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.
okay that really cool, but will the added stuff for a PS3 with a full hard drive (games, movies, music etc..) affect the overall performance of the system ? or game play ? Network usage ?
Anynone know the exact date for this update?
When is it coming?
In this firmware, will there be new codecs for audio / video?
Thanks
This update sounds great but when dose it come out
What’s with all the hate?
Not all FW updates need to include everything the community asks for. Niether do they need to completely change the interface like the NXE.
If you don’t like it so much then don’t rant about it on a playstation blog.
Btw I love this update.
Sorry, but other than the clock/battery fix this update does nothing for me. I just hope the 24hr clock also has a leading zero before 10:00, ie 09:00 and not 9:00 as it is now.
Message / friends indicators and avatar add-ons are all just copied from the 360.
Please give us something useful like cross game (private) chat, MKV support and DTS playback from XMB.
STILL NO CROSS GAME CHAT
STILL NO GAME INVITE
EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!
ITS OK BUT….
SONY WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR IN-GAME CHAT FOR AGES NOW AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN IGNORING US FOR EXAMPLE IN GAME TEXT
ALSO A KOOL FEATURE WOULD BE A PS2 EMULATION I WOULD PAY FOR THAT!
This surely must be some sort of record, 1101 comments posted and not one single replay from Eric!!!!
Congratulations to the record Eric!!
uhm…I meant REPLY of course :P
Haha half of these comments are just requests for cross game voice chat, chill out guys it will come soon. Just give sony a year a two, im sure they’l figure out how to do it soon….
The update looks great! well done Sony, hope to hear weather ps2 BC will ever be happening though
So Director Eric Lempel said in the video that you have listened to the community? well I guess you haven’t. Because where is cross game voice chat, Party mode built in the system? Can Eric Lempel or any other from PSN tell when this will be implemented??
@Jawad_UK i guess you are being sarcastic?… lol
I want more
still no cross game chat:/ man thats the only thing we all want please!
1106 of satisfied and unsatisfied consumers, sure the update was a nice make-up to the XMB but you cannot expect the Hardcore to be satisfied with this update. We all know that Sony is trying to get casual market but, please Feed the Hardcore Crowd. If want to see big changes add the features request it. I guarantee you competition’s consumers are going to “jump in” the best console, PS3. Play B3yond.
I think these are some good updated features. I must say that I have read a lot of comments about BC. My PS3 has BC and I have maybe a dozen PS2 games and a few PS1 games and I never play anything but PS3 games. But still, Sony, you must hear the voice of your consumers. If people are constantly asking for it then take the feedback and give the people what they want.
This is very good, the integration of the PSStore between the Video section and Game section, perhaps there should be a creation of image section.
PS3 Slim + PS3 Price Drop + New Firmware = Perfect Trifecta!!!
The new animated (why call it dynamic?) themes look awesome and I can’t wait to see what people come up with.
Fixed clock and new avatars are what people have been asking for so this is great, it shows you DO listen.
For people whining about BC….really?
NICE
good news for a change.
If you manage to put cross game voice chat in the next firmware, i swear to make free promotion for the ps3 and tell everyone in the world how great it is.
If not, i’ll do the opposite.
so i have heard from various sources that there will be an update available in the playstation store that will give all ps3’s backwards compatability. is this true?
Please include the ability to Remove Trophy Entry of a Game. Many a times we rent a game & return it the next day just coz we don’t like it. But removing the game data leaves the Trophy Entry with Count = 0.
Please add the ability to at least remove the entire Entity if not individual trophies.
I am a long time Sony fan, i support the system as much as i can and i know PlayStation Network would One Day turn into be completely amazing. I never thought inGame Chat would take this long to produce and deliver effectively. Im asking where is in-game voice chat? “help enhance your PS3 experience.” = In-Game Chat. “great new features” – Yeah, One would be In-Game Chat. Very Dissapointing that you guys cant deliver.
great update guys!
just a thought for all those whining for the party system and cross game voice chat…. the Tokyo game show is coming up and i am sure that Sony is leaving some stuff in the bag for that show. like cross game voice chat and wishing for the return of backwards compatibility to coincide with an end date for the ps2 :-( as we are at the Sony “10 year life cycle theory”. Now that PS3 is at the $299 spot that will most likely propel them back to the top spot.
