Hi everyone. We’ve been listening to all of your feedback about the PS3 and PSP, and with these next firmware updates (coming soon), we’ve added a number of new features and improved some existing functionality to make your PS3/PSP experience even better.
PSP (v5.00) update
Let’s start with the v5.00 update for PSP. In this version, you’ll notice the addition of the PlayStation Network icon on the XMB. You can now sign up for PlayStation Network, manage your account and access PlayStation Store directly from your PSP – meaning you can download games directly to your PSP while connected via Wi-Fi. Getting games, demos and trailers while on-the-go has never been easier! Check out the screen below.
The current PlayStation Store on the PC will be down in the interim as we take some time to revamp. Don’t worry, it will re-launch soon after we’ve made some tweaks. Please keep in mind, if you already have a PlayStation Network account, simply sign in on your PSP using your existing information. The same account and wallet can be used on PS3 and PSP. You will be able to check out the PlayStation Store on the PSP soon, as we’ll have a video demo featuring Grace Chen posted soon on the Blog.
Update v5.00 adds a sleep timer option that can be used while you are playing music on your PSP. In addition, we’ve added a full screen keyboard option for text entry and have redesigned the background of the XMB. You’ll be able to find all of the information on Firmware v5.00 here once it goes live.
PS3 (v2.50) update
Now on to the PS3 v2.50 update. The latest features/enhancements include:
- Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset – we’ve told you about the upcoming Bluetooth Headset and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Bundle on the Blog. This latest firmware installment enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which delivers clear and wide-band online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level and use of HQ mode.
- PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements – I know that many of you are busy collecting trophies and raising your PlayStation Trophy level. This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today.
- Friend status – Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.
- Video – This update adds the Scene Search feature similar to the feature on the PSP. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.
- PlayStation Store – We’ve added a redeem codes option right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.
- Power Save Settings – You can now set your PS3 and wireless controllers to turn off automatically after set periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.
- Background Downloading – You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.
- In-game Screenshots – this tool will allow everyone to capture, share and in other words, immortalize their favorite gameplay moments. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Please check back to find out which games will support this feature.
- In addition to all of the features above there are some additional features and enhancements included in 2.50. Once the update launches, you can read all of the details here.
The support for the Bluetooth Headset will be of particular interest to all of you SOCOM fans. With the “Proximity Chat” feature, SOCOM: Confrontation gameplay is intensified as it allows you to experience high-quality voice playback in full surround sound. Whether the action is near or far, Proximity Chat clearly matches distance to sound effects and voiceovers within the game, putting you in the heart of the action.
Enjoy and please share your thoughts with us.
@193…
Agreed…multiplayer local needs the ability for each player to collect their own trophies.
this is some great news…
Great to hear. looking forward to this update. Lots of small, yet important features which I’ve been hoping for a while.
I just wonder when this update will be released. All we need is Custom avatars. :D
Lots of nice improvements. But the Screenshot feature being limited on a game by game basis saddens me as it will most likely go the way of Custom Soundtracks (aka: no games support it and those who do, do it internally in a way they could provide that before the firmware allowed)
Awesome list liferpgs.
Awesome, everything sounds fantastic :D
Any avatar updates for this firmware?
*sobs* still no WMA-PRO support?
Give us 3D avatars Sony.
I’m at work so I won’t be able to get this until later today. Hopefully these are fixed but if not, this is what I want in future updates.
1) Stop using the top-right corner for both the time and controller battery status. It sucks when they’re both on and they overlap.
2) XMB support for PS2 games. Yes, I still play some old games so please get this into the next firmware.
3) Trophy/Level status on the friends list. I would like a quick overview rather than having to select an option to compare.
4) A message icon. I would like to know if I have a message waiting rather than going into the inbox every time.
Thanks for this update though. I’m glad to finally have auto-off and a more detailed friends list.
I would like to see in-game XMB for PS1 and PS2 games, as well as an improved browser and cross game voice chat.
still no cross game/ in-game chat from the XMB? any reason why this is not a priority? does microsoft have a patent on this idea that keeps Sony from doing it?
great that you added the Power Save Settings and the Background Downloading. I always forget to turn off my controllers when I leave the room.
Will the new headset features work for Socom only?
Or will it fix the broken VOIP in games such as Warhawk or Battlefield Bad Company?
