable special features when it finds it.
@dantezteam Basically it’s what Sony themselves use to allow special debugging on their consoles and loosen restrictions.

@KaKaRoToKS By the way, Advanced QA flag enables downgrading, just my 2 cents… xD

Downgrading Video Description:

This is what happens when downgrade gets enabled. This is the way Sony officially downgrade retails.

Source: PS3Hax