Yeah finally new avatars!
No more Linux support? I can’t bloody believe it.
all i want to know is why canada is getting screwed all the time i cant rent movies or anything like that on the playstation store whats with that
For those asking for the ability to delete trophies…
I would say don’t count on it. Given that you can’t delete achievements on Live, I doubt that ability would be available. The problem is with doing it would be much more technical that you would think, remember trophies are stored off site (as in not on your PS3).
YES!!!! finally some new avatars, I’ve had the same one for 2 years, and I love the animated background
Can people have a party or chat we a group of people while they are playing different games, please make this feature available.
Cross-Game chat is the one thing that really makes xbox live stand above the PSN. Cross-game invites would be nice, but bf1943 and resident evil 5 seem to at least have a good workaround for it in place.
It is beginning to appear more and more like it just isn’t possible on the PS3 :(
You can delete games from your history on live if you do not have any achievements for the titles you wish to delete. This helped out for all of the old live arcade trials in the past where as soon as you played them they were added to your gamercard. I have some titles on my ps3 handle that have a 0% for trophies that I would love to see removed :)
yes!! great update Sony
Make the option possible for Automatic Install after you download…thanks
yeah its a nice update but i want more Divx support!
Super Awesome! I cant wait to have Dynamic Themes to choose from :D Thanks Eric Lempel!
YAY… i like…
@924
:QUOTE:
Where is cross game voice chat?
Where is cross game invites?
Where is voice messages?
It’s been 3 years and we still don’t get the important features.
:END QUOTE:
Did you buy a damn phone or a game system/Blu-ray player?
Sony, don’t waste time on this crap. Did all these idiots really pay $600 to send voicemail?
Also, trophies in general are about as stupid as all this voice B.S.
I would to see some game and media related improvements – you know the stuff the system is designed for.
– Improved codec support. I understand there are copyright and business reasons some formats are not supported.
– AAC files from iTunes to work in the games that allow the custom music features – like SFIV.
– Support for Mad Catz arcade joysticks for PS3s with BC. I have the MGS4 80GB. I never had a PS2, but may have to buy one eventually because of the spotty PS2 emulation.
– Regarding BC in general, I hope they eventually can add PS2 to PSN if the hardware can emulate both the CPU and the GPU.
If Sony knows for a fact it can’t, maybe they need to state that, otherwise we assume it can.
@1131
I mean iTunes Plus AAC files. Perhaps this falls under business limitations.
Haha, awesome. Now, just add some Voice Chat and Couch Profile Logins (multi logins per PS3 for when my bro comes over… he wants Trophies too!), then I’ll be set.
Oh, and PS1/2 emulation.
Other than that, I’m excited.
nothing special tbh…
Thanks for the update, there are some nice changes.
However, in my opinion it would be a good idea to add a network traffic monitor, to see the number of k/b that you are using, donwloading and uploading. Thanks :-)
how about listening to our own music in every game we play?? like a certain xbox 360 can do…
It’s very good update, i just want one thing more – backward compatibility PS2. Please! Many players want it and i’m sure You can do that. You says Ps3 is 40x more powerfull than PS2 so where is the problem.
Hi Eric, can we please get some feedback from you and your team on the Blogs? At least put us in the picture to save us requesting the same things over and over again, thanks.
Summer is rapping up. Video game season is coming upon us.
Awesome update! I LOVE the dynamic themes and the info about the trophy cleanup.
Great update!
Am I the only one who thinks 3.0 is a big waste? It’s just a way for Sony to do better marketing on the Playstation store. One other thing, what is so new about themes?
yes this is all very nice but when will the update come for the old ps3 and not only the new one. not everyone wants to waste 400$ or 300$ to buy a slimmer version while their old system is fine.
When for Europe?
VERY NICE WHAT ABOUT CROSSCHAT