Wow, This update has more features I’m looking forward to then any other FW update i’ve paid attention to :p
Video split, auto-off controllers(no more dead batteries after a work day of folding when I forgot to turn off the controller :D), and in-game screenshots just in time for showing off Guitar Hero World Tour and RB2 scores :)
Just want to make sure your devs know that some of us at least greatly appreciate their hard work and aren’t always asking for more ;)
Great, I hope the PSP update has the screen shot feature as well like i’ve read on the net.
amazing, every update brings us closer to the exact XMB we all want. keep up the great work firmware team, soon you’ll have your place in history along side criterion as the beartest supporters of the ps3 community.
Awesome, awesome update. One thing I would like to see, and I know there really isn’t anything you can do about this Eric, but someone needs to require developers to include the in-game music player and screen shot features.
Nice work guys. But I am having some problems with the trophies. I´m playing uncharted right now and in the beginning all was fine; I was getting a lot of medals with their corresponding trophies, but lately the trophies don´t pop up anymore when I get a medal/reward.
Can someone knows how I can fix this??
Friend status! Thank you for that! now i can delete friends that haven’t been active for months.
Very good update, next time please make that after a movie ends on the PS3 the movie below starts by itself.
A simple thing that PSP has and that PS3 should have to.
Nice to see some of these features being addressed. I was wondering if were possible to have a single update screen that updates all your games. It’d be similar to the Mac’s Software Update. It’s annoying that whenever I want to revisit an old game, there’s usually a patch available for it. I’d feel much better if there was a way to keep my game library up to date using a one click solution.
These updates are awesome! We only need latest flash players on psp and ps3 and standalone flash player from within XMB and not have to access the browser.
is the “videos play in sequence” update like a playlist? playing all videos inside a folder? That would be great!
Thanks for the updates!
awesome update cant w8 2 download it and play socom with the official playstation headset XD
o.O just 2 good things with this new update. freindslist(to sort out stuff) and new improved energy management.
who the hell wants to take a screeshoot while he/she is in action?
Thank you Sony for a great update. All of your hard work is very much appreciated!!!
couple suggestions for the next/future updates:
In-Video XMB support
PS1/PS2 In-Game XMB support
Custom Avatars
Multi System Account Log-Ins (for gaming at home with friends)
Video Playlists
there are quite a few other great suggestions around this blog that i would also like to see in the next/future updates. i’m excited and can’t wait for this and the next and the next. :D
You guys have officialy convinced me to start posting here. This an great and unexpected update. I didnt expect taking screenies will come soo soon! And to this we got in-game xmb this year already!
Thank you so much!
I KNOW you will continue giving us these great updates. Im glad i can talk to mi friends via mi PSP now.
Youtube uploadin shall be next! (prediction)
Either way, thanks. You have really given me my money’s worth.. 600$ was a really good deal!
Many Warhawk players have issues with their bluetooth headsets. This has driven players away. It’s nice that you’ve integrated support for your new “official” headset but, when are you going to fix issues with other headsets? This has been a common complaint in the Warhawk forum for quite some time.
nice job sony fall has been great
The more I think about the timer, it doesn’t sound like a timer. It sounds like i you’re watching a dvd and you fall asleep and have it set it’ll continue to play all night long. It says after so long of “inactivity” that leads me to believe an idle system without anything running. Like the xmb or a paused game or something.
DVD’s, even when they’re over, always have moving main menu screens. This would make the system act as if it was active.
Any thoughts on this one, Eric or other users here?
Fantastic news! Thanks to you all for all your hard work!
To make this day even better, we’ll be hearing some new news on R2 beta!
THANKS SONY!
great update
but i thought the psp would have had more feature but we will see
i’m impressed.
thank you all involved. this list of updates is way more than i expected.
keep up the great work.
Is this going to be live by tomorrow when Socom is released? I hope so.
Anyway, sounds like a great update for both systems. Can’t wait!
Awesome update. The Power save features are greatly appreciated :)
great update! kep them coming sony! This is wonderful. Now only if they launch at White psp 3000. I can enjoy all those nice features also.
Sony,
We NEED cross game invites and in-game chat to have a decent multiplayer experience with friends. This should be -TOP- priority in my opinion.
I’d rather pay 40$/year than having it free and not being able to enjoy multiplayer. I mean, we need to all use Skype to chat if we want to play online on PS3 (or use the game-specific voice chat and have every player hear what we say and vice-versa) Unacceptable after 2 years. >:\
I sure hope Home fixes all of this.
