PlayStation 3's To Receive 3D Support Via Firmware Update

22 Comments Posted November 19, 2009 - By Jake Gaskill

PlayStation 3's To Receive 3D Support Via Firmware Update Sony is ramping up its investment in 3D stereoscopic technology, and it’s looking to the PlayStation 3 to help lead the way.

As Gamasutra reports, Sony recently gave a presentation to investors which outlined the company's plans to highlight the 3D potential of the PS3 going forward, revealing that, “All PS3 units will be firmware-upgradeable to 3D.” Sony obviously aims to push the 3D Blu-ray movie potential of the PS3, but it’s also hitching its wagon to 3D gaming as well. One of the most notable high-profile titles being released this year with 3D support is Ubisoft’s movie tie-in game based on James Cameron’s Avatar, which is actually a double three-dimensional whammy since the movie is intended to be seen in 3D as well.

Of course, for any of this homebrewed 3D voodoo to work, PS3 owners will also have to have a television capable of supporting stereoscopic 3D, and those are about as common as leftovers at a [insert name of famous fat person of choice] dinner party. However, Sony believes the 3D business will prove its value in just a few years. And while it might be too early to tell if 3D will end up being as widely adopted as Sony thinks/hopes it will, they were right about Blu-ray and the HD DVD wars, so...you know.

When do you think you’ll be picking up your first 3D-compatible television? Between Sony’s upcoming motion control technology and now this 3D push, could we be on the brink of a very real gaming revolution? Or is 3D gaming still too gimmicky to truly change the medium in a drastic way?

Source: Gamasutra

Tags: PlayStation 3, Videogames

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Shockwave562

I wouldn't buy a new TV just for 3D. 3D has proven to be a fad in the past and just because it's popular again doesn't mean that's a reason to buy in to this. I'll upgrade when the time comes but I doubt I'll be able to take advantage of this

Posted: November 19, 2009 1:03 PM | Reply | Report

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mothr101

3d is cool and all but i think its kind of gimmicky. let me know when i can get a hologram game that surrounds me in living room.

Posted: November 19, 2009 1:05 PM | Reply | Report

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123Four

I think tho put it easily, it's an interesting idea, but a needless one. Please get back to work on Heavy Rain

Posted: November 19, 2009 1:11 PM | Reply | Report

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Hoss70

Anyone notice the new update sony released? I had to download it last night, but don't remember seeing anything on it.

Posted: November 19, 2009 1:42 PM | Reply | Report

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DamonTheMoney

Well I actually love 3D. It works really well nowadays (in high budget things). I'm actually deciding on which new TV to buy now, so this is great timing for me. I'll wait until I hear more on the subject though.

Posted: November 19, 2009 1:55 PM | Reply | Report

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TKEmysterio

Cool: I actually have a 3D ready TV.....

Samsung-61" 1080p Slim-Depth LED Engine DLP HDTV-HL61A750

I was wondering when something would actually come out for it.

Posted: November 19, 2009 2:02 PM | Reply | Report

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JediMasterRick

I'm ready, all they need to do now is make it available.

Posted: November 19, 2009 2:10 PM | Reply | Report

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TKEmysterio

Why wouldn't this be the next logical step in gaming. I think we were WAY ahead of ourselves in the 90s with the Virtual Reality thing. Best to start w/ 3D and take it from there.

If it's anything like you'd experience at the movies when their in 3D.... SIGN ME UP!!

Posted: November 19, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Report

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Gamelife1

After reading this article, I did a little research and I had no idea that now you wouldn't need glasses for 3d stuff like this. People where describing it and it sounds amazing, almost as if this is an actual hologram. 2010 is gonna be such a crazy year for gaming. I'm just imagining using the playstation motion controls on some fully 3d game and it's absolutely ridiculous.

Posted: November 19, 2009 2:29 PM | Reply | Report

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ashkpa

I play my games on the PC in 3d, and most of them are awesome! It throws you off a bit in fast paced multiplayer, but in single player games it's brilliant.

Posted: November 19, 2009 2:34 PM | Reply | Report

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BertSaxby

nVidia's PC kit is some cool awesomeness. One of the first that I've used that actually works and you don't want to tear your eyes out after 10 minutes.

Posted: November 19, 2009 2:38 PM | Reply | Report

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jungleman67

this is probably the only reason why anyone would make a new console

Posted: November 19, 2009 3:06 PM | Reply | Report

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PS3_jmanxp

I wold love to see 3D come true and it goose double for gaming that is the next step in gaming and for tv and film, but as for TV3D i been in ebay looking to see how much thy are and its well over a grand for 1 so we still got to wait 2yrs for a tv set to be in the right price range

Posted: November 19, 2009 3:17 PM | Reply | Report

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DemitriVampiro

even though im a Sony fan i have to 'zing' them.

They were wrong about the betamax and sacd (super audio cd, which came with the original 20 and 60 gb ps3. could hold up to the same amount of space as a dvd disk and had a better rich playback format than mp3).

Posted: November 19, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply | Report

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ProjektX13

shotty investment

Posted: November 19, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Report

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GreedyMcNasty

3d is not the way to go. I don't want to wear glasses over my glasses. Should have went the hologram route.

Posted: November 19, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Report

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cashbrown

Meh. If it still requires glasses, Cashbrown passes.

Yeah, that was lame. . .

Posted: November 19, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Report

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qulqu_nick

well if you combine 3D gaming with proper motion control via natal or the eye-toy HD 2 it seems to be able to make for some simply stunning gaming experiences. I'm thinking of a truly amazing fps using eye-toy + 3D and making it fell really immersion, almost like a primitive hologram system, half life eat your heart out. that is if it works mind you, the ability for this to fail epically is about equal. so i give it a 10% chance of something pure awesome to make 3D the new wireless controller, 20% chance of something good but not a total game changer, 40% chance of AAA games using it well and everything else being meh to bad,and 30% chance crash and burn.

Posted: November 19, 2009 4:21 PM | Reply | Report

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2great4u

This to me sounds like a fad but if sony has the guts to make the ps3 3-d without glasses and the 3rd party delvelopers use it for action and awe for example missiles fly past the hero and through the screen then it be the next best thing. For now it way too early say it would be the next best thing because hardcore gamers aren't ready to migrate to 3D effect from 2D flat TV video gaming.

Posted: November 19, 2009 6:56 PM | Reply | Report

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Timbo_D

When I am ready to get a new tv... in five+ years... I am not going to consider 3D capability a necessity. If it doesn't add to the price, then I won't consider it a negative either.

After all, I would have to see how this plays into my motion sickness. 3D shows at Disney and what not make me go running for the door. I couldn't imagine COD in 3D.

Posted: November 20, 2009 6:17 AM | Reply | Report

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