Hi everyone. Here’s a preview of the next PLAYSTATION 3 firmware update (2.00) scheduled to release within the next few days. This update contains features that will allow you to receive news directly from us on everything PlayStation, enhance the way you access and organize your media, and allow you to customize your XMB in new ways.
Here’s a closer look at the new features:
You’ll notice this icon in the Network category of the XMB. This is the Information Board.
Once activated, you’ll notice scrolling headlines in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. We’ll be delivering the latest news on new games, PLAYSTATION Store updates, hardware, accessories and lots more through the Information Board. Click on the Information Board icon and you’ll be able to see all of the headlines and click through for more detail. The headlines and associated stories will be updated on a regular basis. You can choose not to display the Information Board, but you never know what you might miss, so I’d recommend keeping it on.
We’ve added a nice enhancement to Remote Play called Remote Start, to use Remote Play locally or from a Wi-Fi hotspot, you needed to make sure that your PS3 was on. With Remote Start this is no longer necessary. As long as your PS3 is in standby mode, you’ll be able to turn your PS3 on remotely via the PSP. You can then use Remote Play to access media on your PS3, and when you’re finished you can put your PS3 back into standby mode.
Another feature we’ve added with this update is the ability to set themes on your PS3. Themes will change the whole look of your XMB; the background, icons, and in some cases sounds on your XMB will completely change. We will be providing themes on PlayStation.com and through the PLAYSTATION Store. Once you have downloaded a theme, under Settings go to Theme Settings, select Theme and then choose a theme to display or install a new theme. We are also providing the ability for you to get creative and make your own original themes.
We’ve also added a new way to organize your photos and music on the PS3 – you can now create custom playlists for all of your music and photos.
Finally, regular readers of this blog may have noticed that I’m using a new avatar. You will see that logo above on your XMB representing the new PLAYSTATION Network category. You’ll find the PLAYSTATION Store and Account Management in this category.
We’ve added several other features in this update. I’ll soon be back with more details with a quick video demo of some of the new features.
As always thanks for all of your support and feedback.
@ 411:
Wow, way to over analyze. It’s like you actually think you know how decisions concerning the PSN are made at Sony. But of course you don’t. You don’t work for Sony, and you don’t work with the PSN. You have no knowledge of any of the considerations that must be made when deciding features for firmware updates. So why even make comments like that? It’s sad when people interpret whatever they want a meaning to be from a simple and clear statement.
Well, I’m happy. I’m pretty sure Sony has put a lot of work into the 2.0 update and are putting even more work into in game XMB access. Its because of this extra work we’re not seeing it yet and that’s fine as long as they get it right the first time. I just want in game XMB access to be available by the time Home is released.
Sony has given me a BD player, a bunch of new games I love (Heavenly Sword, Ratchet and Clank Future, Resistance Fall of Man, Motorstorm, etc.) and FREE online gaming in a $600 console at no profit to them. This is just the first year and in a few years we can look back at how much our shiny black beast has grown.
I’m excited about remote start. I love using Remote play when I’m out because it’s like having a PSP with a 60GB HDD. Now I don’t have to leave my PS3 on when I’m expecting to use remote play. I can have access to it when I’m not expecting to use it.
And for making music/photo play lists? This is something I’ve been wanting for a long time as well.
Thank you Sony.
finally lu we agree on something other than sid the kid bein greatness, glad to see you’re tryin to get the douche outta here too
i can see peace in the future for us
Why is there no in game xmb? It has now been one year and we have been wanting this since day one and asking and posting, since day one for in game xmb? What happened to Sony listening to what we want? Because when everyone on every message board goes yelling for in game xmb after every update anouncement, and the fact that we stll have no, in game xmb, tells me Sony really doesn’t give half a s**t what we want or think. This is a feature that should have been there from day one to begin with. Other consoles have it. Inferior consoles at that by Sony’s word? So why can Sony not catch up instead of jsut following the leader? Does not seem very dominant of the PS3 to me? Get on the ball Sony.
