Hi everyone, PlayStation 3 (PS3) firmware update (v3.00) adds a number of great new features that we’re excited to share with you. The latest update incorporates changes that improve navigation on your PS3. First, you’ll notice some cosmetic changes to the design of the XMB (Xross Media Bar). We’ve enhanced the look and feel of the XMB so that it’s easier and even more intuitive to use. We’ve also added network improvements and personalization options to help enhance your PS3 experience.
Additional highlights from update 3.00 include:
- “What’s New” – The “Information Board” will be replaced with a “What’s New” section, which allows you to enjoy interactive PlayStation news every time you start the PS3 system. Located under the PlayStation Network icon, “What’s New” displays the latest and greatest game, video, PlayStation Network and PlayStation news and releases, as well as your recently played games, in a sleek, new animated format.
- Status Indicator – In the top right corner we’ve added an indicator bar, which displays your user icon, friend icon, the number of friends you have online and a small message icon to let you know if you have any new messages. The indicator also includes a scrolling ticker that features the latest news from PlayStation Network. In addition, when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock.
- Friends List – Now your PlayStation Network friends will appear in a slightly redesigned format on your Friends List. Also, messages will now be viewable from each of your friends’ respective profiles.
- PlayStation Store Shortcuts – We’ve added a handy shortcut icon to the PlayStation Store under both the Game and Video categories so you can access the latest content quickly and easily.
- Personalization – Personalize your PS3 with new dynamic custom themes and avatars. Dynamic themes as well as free and premium avatars will be available through PlayStation Store. A dynamic theme takes your screen to a whole new level as it incorporates animated objects into the background.
- Trophies – Showcasing your hard earned trophies just got better. Update 3.00 gives game developers the ability to modify how they display trophies for add-on content. Base and add-on game trophies will continue to be combined into a single list so you can see where you stand in a game as a whole. Within that list, trophies will be broken out into subcategories—base trophies and add-on trophies—that way, you can easily view the percentage of your base game trophy collection, and separately track your trophy progress in add-on packs. Look for this enhancement to be included in upcoming games.
To get a preview of what’s coming in update 3.00, check out the video below:
We’re looking forward to releasing firmware update 3.00 soon. As always, we appreciate your feedback.
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Does this allow the Mad Catz FightStick (TE/SE) to work on PS2 games? Hori sticks work, but not the Mad Catz ones. A firmware release fixed the Hori ones before.
WORST UPDATE EVER
@541 Completly agree with you! Why cant the Playstation reconise my external hard drive thats another thinhg to look into
I’m surprised no one is screaming their lounges out why Sony hasn’t input Voice Chat… I’m impressed.
Very impressive update Eric ;-)
And who ever said that PS2 BC was coming soon (a Sony Representive suppose to have said that) should be really kicked hard at! Unless the news still has to come out, just replace it with huggings instead.
OMG!! I want that LBP theme??! Does that have to release or is it already available??
great update but i would love to press the PS button as soon as i get a message to open it, it would make life soooo much easier.
very very very kool great work guys i luv it
@552 *sigh*… spoiler
@553
*FACEPALM*
No cross game voice chat??????
This is what all gamers are waiting for!
Features like those nice themes arent that necessery as Voice Chat!
C’mon Sony, don’t be so stupid. =/
Really, the one feature the PS3 lacks that I want is PS2 BC. I want to be able to play all my old PS2 games on my PS3.
3.00 is all cosmetic junk. Meh.
Putting the PSN store on every tab just fills your UI with clutter. Meh.
The game console turning on and defaulting to not showing me my games is just … not really the point of a games console.
This rates a resounding “meh” from me. Wake me up when you add features that customers like me actually want.
Personally I just think y’all should take everyone working on PS Home and put them on the PS2 BC team, thereby solving two problems at once.
Gary (-;
When is it coming?
I am so getting that LBP theme.
Awesome i’ve been waiting for a new update! all the features look awesome!! no complaints here!
No cross game chat = FAIL
Why do I need a moving sackboy in my ps3 if I can’t even chat with my friends while playing?
Is the moving sackboy a solution for the loneliness that this missing feature leaves us?
Loving this! Do want! :D
i can get updates on whats new, but i still can’t play music while I play any game. how lame.
Looks Great Guys!!
Can’t wait for the update!
Looks nice so far. Like most, I’m really hoping for some more robust audio chat options.
I want to get into Warhawk, and JUST talk to a few of my friends without getting on the nerves of everyone else on the team.
Any clearer target date than “soon?”
Love the update. Good work.
Now I know everyone is whining about cross-game chat, but what I would like to see is some kind of indicator showing when someone is either watching a video, roaming the internet, or (most importantly) remote playing.
Also, with the new status section, what will new information (such as trophies, friends logging in, new message alerts) look like?
Always looking for improvements. Can’t wait.
Sounds like a pretty sweet update. I like the idea of the XMB being a little easier to navigate. I would still like to see some kind of update that would include Playstation 2 backwards compatibility though.
Another minor thing I’d like to see is black getting added to the list of colors for the background/options menu. Sometimes “Original” is black, but most of the time it’s a duplicate of one of the other colors that’s already available. Why can’t black be a permanent color option?
wait guys lets see if we can get this post 1000 comments.
