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.
the littlebigplanet moving theme was sick! and i like when it tells you how many of your friends are on THANKS SO MUCH SONY!!!
Allow for custom avatars. Make it so that we can upload a JPG. and use that as our avatar…
And what about this stars on the original theme? next thing is a pink fashion ps3… omg.
cross game chat, game invites, party system, view other’s friends, and ability to delete trophies or games i dont like.
i love everything improved! great work sony!
is the operating software (Linux) going to work on my old ps3
that is so cool I hope it comes out soon
This very day, the very hour the firmware & slim was announced I was considering switchN to my PC to play games like FO3 and the like. I just can’t express how good your timing was!
Just crazy……
OH MY GOD THIS IS AWESOME!!!! *freaks out and rolls on the floor*
Please add PS2 backwards compatibility soon. Otherwise great update!
Nice update. When will we get music download service?
I have a question, can we enable sounds for notifications? But i guess it’s kinda useless since we have a visual notification anyway
and how come there is still no surround sound support for the Video Store? Sorry Sony, everyone is complaining, but hey, that’s just the way it is.
If you didn’t already buy it with the MGS 4 80GB Bundle, I don’t think you deserve PS2 BC :)
JK
Does 3.0 allow me to sort my music better?!?! At least an A – B – C listing option would be nice so I don’t have to scroll through EVERYTHING to get to something that starts with “U”! Perhaps 3.1 update?!?!
Thanks Sony — We LOVE U!
Dear God, please please please please please please let there be a way to “Sort Alphabetically” in the downloaded games area. Honestly, the options for sorting are… okay at best… just give me an alphabetical sort view, and I will be absolutely ecstatic!
Thank you…
-ps2 bc
-invite system
-voice chat
no? then – not interested.
I;d just like to see some support for Matroska containers. I want to be able to play my multi-audio, soft encoded subtitles .mkv files on my PS3. Streamed over from the C or just local on the hard drive, without needing to reencode it and losing quality.
i’ve allways think of this…why can we use one picture of ourselfs for an avatar….that will be great….for knowing your oponents in cod4 and your friends….and getting to meet people around the world….
FREAKIN SWEET. LUV THE 3.0
when ps3 headset get pc driver?
Custom avatars would be a great addition, but could lead to trouble. I would love me a Soldner-x avatar though.
awesome update! i loved the lbp theme, will that be available after the update? and preferably free? keep up the good work sony, i would love to see a gow3 theme that moves like the lbp one. But please tell me u guys arent gonna make us pay for the “premium” avatars….. Oh and i know most of us want a backwards compatibility update, pweeease!
This is definately a HUGE step in the right direction!
This is truly an update that further instates the idea of the PS3 being a NEXT GEN console! Now the console has TRUE online-connectivity! The great folks who helped put this update together have done a SUPERB job, and for that, I applaud them!
This looks sweet! One question though. Will there be in game music for every game now?
Love the status indicator change, although it would be nice if you could have the option for just the clock. Also love the dynamic background and avatars.
Please give an option of where the PS3 starts…I don’t think I’ll like to start by seeing commercials from “What’s New”. I like a clean look and hopefully it isn’t a trend towards crapware/ icons some computers come with, such as from HP or Dell, etc. (e.g. there really only needs to be one store icon).
you people need to work on makeing the playstation a lot better. yall said yall can make it better but i dont see that comeing out of playstations all i see its staying the same. all im saying do better updates then xbox360 im seeing that xbox has more better stuff then playstation and why do we have to give you money for accessories for are avatas
this is sweet but please ADD CROSS GAME CHAT we really need this to have a better community etc.. please a lot of people really want this please consider what i just said
– Kryticai
This is great, I will now have to buy a cool looking theme. I’m going to hope SEGA makes a Bayonetta and Valkyria Chronicles themes. I can’t think of many games I might want a theme for. But that Little Big Planet looks nice enough to warrent a purchase as well.
As for the people complaining about SONY not having cross gaming chat or a party system, if you want Xbox 360 featueres, just get a Xbox 360? Everytime there is a good update you guys whine for comments and comments.
SONY has got your message and they are either working on it or don’t care. If they don’t care stop wasting my time.
I don’t know if half the people here don’t know English, but half the comments are horrible. Take a bit more time to type out your thoughts.
It seems that SONY didnt’ show all the features of this update yet, I hope it has more goodies, if not it is cool. This is good enough already, at least for me.
I guess we will have to see when the firmware comes out, I’m assuming Septemeber first?!
Love the intergration update. Hulu, Netflix and Adult Swim app? Would be some awesome stuff. Even better make a SONY TV app with deals with other streaming sites like ABC,NBC and of course Adult Swim. I have to see The Mighty Boosh!
I can’t wait for this to be released.
This was probably asked somewhere in the 600+ comments, but is there an estimated time of when it will be released?
Is it possible to disable the what’s new section and ticker?
wht date is this coming out??
And fix up home its takeing up to much memory
verrrrrrryyyyy nice. I’m puzzle with the date on the right upper corner of the screen , is there any significant 11/17& 11/19? how come no year in it?
The dynamic themes are going to be sweet
cool. firmware updates are always good. just need to get cross game voice chat.
Just a thought, you might make a video like this explaining what the hold up is on cross game chats/invites.
It is and will always be the number one requested feature for alot of fans. I can respect the 3.0/Slim move as it will undoubtedly broaden the consumer base, making PSbrand stronger.
But come on you have to be ashamed of yourselves for not (Being able to?) address this subject in such a major update.PLUS im tired of this comment barrage about it. In game XMB all over again, BLAH!
@299/ MadmanEU:
Don’t you know that Canada has an extremely restrictive media import policy, that makes it virtually impossible for Sony and even Microsoft (and Netflix, and Hulu) to deal with? NOBODY streams video to Canada, because they can’t. Do you think all these companies are allergic to money? Blame your legislature and your government, don’t blame companies that find it impossible to do business in that realm.
Google CRTC regulations and read up, that’s the real problem here.
SONY RULEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
animation FTW
Finally, the update! And it sounds like it’s one hell of a update, so the waiting pays :D
So wait, is the FW 3.00 coming out Sep. 1st or are sites mistaken?
New low price, new ps3 slim that looks sweet, new update.. omg i call this SUCCESS!!! better watch out nintendo… not u microsoft ur done now…
AWESOME!!! you guy rock. Now all we need is PS2 Backwards Compatibility and a tool for user to create Dynamic Theme’s ;) .
THIS IS GREAT!
Everything in this update is awesome! My only complaint is the indicator at the top looks a little…bland. If the corners were rounded and we had the option to change its color that would be nice. :D
Great! Can’t wait to check out all the new features when it’s released. Do we have a date yet?
Great update :D Want all of that :D Can’t wait :)
Sounds like a pretty neat update!! I love the LittleBigPlanet theme!! Avatars are pretty good to know however I would like the option to allow yourself a custom avatar but it is viewed to Friend’s only.
I feel that you still need Private Voice Chat in game or like Xbox Party, it would be super cool!
You need multiple PSN login as well so multiplayer trophies done locally can be done pretty much like Resistance 2 has but with all games.
I’d also like support for the iPod Touch and PS2 Backwards compatibility. After they’re added, I’d be happy with that.
This is trival crap.
I get this garbage instead of Yakuza 3?
Between this and Home I get sorrier every day I bought a PS3.
The avatar must be interactive with xmb. The Playstation home must be integrated with dashboard.
this is cool and all but this is just smoke and mirrors or how some said bells and whistles when what we really want is cross game chat/invites, video/speech mail, and many other essential features.