I’ve only read now up to comment #19 by Punumbra and he stole the words out of my mouth “We’ve added several other features in this update. I’ll soon be back with more details with a quick video demo of some of the new features.” Read people” This sentence is what has kept me from getting pissed. It’s a strategy, kill all of the hype and attack when least expected. Damn I hope I’m right!
Thanks.
Hey Eric, does this 2.00 update include any upgrades for the PS1 and PS2 back compat?
i just dont understand y we cant get ingame music and messaging. tat is all i wnat. tat is the only feature that makes live better. i undertsand its free for teh psn but still man many developers suck at ickin music for games and i hate having ot quit my games in order ot message someone or wat ever
@ all complainers
Who the hell misinformed you guys that 2.0 was going to be the be all/end all update to your ps3. The changing of the pre-decimal number in the update has nothing to do with the amount of new features the update will bring. The number indicates the year mark or an anniversary if you will. PS3 launched in November 2006 and this update being released November 2007 marks the 2nd year of the system & featured update. Which means expect update 3.0 in November 2008, 4.0 in November 2009, etc… We will get in game XMB, custom playlists and WMV&AVI support in their due time, but just don’t confuse these with the number given to the updates.
Your Welcome
im not saying this a bad update dont get me wrong cuz im out of town all teh time and want to shwo off wat the ps3 and psp can do. but at the same time i would kill for my gaming and online experince to be blown away. im not gonna abandon my ps3 but i hope taht these other “features” include somethin to atleast message with
By the time the ps3 gets all the last gen options from the xbox 360, the next xbox will be out and well on its way to kickin’ the pubic hair off the ps3, just like it’s brother is doing right now.
Nice! Im really excited for the new features. Especially the customizable themes.
i would be nice to have ingame XMB, but ill take anything i can get. hehe
Cant wait to see that demo vid. or better yet the update itself
Useless update if i can’t play the music on my hard drive WHILE playing a game!
It’s not a good update, though. I mean… If it wasn’t foced on me, I wouldn’t even download it. I think in order to play games you hafta download it, though and that sucks. This offers me nothing… just like the other updates. All of them have been underwhealming. Even the upstretcher for ps1 and ps2 games, cause now I have black bars all over my tv when playing them thanks to that update. They won’t fix that either, cause Sony doesn’t believe in B/C support no more. Another brilliant move.
i can deal without in game xmb but us ps3 users NEED some way of reading our messages in a game. there is a lot of games coming out that will have online play and i think that having some way for us to read and send messages within a game is essential.
we dont want in game xmb we can do without it.
what we want is the ability to read messages. it is simple rather than mess up the ram with the xmb loading up just add the option in the black screen when you press the ps button. so we can press the ps button and go down to messages and read and send them without having to load up the xmb. this wouldnt effect the ram at all then
please
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please sony pelase do this for us. we are not asking for xmb, some people put that idea into our heads. what we want is in game message sending and recieving. loading the xmb…naaaah, when a message is recieved press the ps button(into black screen) down to messages and communicate to our friends without messing the ps3 up.
please
please
please
please sony i think somethime ye forget that at the end of the day the ps3 is a games console and not a super blu ray
I guess i just hate having the system that everyone makes fun of “ha” … When you look at the xbox 360 and wii, you can’t really make fun of them cause they’re successful… Even with their faults. The ps3 is a failure and it’s got so many faults they’re not worth counting.
@453 enrichovega
That is not true, the PSP got out in March 2005 and FW 2.00 was out until 24 August 2006
I’m quite excited about this update, actually, and I’m glad to see it.
It will be nice when cross-game invites and messaging are thoroughly integrated and available in-game, but we know that it is coming, sooner or later.
For the time being, the new media management features look great, and the XMB theming will be nice to play around with, but I hope there are some game-related improvements in there some place as well.
