PS3 firmware version 2.10 apparently coming tomorrow

It looks like PlayStation 3 owners could be in for a welcome surprise when they boot up their console tomorrow, at least if an apparent slip-up on Sony's European website is any indication. As a user on the NeoGAF forums noticed, it recently put up a page which revealed that 2.10 firmware update "was released on December 18, 2007," bringing with it a number of additions, including DivX support (with some limitations) and, as rumored, support for Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1. You'll also apparently soon be able to take advantage of the new "Voice Changer" feature, which will let you disguise your voice in voice or video chat, and you'll be getting support for (VC-1) WMV files in addition to the aforementioned DivX ones. If any of that interests you, we'd suggest keeping an eye out, 'cause it sure looks like this one's about to drop.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

[Flashpoint @ Dec 17th 2007 12:21PM]

I won't be buying a PS3 until Sony packages the Dual Shock 3 controller.

Hopefully any and all bugs in the hardware will be fixed by that time.

[TheGuy @ Dec 17th 2007 12:23PM]

What hardware bugs?

[Kyrra @ Dec 17th 2007 12:31PM]

I'm interested to hear what these hardware bugs are... I thought it was the Xbox360 that had all the hardware problems, not the PS3.

I recently sent my 360 in for service because I would occasionally get disk read problems after playing for a few hours (this happened with multiple games, all of which were brand new). They sent me back a replacement unit after about 2 weeks, which was DOA out of the box with the Red Ring of Death.

[bjrcboy @ Dec 17th 2007 12:35PM]

Seriously people need to stop bashing the PS3. I am not a sony fanboy by any means but from what I've read and my personal experiences with the system, its simply amazing! Sure there isn't a vast amount of games out but most of them are okay if not great.

I haven't heard of any PS3's failing or being sent in for repairs(in large volume). Don't get me wrong the 360 is a great system in its self but out of all of my friends who own a 360 one two have not seen the red ring of death. Something that has stopped me from buying it...

[heavenlysword @ Dec 17th 2007 1:37PM]

Hardware bugs? Who is your source? Bill Gates?

[Josef @ Dec 17th 2007 1:53PM]

The only problem with the PS3 (now that they have lowered the price to the realm of reason and sanity) is the low number of solid "must have" titles. I will freely admit that it is a very impressive piece of hardware with few defects. But right now it is gathering dust while I spend the majority of my video-game time on the 360. The 360 may have a poor track record as far as breakdowns are concerned (I've been fortunate to avoid them), but it has a very impressive line-up of titles (many of which are only available on that system).

[Jake @ Dec 17th 2007 2:32PM]

Are you an idiot?

[Duscrom @ Dec 17th 2007 3:43PM]

The hardware "Bugs" are considered features, and won't be fixed. Biggest hardware flaw I can see is With the WiFi networks in the area, my blue-tooth controllers will drop the signals intermittently for up to 4 seconds.. Randomly.

Other features include long download times, long install times, poor game ports, and half-assed backwards computability.. Now they are working on that last bug, the new ones have no BC at all!

[CosterMonger @ Dec 17th 2007 2:36PM]

@Josef

at least now it actually has "must have" titles


@Flashpoint, same feelings about the Dual Shock 3, wait and save $60+ it's like another discount.
however compared to Microsoft red ringing xbox360s {I wonder how accurate the X360's sales are to the number of running X360s because of all the rings, I'm guessing the number is around 2000000 less then posted. Do they count repair/replacements as sales as well?} PS3 has a steady track record.

[JC @ Dec 17th 2007 3:46PM]

I sure see quite a few returns at the stores of customers unhappily bringing back their PS3 for an exchange only after a few days of use. Sony is aware there is an issue and has relaxed their return credit policy for retailers. Seems to do with overheating as well as Blu-ray movie playback issues. And as usual, if your's has worked great since day 1 then wonderful - not everyone has been as lucky as you.

[Vidikron (FU) @ Dec 17th 2007 4:17PM]

@JC

BS. There are no mass problems with the PS3. If there were any major problems there would be a massive outcry on the internet... the PS3 gets crucified over any minor issue. I've heard of the occasional BR disc issue, but nothing on a major scale.

