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.
Come on. This is ridiculous. We keep demanding cross game chat and PS2 BC. You continue to tell us that you’re listening. “We hear you!” Thats what you say. So after all those demands and listening we get a sparkling XMB? Where did that come from? You’d think 3.0 would be quite the update. Considering we’ve been in 2.0 since I got my PS3. For all of you guys telling Sony that they’re doing a great job: Quit it. Its like rewarding your children for stealing. Give us a decent update with features we WANT. Otherwise you may just find yourself short a few customers.
GARBAGE
3 words: Cross. Game. Chat.
What’s the difference between this update and colon cancer?
Nothing.
great guys umm just out of the open but do you guys think you could remake killer instinct or contra for the ps3 that’ll be great thanks
What’s the difference between this update and AIDS?
Nothing.
Cosmetics, nothing more
@939 i agree but, when you’ve been promised since the first day this blog started that its coming soon and they’re working on it, u kinda get a little disappointed to see that supposedly they are working on it but, and that it takes time but yet, they have time to implement these features b4 the most important ones. and lets face it, when it comes down to it, sony wants to sell and make a profit, and being behind xbox and wii, u would think they would know by now. granted, i like others love my ps3 but, i also love sony and as a consumer of sony products since the beta max, i just want them to succede. but its not this way, put everything else on hold that is not as important as the core features the hard core gamers want and get to it. looks like they are going more on the way of the wii, since they seen the success it has garnered, and left us hard core brand devotees that made the ps what it is on the side line…
Cool.
Though I think it’s kinda weird how Eric didn’t touch on the ‘Friends List’ update at all…..is there possibly MORE to this update that Sony doesn’t want to show yet!?!?
i cant wait for it
Looks good cant wait to try it out
http://kotaku.com/5340337/sony-explain-why-the-ps3-slim-has-no-backwards-compatibility
read this sony rep think we dont want BC.
lets say them the true.
WE WANT BC!
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When do we get to sort games by name? I am sick of hunting for a game I purchased.
Sort by name in games… why not Sony?
Cross game chat please add cross game chat also add in game music i wanna play music while playing games online instead of hearing the games music i dont wanna drag my laptop out and place it next to me and listen to it thru the speakers that are crappy or ipod, no, i want my music to be played thru my tvs speakers while im playing online and just regular games in general make it happen please >___<
Sony’s John Koller think we don’t want BC.
lets express some feedback and claim .
WE WANT BC!
copy and paste this.
Sony’s John Koller think we don’t want BC.
lets express some feedback and claim .
WE WANT BC!
copy and paste this…
— WISH: there was a way to view the games we have and the games of new friends —
I want to see BC arrive on consoles that don’t have it and see more BC filter options for those that do.
TY FOR UPDATE. i just have 3 things to throw out there for the next update.
1: ability to screen capture or video record whats happening on ur ps3 screen.
this can allow us users to communicate with the devs and friends. if theres a glitch, we should ahve screen capture+send to devs with a quick msg. if not, at least have it saved to our account and accessible when we log on to the forum via ps3 or pc
progress is progress, but at the risk of sounding ungrateful listen to what the community is asking for..
cross-games voice chat
i mean u even got Skype on the PSP, u could just get that running on the PS3 and allow as a background process (been done with play TV). At least then we can then chat cross-game 1 to 1 or in groups. to be fair most of the times i want to chat within the same game but not publically… part curtisy part privacy.
beyond that obvious popular feature, other things on the list should be….
* update web browser!
* focus on multimeda, look at boxee, xbmc even what 360 will be caperble of when Windows 7 goes live..( the PS3 has the potential, but is under acheiving big time)
* add a damn second stick too the PSP and be the first to game remotely over the net
seriously guys, you are Sony! Innovate, please!
this is gonna be the best… its gonna run the 360 under
thought you would have vidzone(free music video service) released stateside by now seen in in the uk store found it to be region locked so if your not in europe you are unable to acess content even if you have a uk account. Also it’s hd only. not sure about all the strings scee had to pull to have the service available but you could have a north america only ver easily due to it’s region lock feture.
Still waiting for music while playing feature!!!!!!!!
Great Video Eric,
Wonder how many other surprises Sony has up their sleeves.
2: the addition of a clan tab. it could have a price tag of 5 bucks.. i dont think hardcore gamers would mind. but a clan tag is a good addition so that ppl can have more organization and be in more than 1 clan at a time(different clan for ceratin games. or that clan leaders will have to pay $5 for it to be maintained. but regardless of price, a clan tab can organize the friend list and the friend list limit may not even hold every name of the clan member list if the clan is very large.
esp for bigger current/upcoming games: fat princess and mag, clan lists can be pretty big.
Awesome I hope we can creat are own Themes and Avatars… Hope to the download it soon…
3: facebook. the last thing i wanted to mention was facebook. its a good way for ps3 users to meet and talk to other ps3 gamers. I am a college student that have to LOOK for ps3 users cus it seems like every1 has a 360. With fb+ps3, the community can be even stronger. easy addition of screenshot or gameplay clips can be great for sharing with friends online.
Is the playstation store getting a new layout? Anyway, this is a good update. Looking forward to it.
Wow this update is amazing, just one question though, when are yous going to add a search option to the game part of the ps store?, I don’t understand why you have it for the video section but not the game section
Sweet! Really looking forward to everything Sony has to offer in the coming months!