Eric, can you speak to whether or not the BD 1.1 profile support is in this firmware release? How comprehensive is the feature list you’ve mentioned so far?
Also, any updates to the usability and aesthetics of the Playstation Store coming up? How about improvements to the browser and its Flash support?
@gamesblow
Seriously your antics are getting ridiculous. If you don’t like Sony, then don’t bother with them, meaning don’t come to the Official Site/Blog bad mouthing Sony. I agree Sony, hasn’t done everything right and have disappointed me at times (BTW This ISN’T one of those times) however I still made a decision to get a PS3 and other Sony brands and I live with joys and heartache . Furthermore Sony, has done great things by the PS3 (Like this update) and haven’t given up on the system, which is a pretty good system. I don’t particularly favor the 360 yet you don’t see me bothering the X-Box forums or the Nintendo forums so the same should apply here. This Update is pretty fine, especially the Theme Option (One feature, I personally wanted). Lastly, it wasn’t said that In-Game XMB wasn’t included in the Update and even if it isn’t, I never read anything official stating 2.0 was to have In-Game XMB, just rumors, so why many felt that 2.0 was the mega update, is beyond me.
http://gap.us.playstation.com/?q=gap_poll
LOL
Yes, we need in-game xmb.
No, everyone does not need to over react.
You guys act like it’s the end of the world, we all know it will come soon. It’s in demand. I love the people who come on here saying “I just might have to get a 360 now”.
Seriously…shutup. If that’s the type of impatient idiot you are. Then
1. Come and show me your degree in nothing, remind of how you can’t do any better and shutup.
2. Go get w/e system you want, because I probably won’t want to hear your whiny voice on PSN when I headshot you in COD4.
3. Just end it.
Although this is disappointing we still don’t know what the other 7 are. And this update is pretty reasonable.
The only thing they should of worked on for 2.0 is ingame XMB! that’s what there first objective should of been! Anyone agree on that!
@263 Eric Lempel said…
“As far as other features many of you are calling for (such as in-game XMB) – SCE continues to evaluate opportunities to provide new functionality to PS3 on an ongoing basis. New features and functionality have continually been added to the system since it debuted, and we will continue to update you with new developments.”
Thanks for taking the time to answer Eric. But when you say Sony is evaluating, does this mean that Sony has not made a decision to include in-game XMB ? Why are talking like a politician? Are you forbidden from giving us a straight answer? Come on man! give us a ballpark date!
Don’t think im a hater. I bought my PlayStation 3 on launch day and love it, and have spent a lot of money on it. Im just sad of broken promises.
I was promised a 2006 launch for the PS3 (in Europe), -Sony broke it.
I was promised HOME in October 2007 – Sony broke it.
I was promised in-game XMB here, on this website (although a date wasnt given) and everyone understood this to mean in 2007. I hope this promise is kept.
Sony didnt say XMB was coming in Firmware 2.0 but the whole web was. Why didnt you refute this?
Anyway. as one poster keeps saying this is all one big PR stunt, and you will surprise us all tomorrow morning when the Firmware 2.0 launch actually does have in-game XMB! And we will all be surprised, and we will all eat humble pie, because you pulled the most wonderful trick on us and surprised us with what we wanted!
And we will all say “Oh Thank you Eric! Oh Thank you Sony, this is the best present ever! You have made are dream come true! You gave us XMB in firmware 2.0!Sorry we ever doubted you. This is the best Christmas ever!”
And this is why i’m playing xbox360 lol
Loud and clear, Ozzyuno… Loud and clear. I’m selling Motorstorm now cause the music in it is terrible. I cannot believe we can’t play the music we want to lay in our games. It’s beyond me. Sony strikes again!!!! They tossed out their B/C, they spit in our face with in game xmb, they lost every exclusive that made them successful, they just gone… It’s almost like they want to sell more PSP’s over Ps3’s. Cheaper for them, I’m sure.
