On September 1st, Sony will release firmware 3.0 for the PlayStation 3, evolving the look and feel of the primary interface for its console. Firmware 3.0 completely revamps the information board, a feature most users ended up turning off, introduces premium avatars and animated themes and a variety of other tweaks broken down into great detail at the PlayStation Blog.
While firmware 3.0 is the last major update the PlayStation 3 will see during 2009, I recently asked Sony if this was the last update period for the calendar year.
"You know, I wouldn't say that or sure just yet because we are working on some things," said PlayStation Network operations director Eric Lempel in a phone interview following Sony's GamesCom announcements. "But this is a big and significant update, so you would be correct to assume that [it's the last major update for 2009]."
I asked Lempel whether the number of feature being packed into firmware 3.0 signaled Sony could be taking a more Microsoft-like approach -- fewer updates with bigger feature sets.
"We try to release updates a few times a year and try to put as much as we can in them and depending on the different schedules and what we have ready at a certain moment, it may or may not make it into an update," he explained. "We do want to continue to evolve the PS3, continue to go along our road map but also listen to what the users are saying and making the necessary enhancements to make their experience better."
Any requests for the rest of 2009?
[image credit: flickr / wlodi]
Comments
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MattLive
Seamless voice chat support in-game and off-game.
Scottydsntknow
netflix support, cross-game chat, a hulu channel, and something we've never seen before
ProjektX13
Nah i think there will be more.
Dagger44
Custom avatars! like your own pictures and stuff. I think alot of ppl would like that. Perhaps animated avatars like GIF's or whatever.
poker909
backwards compatability needs to come back!!!!!!!!
jdawghatesyou
I want to be able to change my Avatar! Maybe I can and I'm just ignorant, so in that case, SOMEONE ENLIGHTEN ME! haha
I am also curious, Netflix Support? Why do we need that, and I believe it was stated by Netflix recently that they have a contract with Microsoft, and I'm sure if that wasn't around Sony would give you your pointless Netflix on your GAME SYSTEM haha.
l33t360 ShowHide(4 Replies)
that sucks.
grunto
As excited as I am for updates, this update seems to offer very little. The one and only thing the PS3 doesnt offer me now that I wish I could have is cross-game chat, and custom music playable in all online games, be it KZ2, R2, U2, Warhawk, Fight Night, etc....
Otherwise, I think the interface is perfect. The XMB is great, and the whole 360 NXE thing took a hint from the xmb and simply turned it vertical rather than horizontal. Don't fix what isn't broken......
shinrasboy
Requests? Hmm. Okay!
Nicer (more dynamic) themes. NTFS External HDD Support. Custom Avatars, A nice display clock like the PSP Go (just as a nice novelty) A nicer browser....(novelty)
and....BW compatibility ahhh don't hit me!!!)
^_^
mcp3
Cant wait to buy another PS3 in a few days because my dumbass kicked my old PS3 cause it kept freezing. I need to work on my anger, that was $600 down the drain.
BertSaxby
Avatar crap can kiss my A. I'm hoping for being able to customize the controller layouts.
blasphemous
I dont understand this desire for custom soundtraks. In a racing game, yeah, I can see the appeal. But for a shooter? why would I rather listen to music over the sounds from the game.
I tell you what, you listen to your music while playing me in KZ or any other shooter, and I will hand you your ass online.
trashymac
I would LOVE Hulu on my ps3. Going to the site through the web browser is jerky at best.
SpillTheBlood
I'd like to see parties (the one thing about XBL I liked), cross-game chat, and custom avatars. Parties and avatars are honestly what I want the most. I hate having stupid little first-party preset avatars.
vferg
I dont really want what I am about say, I just feel like these additions should be added considering the marketing for a PS3 has always been slightly towards home media center as well as a gaming machine, but I have yet to see any indications of them working towards making that experience any better. If anything Xbox has done a better job offering more of a media center type of system at this point then PS3. So due to that I want to see PS3 come up with more ideas like having a Netflix type of system, a music site addition and adding there own built in media server that can link up with your PC to offer streaming up pretty much every file you have without going through third party software. The only way it would work is if you can play .mkv files as well as h.264 ones as well which most of us will know they dont work.
ChocoChip8
I just want Backwards compatability, only that can help me forget about the extra 200$ i wasted for a ps3 when I could have waited 9 months longer.
Oh stronger online connectivity, lags too much.
Erthazus
you know... Gamescom looked like PlaystationCon. They are unchallenged at Gamescom.. Released so much stuff and allmost all booths were only: Sony,Sony,Sony,Sony,Sony.
If even felt like Sony. So much Konami with MGS: Peace Walker and other stuff...
Allmost no Nintendo and Microsofts booth with *lips*, Windows 7, Forza 3 booth. Oh my god, what they were thinking...
3.0 update looks great. Especially the feature with LBP desktop or something like that on my PS3 :D
fearlex0
Appart from BC, Netflix, and everything peoples has asked here, i would love be able to update my twitter from the XMB also. That would be great :D
Roundtree_X
I would love to be able to change my PSN name just one time and not lose all my suff....all my saves, and what not are tied to it...
mrsappho
I hope they fix the XMB.
Whenever I'm playing a game, and press the PS button, it the XMB lags a bit and could load a little faster.
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