Recent PS3 updates prompt more complaints of console failures
By Donald Melanson 
posted January 21st 2010 5:01PM
posted January 21st 2010 5:01PM
Well, we heard a raft of complaints of Blu-ray drive failures and other issues when Sony rolled out the 3.0 and 3.1 firmware updates for the PlayStation 3, and it looks like things may have taken another turn for the worse with the recent 3.10 and 3.15 updates. While it's a bit early to call things widespread, some forums are once again starting to heat up with reports of various problems that mostly seem to have occurred after the 3.15 update rolled out last month -- although some folks also seem to have had trouble with the earlier 3.10 update. As with last time, the issues being reported vary a bit, but the 60GB PS3 seems like it may be the most affected, with one completely unscientific poll on the official PlayStation forums finding that 27 users of the 60GB model had no issues after the 3.15 update, while 35 users had either some "bad" issues or a complete system failure ('course those with no problems aren't that likely to be seeking out threads about problems). So, anyone notice that their PS3 isn't behaving like it should? Let us know in comments.
Hopefully it's not worse than the Xbox 360 debacle.
@Mark Biatch Anderson The new Xbox 360s are quite reliable, at least they are moving in the right direction.
@Mark Biatch Anderson
Even though the end result is the same, it takes a pretty far stretch to compare hardware failure with software failure. I mean, I know someone had to bring up the 360 in a PS3 post, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't seppuku.
@Mark Biatch Anderson
My 60GB PS3 HDMI output after 28 months of watching BD movies on it. Not played the first game on that gaming console. Sony wants $149 to replace with a refurbished unit (ahem, repair the unit, right).
Xbox 360 failed after a couple of years (true RRoD), but then again M$ repaired it on their dime. It cost me nothing to get it repaired. Hmm, seems like M$ took care of this customer, where Sony flipped me off.
The debacle is simple. When it is time for new versions of the consoles to come out, I'll buy my 3rd gen Xbox. Sony? That one time 1st impression was a dud. I just wished the 60GB had failed before I bought a Slim. Sorry for doing business with Sony.
@Mark Biatch Anderson
"Hopefully it's not worse than the Xbox 360 debacle."
LOL!!! LOL!!! LOL!!! LOL!!! LOL!!! LOL!!! LOL!!! LOL!!!
You mean out of the blue another console is just going to magically start having a 60 percent failure rate and rack up 1.1 billion plus in repair costs.
"So, anyone notice that their PS3 isn't behaving like it should?"
It is hilarious to see fanboys in the media still desperately trolling for anything to try to distract from Microsoft's RRoD fiasco.
One request for the Xbots about to post their 'true life' stories of how their imaginary PS3 'died'. Make the fake stories at least funny. It's been three years of Xbots filling forums desperately making up fake my PS3 died stories. No one cares anymore. At least make your desperate fanboy efforts amusing for the rest of us.
@Mark Biatch Anderson Nothing is worse than 'That' Debacle. Not even if the World Itself is Destroyed in 2012! Nothing....
However the browser is wonky at best for sites that have any video at all. Youtube is barely playable now...
@Yoyodyne i don't like caps and i don't like exclamation marks. VOTE DOWN!
@Yoyodyne
pot kettle black.
@Yoyodyne wow, you really like the xbox failure issue don't you? Even though you said who cares about it, obviously you do. I think you also need to get your failure rate correct, its more around 23% (which is still horrible to begin with, but MS is at least prompt about fixing the affected units and do it for free.) My elite has yet to have a problem (knock on wood), and I hope my 40gb ps3 doesn't have any problems b/c no chance I'm paying $149 to fix the drive when I bought it for $200 to begin with.
@Yoyodyne
Absolutely, in return I request that all the PStools like you who claim that they're on their 7th 360, make up an even bigger number, like their 100th Xbox just died, and MS charged them $500 to fix it.
@Mark Biatch Anderson
LOL!
Look at the Xbots furiously pounding away at their keyboards.
And you losers are always crying about how the console world despises Xbox fanboys. Golly! Wonder why???
@Yoyodyne I agree with your comment even if its downranked ITS true i have the CECHAxx (60GB version) and its fine sow far
...sony should be more friendly with those who really have issues
My problem is that it lets me sign in...then i go to playstation store in it errors out...saying sever has timed out...they need another update to fix this or fix their servers...
@Yoyodyne
Please please please send the me a LEGITIMATE source that says the 360 failure rates ever reached 60%. You can't, it was some stupid unscientific poll done through some half-bit gaming magazine. If you were even halfway intelligent you'd believe the numbers that the retailers gave for returns, which was around 40%, at its worst. Right now the Jasper models are sub 5% in RROD failure rates.
Read'em and weep.
https://www.squaretrade.com/htm/pdf/SquareTrade_Xbox360_PS3_Wii_Reliability_0809.pdf
@Mark Biatch Anderson
I don't play console games, so I never knew I was denying myself some sweet, sweet fanboy war. Please, continue.