@203: That would require some weird system that allows two players to be logged in simultaneously — or at least to link player two to some existing local PS3 user. Interesting idea. I’m sure it could be done.
@211: What do you want 3D avatars for? What can they do, that the existing avatars can’t except from looking more confusing? What I’d like to see in this field is avatars of your own choice — say in 200×200 PNG; large enough and with alpha channel. And then perhaps avatars more often in multi players games — maybe with an option to toggle it, so that you can keep that plain, stylish look GT5P has.
Excellente features!
But the best is:
In-game Screenshots ^^
Nice update, keep up the good work.
well it has to be out soon because SOCOM comes out tomorrow and if people bought the game with a headset with NO zupport. Sony is effed in the A.
[QUOTE=CrushDance]I bought a 60GB PS3 on November 21 2007. I bought a 40GB PS3 on July 12 2008, my brother bought a 40GB PS3 on August 8 2008.
I have spent nearly $3,000 since I bought my PS3 on accessories(Extra controllers, games, PSN etc). I put money aside for the official blue tooth headset.
They are ALL registered under my PSN for the dates of purchase and I have a receipt for the first two, however my brother does not have a receipt for his which is registered under my name.
So my brother starts having disc problems with his PS3 and since we already know about this disc read problem I contacted Sony right away and reported it. The guy I spoke to on the phone gave me several things to try and said that if any problem ever happened again to call and they’d repair the unit just to be safe. My brother comes home one day and his system will not read any discs at all, we tried the usual trick of BluRays, DVD, CD and so forth. Absolutely nothing. So we called up Sony again to report it and the guy we talk to spins a totally different tale and says we need the recipet for the unit and to go back to the store we purchased it to see if they have a replacement. Problem is the store he bought it from is a local store and I know the manager, he sad that he couldn’t pull a receipt(Wtf?).
He said he’d call Sony and get it solved and just pay the $169 CAD. I was pissed and argued with the guy on the phone(Politely mind you) that their reciept thing is bull, the whole reasoning is this: [B]”We need a receipt to prove it’s in warranty otherwise it can’t be replaced”. [/B] Okay, that’s great. I told the guy, EVEN IF I bought the 40GB day 1 it would have to be from November to November of this year to use up the warranty, so why can’t it be fixed? His answer? [B]”We need the receipt to prove it’s still in warranty”[/B]
WTF. I was angry as was my brother but he decided he’d just try and put aside the money to replace the system which is still under warranty.
Cut to last night and I’m playing Metal Gear Solid 4, you can probably guess what happened here. The game froze and the system made 2 beeps. The XMB was still active though and I turned off the system via XMB. Upon restart I got the infinite spiraling orb in the corner trying to find the disc. Boy was I pissed. 2 PS3’s in under 2 months from each other(Both due to MGS4). I called up Sony once again this morning and got greeted with some stupid [DELETED] about: [B]”Please hold for an important message. The precursor to the best racing franchise, Gran Turismo Prologue is out now! Download it off the Playstation Store or buy it at retail, download times may vary etc” [/B]What in the hell!? If my system is dead and NOT working I don’t want to hear [DELETED] about buying a game I have never cared about in the first place. It’s a plain insult to the person calling especially when given bull about not being able to repair the system.
Anyway the guy I spoke to said that I would have to SHIP my PS3 back to them to fix it along with my receipt which I do have. Why the hell am I the one who has to go to the post office, pay $10 for shipping and extra for insurance on a $400 product!? What is wrong with these people?
Urgh. I am so pissed right now, there’s 2 40B PS3’s which are for all intents and purposes, “dead” I can still play my downloaded titles fine but disc playback is toast and I can’t even get the other one replaced due to some crap about “purchase date”. Do these people not understand the basics? Even if my brother purchased his PS3 day 1 when the 40GB’s were released he would STILL be in warranty.[/QUOTE]
Wow!! very good !!! thanks!!!
in latin america we are waiting!!
more In Mexico!!
PSN:
wizardpsx
I would like to see
-In game private chat with another person or even with a party of people. I can’t see any of this every happening though.
-Low power state for background downloading(I don’t know if 2.50 has this).
-Leave the usb ports on when the ps3 is turned off so you can charge things.
-XMB for blu-ray/dvd and ps1/2 games.
great news, next fix the browser please :)
I hope the PSP is getting more then just the PSP store. I hope we get the Screenshot bit, and newer RSS feed features as well! That would make the PSP Store into perfect iceing on a great cake!
crap i’m late!