@pharmd
LOL…im not completely irrational
@gamesblow
i hated having the system people made fum of also…thats why i have both now…so what Sony doesnt do for me MS does
my only gripe at this point is for what i paid for this far more superior piece of hardware (PS3)…I expect sooooooooo much more from Sony in terms of software…i get a WAY better gaming experience from a far less superior machine (360)
I’d like to personally kick the guy in the sack who green lit the Motorstorm soundtrack… WOW! I’d rather have Perry como’s GH than that trite garbage on the game. Also, as I was saying early on… Sony has leveraged themselves more with the PSP than the Ps3. They’re forcing the PSP issue more and more and I can almost see where they think they’re going … It’ll fail, folks. Both systems are commercial disasters.
Sony this is ridiculous people dont buy a next gen console for bluray they buy it for games and in this generation playing games is all about online….sony i will pay you monthy (no more than 7$) if you provide me with a more robust online experience for example…..some type of gamercard that is universal that if anyone wants too they can look at it and see how many trophies i have gotten out of how many are available for all the games i have played in detail…and cross game messaging i dont even care if theres chat i mean just meassaging and also in game music….sony i will pay you monthly for this…because guess what…its worth it..IT DOES MAKE THE EXPERIENCE THAT MUCH BETTER!!!!!!
cmon this is rubbish, friends list + mail in game so u dont have to QUIT the game to read and send messages.
@Loucifer
That’s what I’m saying!! I bought the Ps3 for 600 on launch day… My mistake, I know. I expected it “as anyone should” to be superior. To offer me better multiplatform games… To offer me what the xbox 360 is for 300 bucks less “at times” It didn’t happen. I’m beside myself and now am too far spent on Sony to even try to support another system. I’d go xbox 360 today, but the start over is going to hurt… but it’s tempting, none the less.
The PS3 has been out for almost a year not even counting the years it was being developed. Still no in game massaging and music? Shame Lame
I think the upgrade is great . Though in-game XMB is not present , I’m in no rush to get it. My question about it, however, is whether it is something game developers are responsible for or will you, Sony, provide it . For those of you still playing Resistance, the game supports in-game access to the XMB’s boddy list. I don’t know if other games do but at least Insomniac did this w/ Resistance. I would like in the future, aside from the XMB, to see the game in the background when I press the PS button. I hate it going all black. Enclose the game in a letter box form with the options on the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen but don’t make the whole screen all black.
No in game xmb = why I recently purchased cod4 for the 360
It’s a neat update Sony and I’ll mess around w/ these features but seriously, give us in game xmb w/ the ability to send/read messages, and give it to us ASAP, we’ve waited way too long for this feature and it’s ridiculous…Sony Playstation 3 ~~ Wait B3Y0ND
I’d much rather trade all of those things in for in-game access to the Xross Media Bar.
Sometimes I feel Sony set themselves up for this. I mean they MUST realise that everone was going to go ape about the very feature light 2.0 firmware…
I mean come on, not even BD Profile 1.1 support, I think even the least ambitious, figured that this would make the cut.
Does Firmware 2.0 feel like 5 months of work, Nope, My feeling is all the good stuff has been moved out (bugs/untested or marketing reasons), and the empty shell that remains is what we see today..
Come on Sony, people have be REALLY patient, and we are now a year in, and things have not substatially changed. I can fully understand why many people are gutted today..
someone even the PR people had to know that not having in-game xmb or custom music in game was going to lead to 95% dissatisfaction amoung anyone who looks up gaming news online. the only way to dispurse this badness is some PSN love (demos, PS1 games out the wahzoo) or just wait till everyone’s too busy with Uncharted
someone even the PR people had to know that not having in-game xmb or custom music in game was going to lead to 95% dissatisfaction amoung anyone who looks up gaming news online. the only way to dispurse this badness is some PSN love (demos, PS1 games out the wahzoo) or just wait till everyone’s too busy with Uncharted. and a better browser that atleast cache’s on the HD to not run out of memory. Hell get Firefox running on it or rip off of IE something of that effect.
