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.
Backwards Comp. please
“the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock”… lol, thanks Sony. I found that tremendously irritating, but didn’t know how to bring it up without sounding really petty!
Like the trophy updates as well — I’d rather that add-on content not count towards the completion percentage (and I’m positive I’m not alone there), but these sound like great steps forward.
The dynamic theme on display is excellent, by the way. Hopefully these don’t cost a mint, though I’m sure we’re getting charged for these. At least it’s not a static wallpaper we’re being nickel-and-dimed for like it was before. Premium fleecing. Still, a dynamic Ape Escape theme would be worth a couple bucks to me, maybe.
looks really great, now i only wish that the censour in the text messages could disapear, cause I cant use my own language Swedish, really oft used words get censoured!
Looks really awesome, Please give us Heavenly Sword avatars :)
I really hope there will be an animated background for Heavenly Sword too but I highly doubt that will happen :(
Eric,
Also, please tell me there’s a way to remove the PlayStation Store icon from all the other XMB sections (Game/Video), that will get annoying fast I suspect. :( I use the store quite a bit, but wouldn’t want the XMB to be cluttered with that icon everywhere.
All sounds good, but I hope they add a way to sort games loaded on your hard drive. I have about 10 downloaded games, plus over 100 demos all mixed together. I wish they had a separate folder for purchased games and demos. Even being able to sort them alphabetically would help.
Still no cross-game voice chat I see…
Nice I’m guessing the next firmware is going to sepperate the ps store and the psp store once psp go comes out… Am I right? =p
looking for to the update ^.^
I would never use cross-game chat.
You should only need to talk too people while playing online game’s,
But all online game’s have mic support anyway..
There’s no reason why I’d want to chat too someone, playing a different game.
You’d talk about [DELETED] anyway
“What you doing mate?”
“Playing a game..”
“ME too!!!”
“??”
New animated backgrounds? I love you sony :D
I second Skype for PS3, I made that suggestion a long time back when they added it to the PSP… Why haven’t you done this yet Sony?
Im sorry but this update does not appeal to anyone who was looking forward to backwards compatibility with ps2 games everyone who owns a 40gb ps3 would want this essential feature
Very smart SONY, I especially like the message icon to let you know when there’s messages to read.
One question though… Will we be able to play music stored on our PS3 hard drive whilst in HOME or playing a game?
Isnt the update suppose 2 be today its 2 30 eastern time p.m
Im never, ever gonna buy a multiplat or online game for the ps3 until they add cross game chat. Period. Even the first xbox had cross game chat. I would have expected the ps3 to have cross game video chat by now, but I guess the retards at Sony are too busy playing with their fruity home avatars? LOL!
Eric , I have no respect for you or your company. The only reason why Im keeping my ps3 is for God of War. Im already on my 4th ps3. Best believe Im not ever gonna buy a Sony product day one ever again.
@403
They’re called albums. They’re a pain in the ass to use but once you set them up, you only need to label new downloads into the appropriate album.
When do we get cross game voice chat or some kind of party system? I’m sorry but it’s horribly needed.
the update looks great,
but i would really like to play my music playlist at anytime and on any game not on just the few that allow you to do it.
*****
Will the “Premium Avatars” animate?
******
If they do then .99$ for an avatar sounds awesome!
Sony ……….. YOU ROCK, this is awesome :) very nicely done, I just hope that the memory won’t make trouble, with all those dynamic abilities
isnt the update suppose 2 be today? its 2:30 p.m eastern time where i live its 8/18/09
These new features look great and I cant wait to see them in action especially those dynamic themes.
Things are looking up for the PS3 and I wish you guys luck this holiday season.
@DA_SHREDDER
No one (Read: Nobody, Not a single person) has any respect for you.
Looks really nice except one thing, the added PlayStation Store icons. Not really liking that. It’s gonna clutter up the XMB, really hope their removable. I know how to get to the PlayStation Store just fine, I really don’t want extra links to anything, especially that.
@415
yeaH, Iam not paying for a simple pic that was made in 2 minutes using photoshop. so they better be animated.
I’m quite pleased with the next Firmware update. Criticism of the lack of certain features are legit. I ,too, wonder when the XMB will be able to match the functionality of the 360 dash. Hopefully those features will be made possible in future updates.
I think today was a good day for the Playstation group and community. I can’t wait to hear the reactions on several gaming podcasts.