[jere @ Dec 17th 2007 7:03PM]

@CosterMonger: you can't count RROD as sales. Mine got it and all you do is send it in for free to microsoft to fix it. There is no buying going on.

[Ron @ Dec 17th 2007 12:22PM]

I hope this means divx and xvid for PSP is on its way as well.

[h4ldol @ Dec 17th 2007 12:37PM]

Agree, it would great to get DIVX/XVID support for the PSP as well. And how about DTS-HD MA support for the PS3? It's been rumored for so long that it's becoming an old folk's tale by now.

[why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 17th 2007 2:31PM]

PS3 has DTS-MA support. Has had it for months.

The only limitation is it MUST be decoded in the player and sent out as PCM. You cannot pass it without decoding. This has no loss of quality and in fact is the preferred way for several reasons.

[Aaron @ Dec 17th 2007 3:28PM]

The PS3 does not fully support DTS MA. All it can currently do is decode the standard DTS core. It does decode Dolby TrueHD and I only wish Fox would support that instead. Who knows when/if they will add full DTS MA decoding to the PS3.

[j.d.ripper @ Dec 17th 2007 5:17PM]

If there is decent DivX/Xvid support, and Gran Turismo 5 is released, that will certainly push me much closer to getting a PS3

[stew930 @ Dec 17th 2007 12:34PM]

Hopefully it enables more PS2 game compatibility like GT4.

[innewjersey @ Dec 17th 2007 2:04PM]

I am not sure about the rest of you, but GT4 works perfectly fine for me on PS3. I even have a disk with cheat codes for GT4 and works without any problem.

[Paul Lunneberg @ Dec 17th 2007 2:28PM]

GT4 has worked for me from day 1.

[SteveMB @ Dec 17th 2007 6:16PM]

Do you have a 40GB or an 80GB? Because the 40GB and 80GB do not support as many games as the 20GB and the 60GB. Fortunately, I have the 20GB.

[aBe @ Dec 17th 2007 12:42PM]

Soooo... They'll put a 2Gig limit to the Divx files, then you cannot watch "pirated" HD content???

I suppose they don't care about dvd sales and care too much about Blue-ray sales.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 17th 2007 1:16PM]

What does file size limitation have to so with DVD vs BD sales?

[engadget.mlc @ Dec 17th 2007 3:10PM]

The 2GB limit is simply an AVI limitation because of RIFF.

This is fixed if you can handle ODML avi files. Apparently the PS3 can't.

This shouldn't be *that* big of a deal.

[DrXym @ Dec 17th 2007 4:00PM]

No, they didn't "put" a limit into the AVI container format. It's been there all along and Sony have just decided to mention it in case you were hoping they supported some of the unofficial workarounds that are in some players. You can blame the stupid file format. Maybe moving content into an MP4 container (with mp4box) will fix the issue. Failing that, just chop the files so they fall under 2Gb. It's not like many files are that big anyway. I know I haven't seen any.

[Wastegate @ Dec 17th 2007 12:49PM]

GT4 plays fine on my 60g model :)

[warchild100 @ Dec 17th 2007 12:56PM]

Can't wait. I've been waiting for DivX for a long time. No more TVersity! TVersity isn't bad, but not having to transcode is going to SUHWEET. 2gb limit? I don't think standard DVD rips can even get to 2 gb.

[stew930 @ Dec 17th 2007 12:58PM]

Unfortunately 1.80 is the last firmware that some PS2 games worked on the 80GB.

[LiqwidZero @ Dec 17th 2007 12:59PM]

'"Voice Changer" feature'

Let the child molester infestation begin!

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 17th 2007 1:19PM]

I always thought it would be cool to use this in MMOs or other games to make you sound like you were actually an Orc/Dwarf/etc. Of course, since you think it's possible to molest someone over a VOIP connection...

[Matt @ Dec 17th 2007 3:24PM]

The original Xbox also had a voice changer feature, at least in MechAssault. It was almost never used and people were yelled at for using it.
Does the 360 still have that option?

[Silverfrog @ Dec 17th 2007 3:59PM]

Re: Matt

Yes, it still has the option, but hardly anyone still uses it. When I encounter someone who does, they get put on the "not a preferred player" list.