I pay over £450 for a ‘Next-Gen’ console that is supposed to be futureproof yet SCE can’t implement features that have been up and running on another console for almost 2 years? Pathetic.
Why can’t you acknowledge what the people want? You’re not gaining any new customers from this lame attempts at ground breaking software, you’re only distancing those who’ve already spent a lot of money on this pathetic console.
I’m taking my PlayStation 3 back to the store and asking for a full refund. I’m sick and tired of this.
Gamesblow you need to relax before you pop a blood vessel.
This is just a piece of plastic and while I understand the frustration of no messaging while in-game I do not understand why this seems so life or death for you.
Just take some deep breaths go trash your ps3 or give it to a friend and just stick with the 360 or Wii.
You might be taking this as a slam as you seem very defensive but I’m worried your gonna find a bell tower to climb with a rifle so please “Deep Breathes”
This is a good update. The Remote Play feature is very cool. The PS3/PSP interconnectivity is becoming a reality.
Unfortunate about the in-game XMB, but seriously, it’s not that major of an issue. I’m sure the team is fully aware and working on producing something that will work for both gamers and will not increase the ram usage of the PS3 for developers. Keep that in mind…as it may affect gameplay quality at this time. Patience friends…patience.
@gamesblow
and my point to you is state your opinion minus all the idiocies thats all…you sound like a complete idiot when you ramble like that
OK, here’s a more productive comment about what I want from my PS3:
1) Help boxes/hints for the different options. I have no clue what 80% of the options/setting do.
2) The ability to read and send messages in game. It doesn’t have to be the XMB but some way without having to quit the game.
3) Better sort features for everything. Let me arrange which icons come first so I don’t have to scroll through the things I don’t use that often.
4) Rumble before Spring ’08. How about getting it to us by Christmas ’07.
5) I want to prevent my system from asking me “Are you sure you want to turn off the system?” It’s just an annoying step that doesn’t need to be there.
6) Avatars that I create. The ones that are available now are fine, but I want some more personalization.
7) Better PlayStation Store layout. The current design is not easy to navigate and is very hard to find things when they’re not new. I’d like to see the ‘Newest Updates’ show everything and not just the top 10.
That’s all for now. I’ll let you know if I come up with anything else.
I’m not defensive at all… “you must be 1 of the few” who don’t know of my many exploits and success as a forum poster. I forgive you. Truth is, sony should be the defensive ones and they are. They’re going out of business, crazy larry style. PS3 will be dead by 2009. Easily. 3rd party sees no difference in the ps3 oppsed to the xbox 360 other than the giant gap in installbase the 360 has over the ps3… So, we won’t be playing many 3rd party games on the system. that’s for sure. Exclusive? Please… Sony doesn’t know what that means.
By the time SONY figures it out, it’ll be too late for the PS3–the world will have moved on.
In the end, one fact remains: you can’t build a community without providing an efficient means of communication. Period.
I know I didn’t ask for any of the “amazng” features in this update. I haven’t used any of the “amazing” features of the last update, to tell you the truth. If they’d just give us in game XMB access.. “FULL XMB ACCESS” they could retire and rest their overworked heads… These updates are almost like Busy work. Gotta stay busy. Gotta do something, right? Let’s toss out all this GARBAGE.
WOW… almost 500 replys in only a few hours and MOST of them are NEGATIVE???
SONY…do you get the #u$%*% HINT ???
@493
BAM! Who the heck can argue that? nobody… Sony wants to build a community and give us all this garbage but has failed to do the most rutamentary thing… Allow us to communicate.
Ingame XMB would take up a lot of ram, making games not as good…So if you’d rather have in-game XMB and worse graphics, then go ahead and complain. I personally would rather have better looking games than ingame xmb. And why do you need to go to the XMB anyway while playing a game? They could just add in game messenging if that what you want.
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