I think I speak for others too when I say that Sony must bring a much stronger showing in the digital media and home media hub side of the PS3. One of the things I feel is sorely missing from the PS3’s home media experience is subtitle support of digital videos. It is really not difficult to support, and still surprises me that it has not been added in. in jack tretton’s video announcing the price drop, he says that the ps3 is competing not just with games, but with other home media devices and home entertainment options in general and that the target consumer is anyone with electricity. with the psp go, you can see that sony is trying to move towards digital media. well, as far as ps3’s digital media handling, it is bested by most digital media boxes that can be found cheaply. if the ps3 stands to be relevant in the hd video space there must be more robust support for hd video. this includes strong subtitle support for digital files as well as more files supported, ie: mkv, mov, etc. I bought the ps3 for the gaming, the bluray, and as a home media hub. unfortunately, the last point has not been working on many fronts. i really hope sony delivers on the promise of the ps3 being a one-stop for home media.
Awesome!
Very nice update for a 0.2 iteration!!
Money to be made with PS2 BC and PS2 Downloadable Games!
AWESOME!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Can we play PSP games on our PS3s?
I know we can play PSX games on our PS3s but could we also play PSP games on our PS3s then use our PSPs when we leave our place.
cross game chat please. That is all we need to make the ps3 perfect. It has to be a party type thing.
That is pretty hot. Looking forward to this update.
This update is worse than AIDS
GIVE US IN GAME VOICE CHAT
LET US SEND VOICE MESSAGES!!!
Good update, I’m really digging the dynamic themes but seriously???
NO X-GAME CHAT or party chat?!
X-GAME INVITES?!
How about upscaling PS3 games to 1080p???!!! The other system does this and has been doing it for quite some time!!
Please do something innovative, surprise us. Skype would be awesome, netflix, anything at this point. I’m a ps3 only owner and I’m tired of my friends reminding me of all the features they currently enjoy on xbox while I’m still waiting. I love my ps3 because it’s great quality, great games, bluray, but come on Sony, give the hardcore gamers what we want pleeeeeaaaassse!!!
AWESOME, even though my ps3 just died. New avys? FOR REAL finally. Nice dynamic themes, although I am glad I can change back to classic I don’t want what looks like ads on my XMB.
very nice but please where is the playable hdd playable music in games and the cross game chat feature so we can talk to people who just got on no matter what we are doing i mean arent these simple features the network can add in?????
This is a really nice update, those dynamic themes are really impressive. I’ll definitely buy that LittleBigPlanet 24/7 theme when it’s available. Everything is looking good.
Now, I just have one simple question:
Will there ever be private voice-chat and voice messaging?
I don’t need to know when to expect it, I just want to know that it’s being worked on and that we’ll get it. If you guys add those features, you’ve got this thing nailed down to perfection.
Native MKV file and DivX 7 support please! I want to be able to play HD 720p/1080p content without transcoding. Luckily I can get a lot of trailers in mp4, but a lot more need transcoding.
I hope we can turn off or configure the default startup location. I don’t even use the option as it currently stands with the scrolling window. I don’t mind seeing this when I log into the PS Store, but I don’t want to be hit with ads every time I turn on my PS3.
Thank you for fixing the clock/controller location!
And yes, in game voice chat please! :)
maybe if you guys give posting about in game chat and all that maybe you might get it for christmas
remove that ugly looking fame around the clock … rest is perfect
Great update! I’m psyched about the new avatars and status indicator!
was expecting more but nice i guess :)
HOLY DAMN!!! Very nice Sony,I LOVE YOU!!!
I seriously do not see the appeal of cross-game voice chat, nor why many people seem to think it is a “killer feature”…
I think there are many other more important things Sony can add…
Ok so you moved some icons around, fixed the clock/battery life indicator placement and added some sparkles? Umm that’s great Sony keep up the good work i guess. Now that you got that out of the way cause we all know how everyone was asking for sparkles in the background, i mean as soon as you are done patting yourselves on the back for a job well done, lets really solve some problems and create some opportunities that people are asking for.
1. Cross game voice chat.
2. Instead of sparkles have option for rainbows and stars with little prancing ponies.
3. How about the ability to install a second browser that works (firefox) and won’t lock up if you surf the web for too long.
Firmware is looking good. Awesome!
Very nice update! I love it. I’m very happy that you guys are adding new avatars. It’s the little things sometimes :)
Gotta say, I’m the most excited about Dynamic Themes. I’ve been waiting for these since day 1. Can’t wait!
Get rid of all those stupid PS Store icons. Seriously.
WHEN will the XMB be redesigned to mute individual players. Seriously. In games like Battlefield Bad Company – there is no way to mute players mics. You can block them – but then you have to leave the game and join another match to get rid of obnoxious people.
Having all 3 consoles I can say without a doubt – the ease of dealing with annoying people is a huge selling point to playing on XBLive. It can’t be that hard to give the option on a user list to not hear players.
Now, if you could show a 3D version of your avatar in the XMB that would ROCK!!!
nice update…i like the dreamscenes and the new clock…don’t like the added store icons they should just repurpose the what’s new section for those tasks
If you wanted PS2 backwards compatibility should have bought one of the originals like i did. As far as the firmware update, great job Sony!