++/Frito’s *REVISED* Top Firmware/PS3 update wishlist!\++
PLEASE add in-game Media Server support. There’s nothing more that I desire than that.
1) ~~~More In-Depth Online PSN Profiles~~~
Allow our new online profiles to be even more detailed, so friends can see exactly what games we own so we can better invite people, instead of sending out invites not knowing if the person even owns the game..and when you have TONS of friends in your list it really would be nice to know what games certain people have without having to message them.
it would be cool to see stuff like what type of music/movies/games we like, what model PS3 we have, etc. etc.! our profiles feel so cold and impersonal!
2) ~~~Bring Back/Fix Backwards Compatibility~~~
It’s just silly releasing new SKu’s with more features like bigger hard drives after TAKING OUT THE BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY!!! the 60 gig launch unit actually had the PS2 emotion chip inside, along with all the memory stick/sd card readers, and all 4 usb slots..so they ditched all that and then pretend like we are getting a great deal with a bigger hard drive?
I know of many, many, people who have put off buying a PS3 because they can’t play their huuuge PS2 library on it..and then go buy the 360..it doesn’t have to be this way!
******And please fix the existing backwards compatibility you DID include!******
The 60 gig launch unit in particular! alot of PS2 games still look horrible! ( like Final Fantasy 12 )
Early adopters like myself paid $700+ at launch and still have not seen this issue resolved. I know Sony has said no to any more BC in the new 80-120 gig SKU’s, but why not stick with what you guys DID do, and finish the job, please!
3) ~~~In Game Soundtracks/Streaming Playlists Mandatory For All New Games!~~~
you hear it all the time-people want this option! Make developers include this option in all NEW games since it is now able to be done due to the previous firmware updates.. (but it is still up to the developers) Tell ’em to do it like you did with trophies!
AAAAAANNNDDD!! PLEASE allow streaming music from our Network computers and music from USB flash drives to play as custom soundtracks! that would be awesome! (it can save HD space, waaaaaay more songs on the computer, friends can bring some tunes over on a USB drive, etc. etc.)
4) ~~~Fix the PS3 Web Browser!~~~
the PS3’s dirty secret! Please Allow flash v9! We can’t even watch videos on these very blogs or surf reliably with the PS3 browser without it crashing… Now that we can upload stuff to YouTube, why can’t we then be able to watch them on our PS3’s?
5) ~~~MORE MUSIC VISUALIZATIONS!~~~
I use my PS3 as an all-in-one Home Media Center, and i stream ALOT of music from my computer to the PS3, and love watching the music visualizations in HD on my giant TV….but it’s time for some new ones! i love the 2 we have, but cmon! (the XMB ribbon one doesn’t count)
even the freeware winamp comes with almost 50 different visualizations settings, each with tons of variety within! I say let us amateur developers make some new visualizations on good ol AfterEffects and send em to Sony if your developers can’t be bothered to do it!!
6) ~~~Timed Shutoffs for Controllers and Sleep Timer mode for PS3~~~the new firmware update allows our PS3’s to shut off after DLing something, how about more functionality??
Allow us to have a timed shut off for our controllers that we can set, like after 5 min, 10, 20 etc. etc. after no controller activity..it will save our battery life! also a sleep function for the PS3 itself, so we can watch a Blu-Ray movie without fear of falling asleep!
…Or even an option where after so much inactivity, the game/movie/song quits and launches into Folding@Home and auto starts a new work unit if you set it to do so..just ideas!
7) ~~~Fix the EyeCreate Software~~~
fix the stop-motion animation “snapshot” function in EyeCreate software to allow smaller bits of time, instead of having to manually cut EACH and EVERY little frame, it takes an average of 1000+ for a 5 minute movie! then we can have a PS3 blog movie festival!
8)~~~Video Store Atrocities~~~
Cmon guys, either lower the price of rentals at the new movie store, or extend the viewing time/limits…it’s embarassing! sorry, it had to be said. I’m excited about using the store, but i can rent them cheaper, keep them longer, and watch them as many times as i want at a traditional store or with NetFlix! You have to make us WANT to rent! Just because it’s there isn’t enough reason..
thanks for listening!
firmwares i do love sony but this is what i want:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa32/Biggz124/lolwut.jpg