[rv @ Dec 17th 2007 6:34PM]

This was available in xbox 1. Almost no one used it, and the people that did were idiots. The feature died out towards the end of the consoles life.

[h0mi @ Dec 17th 2007 1:20PM]

Does the 360 have an identical limitation on the file size for divx/xvid?

And if I put files on a thumbdrive or memory card (memorystick, sd, etc.) must it be formatted as FAT/fat32 or can it read NTFS?

[Namarrgon @ Dec 18th 2007 12:01AM]

Flashcards must be formatted as FAT16/FAT32 (no NTFS), so there's a 4GB file limit for DivX/Xvid files like any other. OTOH, you can stream files as big as you like.

[NotNormal23224 @ Dec 18th 2007 9:41AM]

The stated limitation on the 360 is 4GB

[Busta @ Dec 17th 2007 1:33PM]

does this mean u can watch videos off of stage6.divx.com ??

[Bucket @ Dec 17th 2007 2:02PM]

Cool. And the PS3 drive reads DVD-Rs, right? Finally, I'll be able to do something with my *COUGH* archives.

[Nubaeus @ Dec 17th 2007 2:38PM]

Pedophiles and non game players have another reason to buy a PS3 now!

[SRRED @ Dec 17th 2007 2:44PM]

2GB Limitation is more of an annoyance than anything... All it would take is a splitter to cut those file sizes in half if > 2GB... Awesome Christmas present if they bring it out tomorrow. I was starting to feel disappointed about 360 getting their DivX support so early. But it's all good now... I am missing out on the Halo action since I can only afford one console, but I am entirely happy with my purchase of the PS3, and I have faith that Sony will be bringing out some kik ass titles for it's PS3 owners in the time to come.

[Cramps @ Dec 17th 2007 4:52PM]

Has Sony fixed the upscaling issues yet?

I haven't bought one because a lot of the games only run in certain modes. My TV doesn't do 720p, only 1080i. My XBox360 works fine with just upscaling everything. You just set your resolution and go.

[balex @ Dec 17th 2007 7:19PM]

That issue has been fixed for some time now.

[NotNormal23224 @ Dec 18th 2007 9:08AM]

No upscaling for older games is not fixed. Only newer games programed to take advantage of specific scaling modes upscale (most new ones do, like Ratchet and Clank, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Uncharted) older games unless they are patched still throttle you back to 480P (Resistance).

[Siva @ Dec 17th 2007 5:11PM]

I want my DTS-HD-Ma. Screw 1.1 support. I don't care. I want my DTS-HD-Ma. whine whine whine

[TJ Eacret @ Dec 17th 2007 6:15PM]

Suhweet! Bout time! I couldn't believe 360 beat PS3 to the punch on DivX. I never used it on my 360 because it's media playback isn't good in my opinion. I love my PS3. It's a total entertainment system. I'm so ready for this DivX.

[NotNormal23224 @ Dec 18th 2007 9:16AM]

Media playback on my 360 has been just fine, but it does have one schizo thing WMP 11 doesn't stream Mpeg 2s so you have to go to Media Center to stream them. With the update on the PS3 it does stream Mpeg 2s still and plays DiVx files but has problems with some of the files that play just fine on the 360, I did some head to head comparisons last night. DiVx and WMV compatibility on the PS3 was hit and miss quite a bit more than on the 360.

[Richard @ Dec 17th 2007 7:31PM]

I went to go buy a PS3 yesterday, Sold out. Everywhere I went was sold out.
I thought this system was not doing so good… I was able to find a Wii but that’s for my sisters kids not for me..
Oh, I’m in Japan so not sure how it is in the US

[izomax @ Dec 17th 2007 7:47PM]

PS3 must have game: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

This has the BEST GRAPHIC of all next generation game, including Xbox360 games.

The details will blow you away.

[FURYk @ Dec 17th 2007 10:20PM]

just updated mine, voice change is awesome, but still cant play GT4 on my 80gig

[meatwad64 @ Dec 17th 2007 11:07PM]

I just updated mine and some xvid works and some doesn't. Gspot says that the xvid ones that worked were ISO MPEG-4 and the ones that failed to play were XVID DEV codec. It does support some xvid but only the ISO standard apparently.