@Mark Biatch Anderson
Why does everyone get so riled up about consoles? I own both, they both magically work. The article is about a ps3 firmware update. nuff
@Mark Biatch Anderson
20GB PS3 FTW! Back in black, baby!
@xCrunk The original, right there with you! No issues and I still kick the same tiny, limited 20gb HD.
@Mark Biatch Anderson ....all i have to say is my ps3 has had nothing but problems with these new updates playing mw2.. till my blu drive stopped working.. sendin it to sony...so they can fix what they broke
I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that its an older system
@TPAYNE87 that does not matter... what matters are the idiots that put their systems on the carpet or in a sealed entertainment unit... these things need air (cold air) to live
@TPAYNE87 PS3 250GB here... no problem at all... :::evil laugh:::
@TPAYNE87
I have the 60GB, no problem for me after the latest update. I'm playing the heck out of God of War Collection in anticipation of GoW III.
500GB PS3 system here! *eviller laugh*(Originally 60GB) ... sadly down to about 300GB or so.
But 3.15 is working fine. I was surprised when it was compulsory and had to hunt around to find the announcement, but haven't had any issues.
A consumer electronic device dies after updating firmware? WHAT IS THIS? I DON'T EVEN...
Seriously, this happens on cell phones, televisions, GPS, game consoles, and just about anything else that is firmware update-able. If you weren't expecting a few broken consoles, you probably don't understand what firmware means. Now, if there is an epidemic of bricked consoles, that would be news.
I have a 60 gig, still works perfectly.
@B3astofthe3ast Mine too. Launch Day. Do folding @ Home run games daily always on. Same with a pal who has a 40. has never turned it off since intitial start 1 day after launch. Show me an xcrap that cn do that.
I bought a Spankin new elite, one of the newer models and it rrod after 2fucking months. What a piece of shit XBOX is. Oh get it fixed on M$ dime? ya but with a two month wait is well worth the $142.56cdn sony asks with just a 3 day wait.... You do tha math.
@B3astofthe3ast
That's the problem right there.
You actually own a PS3...
@(Unverified) 2 month wait my ass... Took me less than a weak to get my original xbox fixed, and by fixed, microsoft sent me a 360 :D. Well anyways, I have a friend whose ps3 died and a lot more saying their 360 died, I have yet to receive one (true) rrod, on either my early or microsoft refurb.... Lets hope this continues...
@B3astofthe3ast I also have the original 60gb along with my roommate and ours work just fine. I leave mine on for weeks, I'm surprised I haven't had any problems yet.
I wonder if it has something to do with the older system, Is there any complaints with the newer systems
@TPAYNE87
Got my 120 gb a week ago, and no problems yet... even though I've been playing practically every hour I haven't been at work.
Sometimes my PS3 is wonky and i have the 60GB model, but i haven't used it in a week or two...ill go update it i guess.
I don't know if it's the game or the update but almost everytime I quit game in darksiders my console sits for a minute then does that triple beep and restarts itself.
I've also noticed a growing amount of blu-ray movies that have some skipping issues during the middle of the movie, the disc looks scratch free but it IS a netflix disc so who knows.
@kevin949 I have the same problem with the netflix disc plus here and there if it sit idle I will get no sound having to restart the system, sometimes i'll get the sound back by unplugging the optical cable from the console.
No problems with 3.15 on my 60GB PS3 here.
My 60 GB broke twice since getting 3.10. Luckily I've found a source to fix it for $40 rather than Sony's $200.
bought a 40gb one on craigslist and i thkn the 3.15 update killed it.
My bluray driver is also out of order after 3.15 update. PS3 40GB version.
@tmkim76 Same here same model
I haven't done the 3.15. The one before that made my DVD play back sort of jerky in places. Blu-ray was fine. Now I'm scared to update it again hehe.
PS3 80GB, running 3.15 fine up here in Canada.
Here's the quandry, you have a device that works as promised. Then the maker offers you a firmware update. I take the time to read the descriptions. Since I don't need updated Croat language support, etc I usually pass on them. A firmware update that bricks a device, or removes a function, is not an update.
@joelaf
The problem is frequently to play certain new games or even to access the Playstation Store you are forced to install the update.
My 60gb crapped out after i updated to 3.0. It only plays dvd's. Blu-ray's and games freeze after about 20 minutes.
my 60gb launch ps3 was updated to 3.15 earlier this week, no issues to report, however my ps3 is barely used...probably has less than 100 hours of use, and most of it is just for the bluray anyway
YES! My PS3 40 gig has had issues since the last update. I put Uncharted 2 in and system asked that i update. I did. Since then I can not get the game to load. IT just has a logo in the lower right corner forever spinning... I did manage to get Blu-ray movies and one other game to work.
Anyone think they can help? No one on the PS3 forums could help...
@JDH try playing that disk on another ps3, if it works then its your console
@JDH That exact same thing happened to me with Uncharted 1.
I can still play cd's and some dvd's but all my games and BD's it says are corrupted or unregistered disc