PS3 firmware update reportedly on track for March

Looks like Sony's going to give European gamers a little treat to try to make up for the long wait they've had to endure to get a PS3 of their own, with the company reportedly set to release the first major firmware update for the PS3 alongside the console's debut in Europe in March (which they're still sticking by). The firmware update has been rumored about before, but has now apparently been confirmed by Phil Harrison himself, speaking at a recent event for the Sony-funded Threespeech blog. Most of the updates revealed at this time look to be centered on the PS3's non-gaming abilities, with new XMB multi-tasking capabilities that'll let you do voice or video chat while you browse the XMB or play games, as well as new audio playback animations, additional photo album features, auto-resume for downloads from the PlayStation Store, and "additional XMB display options" -- exactly what that means, we're not so sure. Those with a PSP will also get a few new tricks, including new Remote Play functionality that'll let you access media stored on your PS3 via any WiFi connection. No word on a fix for the problems with PS1 and PS2 games, though we suppose/hope that could be one of the "additional display options."

[Via Joystiq]

[Gil @ Dec 14th 2006 1:41PM]

So they'll finally release the full PS3 as opposed to a case full of inactive hardware that they're shipping now

[hugoliva @ Dec 14th 2006 2:08PM]

Looking how things are getting with the PS3 i think i might end up buying one next year's christmas. I won't buy it for the games(i already own a Wii that has been suprinsingly entertaining and that i can use with my wife as well), but for all the other cool stuff you can do with it, i'm thinking an XBMC equivalent should emerge in the next months and it will make the PS3 a sweet media center

[StinkyChinkie @ Dec 14th 2006 2:08PM]

MARCH? M A R C H ? HAHAHAHAHAHA!! OMG please tell me they did NOT just give the middle finger to all the poor suckers that bought the rev.1 BS3 (that's right - rev.2 is already silently in production with the 1080i problem fixed in hardware - will probably never be fixed in an update). Sure glad I didn't touch the BS3 out of the gate with all these probs!

[Rick @ Dec 14th 2006 2:10PM]

I love it when companies do this. I mean lets add all this other crap that nobody gives a shit about and lets forget about fixing the major fucking flaws. Do these guys have shit for brains or what?

[Agathos @ Dec 14th 2006 2:11PM]

Good call Gil, a month or so after release isn't anything like the 360 which took 6-8 months after release before any really good fw upgrades, but now that I've had my 360 a year I'm really enjoying it and it looks like the PS3 will be tip top less than a month or so out of the gate, good job Sony!

Great fun on the 360 and PS3 and the Wii has been fun to, it's a good time to be a gamer, I just feel sorry for all the posters that fight back and forth on the PS3 and 360 as if good bad news about either were an attack on their personal family, it's sad they waste so much time take up for either of the companies instead of just enjoying what's out there.

[wraith808 @ Dec 14th 2006 4:21PM]

November to March does not equal one month after release... just thought I'd throw that out there...

[Agathos @ Dec 14th 2006 2:13PM]

loL! Thanks to the last sad posters for good examples of my above comment.

[jhranjr @ Dec 14th 2006 2:24PM]

Some people are just way too biased *cough cough StinkyChinkie*. Dude, if you knew anything about the 420 issues and the upscaling process, you would realize that you are a dipsh*t. That issue can "easily" be fixed with a FIRMware update. Not a completely new board. Quit sucking on your XBOX for a second and open your eyes. It is not our fault that you can't get your hands on a PS3. Just wait like everyone else.

[Mike @ Dec 14th 2006 2:36PM]

I don't see why everyone gets so hard on sony once they announce something good like this.

People asked for several of these features (voice chat/video chat within games.. streaming content via wifi from any access point.. auto-resume on downloads) yet once they're announced, people get down on Sony like they're cheating people. If they were to release a "PS3 3.1" with these features and not allow you to upgrade your existing console, I could see the hate.. but from adding great features via a free update just months after launch?

SONY has been very good about firmware updates for both the PSP and PS3 adding full features such as a web browser to the PSP just months after launch.

I'm sure once the Wii Browser and other additional enhancements come out it, they'll be accepted with a much different response.

I've own a 360 since launch and can't remember the last time a useful update was added to the system.

I, for one, am thrilled that these features are coming out so soon in the consoles life.

[morphs @ Dec 14th 2006 3:20PM]

Hopefully their firmware doesn't brick the console the the 360. I'm a 360 fanboi too. :(

[Yem @ Dec 14th 2006 3:30PM]

The rest of the world doesn't get it until March anyway. Thanks for beta testing this thing, guys! ;-) ;-)

[Digi Smalls @ Dec 14th 2006 3:38PM]

the xbox did update later, but they were the first to have these features, and then improve upon them. the PS3 shouldn't come out a year later and not be up to the current standard already sent. especially if you read their marketing material about how the next generation doesn't start until 'they' say so.

when companies talk down to the public like sheep yet don't bring anything new to the medium (name one sony *gaming* innovation) it's easy to see why fanboyism exists.