Took Sony 3 years to add new avatars. About freakin time.
Awesome update! Just wish the rumored ps2 emulation would come true.
This is a good firmware update, but…
STILL no cross game invites and voice chat?
STILL no PS2 BC?
Sony when will you just give us what we want?
Finally new avatars. Free Killzone ones yes?
When man when?
I hope the XMB is a new look in game…..just like those pics put up on the blog
How many clicks will it now take to scroll past the What’s New advertising and all the PlayStation store icons to get to the game I actually want to play? And will that distracting scrolling update be able to be disabled like the Info bar, or is that going to be permanently flashing up there?
One of the reasons I like the PS3 more than the X360 is it doesn’t force advertising down our throats. Looks like you’re taking that away. Great.
At least Microsoft added significant functionality enhancements when they made the dashboard a big advertisement. Playstation Firmware 3.0 is clearly just a “sell more crap” update.
Great update but where is cross game chat, PS2 BC, new music player visuals(maybe something like deep sea, galaxies and others and Custom music for all games!
This is great and all, especially the dynamic themes, but come on Sony we need XGC and the ability to listen to our on music in game…
This is the 3.0 update?
Largely cosmetic. Not much value-added.
After looking at the vast majority of posts on this board, it seems like CROSS GAME VOICE CHAT is what most gamers seem to want, followed by BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY. Me, I’d love to see VOICE MESSAGING since typing to my buddies is much less convenient.
Well…at least you guys finally fixed the clock.
ok i just gotta say this looks very impressive..and i cant wait..now for those who want BC..seriously..its NOT GONNA HAPPEN.its a whole different hard drive ..or chip for that matter..so STOP BEGGIN..an for those who want the in-game chat or chat rooms..GET A PHONE!..lol..i meen i would be NICE..but cummon..seriously..would it hurt you to have a text chat with ALL YOUR FRIENDS and not be bothered by thier VOICE while u play a game..but watever..I am IMPRESSED with the update ad cant wait..SONY jeep up the FANTASTIC WORK..
Sony, im waiting for an update that includes CROSS GAME CHAT, we all want it please, please, please make it i am starting to get bored whilst playing games on my own when my friends are on other games, i need to talk to them, PLEASE
I LOVE IT!!
But can you please create a PlayStation Network Membership kinda thing so that we can keep all of the current features under the PlayStation Network for free but for extras you must have PlayStation Network Membership
= ) like annual payments etc, oh yeah and you should have had PlayStation Home in the XMB = (
And I Facebook/MySpace/Twitter kinda thingy but only for PlayStation = )
@432
It will happen, like it or not, the worry i have is will it be sony that makes it.
YEAH CROSS GAME CHAT WOULD BE SWEET, nice one wonkydonkey, like Im playin LBP n ur playin KillZone 2 n we’re both chattin like dogs and cats = ), we wont be a very nice couple lol!
Very nice!
When is it going to be released upon us adoring fans?
nice cosmetic changes!
plus is this update out today?
Can you please encourage (and work with) developers to reward gamers with free premium avatars and themes when gamers achieve specific trophies (or possibly just platinum trophies)? This would be a great way for me to advertise my accomplishments to my friends.
Also, and this is unrelated, but Hot Shots Golf NEEDS trophies!
BTW Sony you do realize Cross Game Chat would help sell consoles a lot of people won’t buy it without certain features and that my friend is a huge feature!
I would never use cross-game chat.
You should only need to talk too people while playing online game’s,
But all online game’s have mic support anyway..
There’s no reason why I’d want to chat too someone, playing a different game.
You’d talk about nowt anyways.
“What you doing mate?”
“Playing a game..”
“Me too!!!”
“??”
nice update… what do you mean by soon?
this is a great update just wish they had backwards compatibility on this update owell im sure sony will still try though
And now we wait for f/w 3.1 and pray for b.c. on all sku’s, and broadening the base’s of vidzone and playtv, to the u.s. The 1 place that Sony really needs to pick up sales. Bettering the browser, and increase bluetooth/wifi uses for wireless printers and cell phone pix, would be great updates as well.
Nothing the +25 crowd (with the money) could give a crap about. A2DP support, FIX HULU, remote access, Netflix equivalent video service… would all help sell PS3s. P.S. the movies are to dmn expensive. Blkbstr is even doing the $2 new release deal!