Theme upgrade is nice..
But can we assign what colors the default XMB changes too each month yet and turn of it going black at night?
Some colors do not match the month to me I rather assign my own monthly colors.
some new music visualsations woud be nice… I am getting bored with the same 3.
Also when is the ps3 going to do all stuff that the psp does like internet radio?
The psp has more music options too.
its a really good update. congrats..
but the ps3 really needs the cross game chat and also needs the ability to allow more than one user to log in at the same time for online or co-op play. it would really make trophy hunting easier and funner.
Any idea on when?? we will get this
And by music visualastion Idon’t mean anything to fancy just a standard simple equalizer visualization and stuff like that that gives info on the music playing.
If it looks high tech that is bonus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiilpWbq0VU
http://image.wareseeker.com/software/Audio-Multimedia/Audio-Plugins/details_graphic-equalizer-studio-2007.gif
http://www.softpicks.net/screenshots/CoolCD-Studio.gif
very nice! I can’t wait for it..
but, it would be even better if there is ps2 backward compatibility (^^,)Y
Please fix the GH:WT syncing problems!!!
About time they brought in some new avatars. Don’t stop there keep’m coming!
What we really need is the PS2 Backwards Compatibility, and you all know that. Please, we need the emulator!!!!
I think it’s great that functionality is continually updated. I like the idea of making things more accessible (ie “What’s New” section), but on that note I’m rather frustrated at the lack of Bravia-Sync in the current PS3 and that I’d have to get a PS3 slim for that. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought the capability for CEC (Bravia-Sync in this case), has been around since before HDMI 1.3 so should easily be available on the current gen PS3. I kinda feel cheated on that aspect. Bravia-Sync is available for so many other Sony product and not this? Kinda upsetting as a consumer.
What about Shoutcast internet radio, or Skype like you have on the PSP???
So why are all of you complaining we all want different things and some will come of within reason and some may not but stop being stupid and use some brain cells but this is pointless go read a book or buy 360 I strongly urge you to do so.
OMG THIS UPDATE IS GREAT! I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS UPDATE FOR A LONG TIME! GREAT JOB SONY!
Is the battery meter fixed? I hated how the battery meter overlapped with the clock. If so, is the PS3 Headset meter updated also?
I’ve been DYING FOR A NEW AVATAR FOR A LONG TIME! Hopefully, we have more like umm idk, Solid Snake?! Big Boss?! Chris Redfield?! Cloud Strife, etc. I’m sure there be a lot of great avatars.
I know a couple of people mentioned this but, are we getting anymore trophy support for older games like Genji: Days of the Blade, Heavenly Sword, The Godfather: The Don’s Edition.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK SONY! EXCELLENT JOB!
Appreciate our feedback? We’ve been BEGGING for Cross Game Chat for almost 2 years now, and with this “PSN Revamp” we still have no sign of it releasing?
Ugh. Go suck it Eric Lempel.
Nice move Sony how you can keep it up. This is really amazing i was wondering if we will get vidzone here in the US and why does Europe only have it.
I can careless for BC. To be honest, I didn’t pay $600+tax to play PS2 games. I do have a launch 60GB PS3 with full BC which I never use for any reason. When I made the purchase I thought it would’ve been something important but it wasn’t. The people on this blog and other sites are only complaining because they just want to know that their PS3 can play PS2 games.
BC was only a huge factor during the PS3’s infancy. When there wasn’t KZ2, Uncharted, iFamous, LBP, MotorStorm, MGS4, GT: Prologue, R2, Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, Valkyria Chronycles etc. (this list doesn’t even include PSN titles)
If you guys are that obsessed about PS2 games just go out and buy a $99 PS2. JEEZZZZZ!!!
What PS3 really needs is a unified PSN experience. Something that rivals Live or surpass it. I’ve said this countless times before. I’m tired of figuring out how to invite a friend in each game I put in the console. PSN needs to be streamlined.
Dear Sony,
Here is my analysis of the video preview for Firmware 3.0:
-“What’s New” feature…Just another way to advertise your products.
-“PSN Store Icon” under the video and game icons in the XMB…Just another way to advertise your products.
-“Updated ticker in the top-right corner”…A decent update, but the Battery covering the clock fix was WAAAAY overdue.
-“Animated themes”…A nice touch, but nothing to get excited about at all. After all, I doubt I’ll see the animations while in-game
-“New Avatars”…Long overdue, and still with no “CUSTOM” avatars, it still leaves alot to be desired…
Final Word:
1. You should have named this update 2.90 so as to not put everyone’s hopes up.
2. This update lacks REAL FUNCTIONALITY!!! If you actually look at all the updates, they are all aesthetic and wreak of mindless advertising.
3. Add cross-game voice chat via SKYPE.
nice update!!!
Being able to have the internet browser up and running during game play is a feature I’ve been wishing for. Even if it’s just during offline play! It really sucks to have to quit out of a game just to go look something up on Gamefaqs or whatever site you prefer.
Great work, Sony. Great work!! Let’s get ready to rumble.
This sounds great and is a step in the right direction…
Having said that, I must ask…will we now have the option to Password protect ANYTHING in the XMB (for example: installed games)?
If not could this please be added soon?
Also, are we ever going to be given both PAL and NTSC support on the PS3? This is the most important feature for me.
Thanks, and thanks again for the nice update.