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.
@808
I agree totally…
I don’t like the new positioning for accessing the PlayStation Store, but otherwise it looks pretty good.
Yo Eric, why don’t you just come out and say it. Just admit that you can’t give the people what they want.
You can’t give us cross game voice chat
You can’t let us send voice messages
You can’t even give us 75% of what Xbox Live does.
Oh, but you can do a marketing upgrade to PSN instead of a real upgrade. Oh, and you can give us bubbles in the background. Ohh goodie!!!!
FAIL…
EPIC FAIL!!!!
I like the work that has been put into the XMB for Firmware 3.0. I figured that the XMB would slowly evolve into something wonderful. Keep up the good work and I cannot wait to update my PlayStation 3 to Firmware 3.0 when it becomes available.
Wow amazing update! Really digging the moving themes & the status indicator, hope the update comes out later today or the latest tomorrow since that’s how they usually do it. (Firmware Update Preview = Couple of hours till official firmware release)
Very Nice, but it would be even better, if we had a release date? plz
I wonder what Jeff is up to today.
Great work guys!!!
When will we get voice chat for any game??
I am loving the animation in the background and the info box! this really made my day.
when is this update coming?
I’m sure there not able to comment or say much of anything since its probably in one of the forms they signed to obtained the job. The thing I hate the most is lack of communication with the community, they should host a room once a month and we all could join and talk like adults not like little children which most of you do quite often.
Emotion Engine Emulation in all PS3’s should have never been taken away and for this sony has left a bitter taste in there customers mouth but I have the 60GB model so I’m fine.
Clock fix! Finally this could have been fixed a lot sonner but Sony appearently is trying to feel in holes but we all know they said they expect for the PS3 to have a 10yr lifespan so use your brain although I could come up with other reasons as to why I think Sony didn’t fix the clock I’m not hear to defend them but bring peace.
I have a lot more to say but will post again when I tryout 3.0 for myself and jeff man your awesome along with Eric but just like Sony appreciates feedback so do we and if anyone has a problem with what I just said or wishes to talk like an adult then we may do so here ant_stunin@yahoo.com
What the… Is there a free game competition going on or something? That’s pretty much the only time I see the comment count go this high… Or is it full of patheic whiners like RyanMcBainDOTcom citing two things as evidence that PSN is “75%” worse? (Seriously, it seems like no matter how great something is, it’s always the end of the world for SOMEONE.) Damn, I can’t wait to get my hands on this Firmware. Every time, there’s at least a few hidden goodies/improvements, and I love hunting for them. =D
Man, this kind of sucks. No BC update, no cross game chat, no faster XMB.
flash 10 support in this update?
Is this going to be released before the Slim PS3?
This update looks great when does it come out.
all these things…COOL!!!! cant wait
Oh gee me and my big mouth, the complaining has actually started.
Very nice.
@DroN4eG I’m one of the few people that isn’t waiting for it. Games that need voice chat support it anyway and those that don’t I want piece and quiet while I’m gaming.
I dont understand why everyone is complaining about BC, why the heck did you buy a PS3 if all you want to do is play PS2 games? Just hook up your PS2.
Sweeeeeeeeet. The dynamic themes are way cool. I also saw an option for playstation cards in the whats new section. Maybe now i can just use my credit card to buy my friends playstation cards as gifts instead of sending them in the mail. Today as a total success for sony, great job guys.
Its awesome but for me there is something messing that is region locked because i have DVD films such as family video, films and so on from around the world as well ps2 games which i find disappointing. I hope Sony remove region locked and give us freedom that will make the Sony Fan around the world happy.
Everything is awesome about this except that there is no cross game voice chat and cross game joining
Great update, can’t wait.
About the avatars, the PSN team should just let you upload you own photo onto that. Just from the internet or something. I’m not paying money for a dang avatar, well maybe?
nice and all. i want to see my trophies on the xmb without clicking on my avatar or the trophy icon.. just like xbox360…
Very nice looking…Although I still wish they would do an update to enable you to change the text different colors instead of it alway’s being white. This get’s very annoying at times especially in themes that are bright white! Same with picture backgrounds. PLEASE ENABLE THIS TYPE OF FEATURE!!!
Does this suggest a Canadian movie store? If not, GET ON IT SONY! I’ve been waiting forever, I mean come on! Also, in game voice chat plz?
A few nice-to-have features, but nothing really essential. This update seems tailor-made for the demo units I see everywhere to impress prospective users in stores, instead of impressing the hardcore gamer who currently owns one.
I will most likely update, but only because I have no choice if I want to access PSN. :-)
THE BEST Update EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.
great update.
@853, lol at your epic fail of a post.
I wish you were smart enough to know how stupid you sound.
Dear Sony, where is the love for Canadians? Give us movies in Playstation store. I’ll buy them.. I know you guys love us even if you give everything a couples years later then the U.S. lol
I’m only saying this to add one more to the request vault: Cross Game Chat?
I JUST WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING, THIS FIRMWARE VERSION WILL FIX THE GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR SYNCRONIZATION ISSUE?
THANKS
When is this going to be available?
OK I no there are some features I was hoping would be in but I do like the features announced. I want to know if I can make my own animated/ time aware theme like I can make the current custom themes. Please say I can as I really like the ability to make my own custom theme.
NetFlix support was recently introduced for Sony BRAVIA TVs. Why not PS3? Does Xbox really have an exclusive on this?
not to be a downer here but one of the things that i was looking forward to was some backwards compatability stuff going on with the ps3. i found that sony patented a way to allow backwards compatability for ps3s that did not come with it by a simple update. I hope u release this to the publice soon cuz i have a craplode of classic ps2 games to buy. KH,KH2,jak n Dax, Ratchet n Clank. all that good crap
I would like to see the avatars linked up to PlayStation Home. Inside PS Home you should be able to take a picture of your ‘avatar’ and then you it as your ‘avatar’ picture. I understand it might be hard to do but it just makes sense to me. I like too many games to pick one avatar from a game to be. Also I want my avatar to be unique and not look like 100,000 other people. If it could be a picture of my PS Home avatar it would be another reason to go into PS Home. Currently I hardly go there at all. Please give PSP trophies also. Thank you
nice..looking forward to it
With the XMB changes, will that conflict with custom made themes? Also does this firmware correct issues caused by the last firmware update that affected the Rock Band controller settings?
Love the animated background. Not happy about ads on startup and PS Store icons at every turn. I have a sizeable receipt of purchases in PS store over the course of the full year I’ve owned PS3. I don’t need constant reminders of what games I don’t have every time I turn the machine on. Spamming me is the best way to to turn me off to PS store. I know where PS store is and I know where the Video section is as well.
In short, love the update minus the shameless aggression in marketing.
So far, the only thing I don’t like is the box around the info (clock, etc) in the upper righthand corner.
Hopefully there will be an option to remove that if wanted. :)
ANYONE who ever says the word “FAIL” or “EPIC FAIL” against this update 3.00, get out of here. Sony is offering you these great updates with this great machine that you use, and now your being bad to them? whats wrong with you? be more polite to SONY!
Oh, and Sony, why didnt you just tell them that cross game chat is coming with firmware 3.00? It supports lots of players at once huh?
Oh, sorry I didnt mean to ruin your secret…
Guys, the update won’t be available until September 1st. It’s still at least two weeks away.
http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4842&NewsAreaID=2
So when can we suspect to see vidZone in the U.S.?
This is cool. I really want Cross game chat and PS2 BC. My PS2 broke after 8 years.
Interested in everything, and CANNOT WAIT.