.

[LDM @ Dec 14th 2006 3:57PM]

[e-mail]

A side from the extremely limited quantities is there something wrong with the PS3 that I don�t know about. I have one and it seems to work just fine, quiet too. Me, the PS3 and my 72 inch 1080P TV are getting along just fine. Now bring on THAT ooooooh so cool ASSASSIN�S CREED!

(PS3 and Xbox 360 owners be prepared to drool before you click the URL below).
http://assassinscreed.uk.ubi.com/

--------------
LDM Water-Bending Master
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/ldm_master_builder!.jpg

[Mark @ Dec 14th 2006 5:56PM]

There really are some Sony haters here.

1. This is a firmware update, it's not a hardware change.

2. It contains enhancements, no different to dashboard updates on your beloved Xbox..

Some people really need to get a life,,

[Sir Issac Newton @ Dec 15th 2006 12:11AM]

Bla Bla Bla, you guys are full of hot air.

Anyhow I have a PS3 and nobody told me that blu ray movies DO NOT PLAY AT 720p. I got ps3 for games but I only have a 720p and am so mad that the hunk of junk will only give me 1080i for blu rays. Nobody said much about this at all.

Its so lame. The end.

[Mark @ Dec 15th 2006 12:14PM]

Sir Issac Newton, you do know that if you can't get 720p, this is a problem with your TV, not the PS3, if the TV does not support 720p, there is nothing the PS3 can do about that...

[Nash @ Dec 15th 2006 3:16PM]

@Newton

You must be confused. My TV is 720p and Blu-Ray movies work just fine. The term PEBKAC comes to mind (or would that be PEBCAC?).

I love that I was lucky enough to get my PS3 when I did. I'm not mad that Sony keeps updating stuff, I'd be mad if they didn't. And why is everybody mad that Sony made all of the claims about being the best thing since sliced bread? It's called MARKETING. Early adopters can cry all they want, but when you buy something the first day it comes out, YOU become the true beta tester. If you could hold your wad for a few months to buy the "finished" product, that's your own fault.

It's not like the PS3 doesn't work, it just isn't where everybody wants it to be. Sony is improving that situation by providing updates. It's the same thing they say about cars...you can be "cool" and have it first, or you wait until the third year the car is around and have it when the "bugs" are worked out and everybody else has it too. If you bought it because you wanted to have it immediately (like I did) then you should be happy that you get to enjoy the fixes that later revisions will have. If you don't have one and you just skip around boards flaming, then there's nothing I can say to stop you from annoying me. My 9 cents.

[gaz @ Dec 16th 2006 12:32AM]

If Microsoft issued an update that all it did was give you a new font, you 360 fanboys think its the best news ever. You 360 fanboys remind me of comic book guy from the Simpsons, I bet you all lool like him too.

[PLAY BEYOND @ Jan 2nd 2007 8:30PM]

Fucking 360 fan boys there saying how a fucking lil problem with a scale up or down of a game is bad and shit. Guess what the ps3 itself works fucking fantastic unlike a shity ass launch of a junnk box 360 that freezes, overheats, and gives a ton of disk read errors. If ur gonna say thats not true ur on crack bitches i know three ppl who have launch 360's and there having one hell of a time not throwing it out the window because its a fucking POS. I have one but its a newer one so its NOT as bad.

[Sean Benton @ Jan 6th 2007 2:34PM]

@Nash

No, it's a separate issue. Blu ray will not output at 720p from the PS3 right now, it will output 1080i and the TV has to de-interlace and downscale. Problem is some TV's don't do this very well so you end up with a grainy image.

[shrimpsbury @ Jan 12th 2007 2:30AM]

Will previous PS3 owners be able to enjoy this firmware update? It sounds as though only folks who buy the system in march or later will have it. That makes no sense.

[Darin @ Jan 24th 2007 6:09PM]

Hey guys. I'm the owner of a PS3 and a 720p Samsung DLP set. I don't understand what the big deal is about the PS3 support 720p playback of Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray is 1080p. It has to get converted somewhere. Who cares whether it's being done in the PS3 or in the TV. If you've got an HDMI connection, the data is being transferred digitally anyway. So if your 720p sets accepts 1080i input (as mine does), then you're good. Your TV is getting all 1080 lines (albeit alternating top-bottom fields) and then converting to 720p progressive format JUST LIKE the PS3 would do if it had the update you guys are requesting. Your picture would look the identical, apart from any difference in scaling / filtering algorithms between the two devices. Am I right?