Hi everyone. We’ve been listening to all of your feedback about the PS3 and PSP, and with these next firmware updates (coming soon), we’ve added a number of new features and improved some existing functionality to make your PS3/PSP experience even better.
PSP (v5.00) update
Let’s start with the v5.00 update for PSP. In this version, you’ll notice the addition of the PlayStation Network icon on the XMB. You can now sign up for PlayStation Network, manage your account and access PlayStation Store directly from your PSP – meaning you can download games directly to your PSP while connected via Wi-Fi. Getting games, demos and trailers while on-the-go has never been easier! Check out the screen below.
The current PlayStation Store on the PC will be down in the interim as we take some time to revamp. Don’t worry, it will re-launch soon after we’ve made some tweaks. Please keep in mind, if you already have a PlayStation Network account, simply sign in on your PSP using your existing information. The same account and wallet can be used on PS3 and PSP. You will be able to check out the PlayStation Store on the PSP soon, as we’ll have a video demo featuring Grace Chen posted soon on the Blog.
Update v5.00 adds a sleep timer option that can be used while you are playing music on your PSP. In addition, we’ve added a full screen keyboard option for text entry and have redesigned the background of the XMB. You’ll be able to find all of the information on Firmware v5.00 here once it goes live.
PS3 (v2.50) update
Now on to the PS3 v2.50 update. The latest features/enhancements include:
- Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset – we’ve told you about the upcoming Bluetooth Headset and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Bundle on the Blog. This latest firmware installment enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which delivers clear and wide-band online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level and use of HQ mode.
- PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements – I know that many of you are busy collecting trophies and raising your PlayStation Trophy level. This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today.
- Friend status – Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.
- Video – This update adds the Scene Search feature similar to the feature on the PSP. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.
- PlayStation Store – We’ve added a redeem codes option right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.
- Power Save Settings – You can now set your PS3 and wireless controllers to turn off automatically after set periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.
- Background Downloading – You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.
- In-game Screenshots – this tool will allow everyone to capture, share and in other words, immortalize their favorite gameplay moments. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Please check back to find out which games will support this feature.
- In addition to all of the features above there are some additional features and enhancements included in 2.50. Once the update launches, you can read all of the details here.
The support for the Bluetooth Headset will be of particular interest to all of you SOCOM fans. With the “Proximity Chat” feature, SOCOM: Confrontation gameplay is intensified as it allows you to experience high-quality voice playback in full surround sound. Whether the action is near or far, Proximity Chat clearly matches distance to sound effects and voiceovers within the game, putting you in the heart of the action.
Enjoy and please share your thoughts with us.
Any chance you can make the PS3 play any region PS1 + PS2 game??
i.e i can play a Japanese or U.S PS1 disc on my Euro PS3?? Just a thought ;)
+A better internet Browser on the PS3??
+I can send a Photo/Video from my BlueTooth Mobile phone to the PS3 via BlueTooth??
+Bring back PS2 B/C for the PS3 PLEASE!!
Keep up the good work ;)
OMG thats an awesome update for both PSP and PS3.. thank you Sony :D
I’m more than excited! I’M AMAZED!!!! This came faster than I thought! The PS Store on the PSP is HUGE, and all of this for the PS3!?!!? AWESOME!!!! The updates to the trophy support are great, and the in-game screenshots… all I can say is WOW!!!! You guys really DO listen! :)
I’m 100% sure that the new automatic turn off features for the controllers, and while downloading things will come in handy too!
Thank you SO much! That’s really all I can say…
sweeet
@ p-s-3 | October 13th, 2008 at 5:41 am
+Bring back PS2 B/C for the PS3 PLEASE!!
Sorry, PS3 gamers don’t really need that…
Eric, is there any chance we’ll ever see tweaks to the ps1 and ps2 backwards compatability? As in screen scale and some graphics tweaks or anything? I ask cause when I play my ps1 and ps2 games, and even Mega man 9 does it, I get a black border around the entire picture.
I can get all of it verticle, with black bars on the side or most of it horizontal with black bars all around it slightly.
This could be fixed yeah?
This is what we are missing:
(some have just been added in FW 2.5/5, so check out the rest)
PS3 features:
– Ingame XMB for PS2/PS1 games
– Playstation Movie Store
– Ingame Playstation Store
– Ingame music [music accessible from XMB anytime with any game]
– Cross-game invites
– Appear Offline feature, allowing us to appear offline to friends
– Ability to change the font color on the XMB [with no background interference]
– Password protection on PS3 system startup / USER login
– Send more than 1 picture to a friend
– Voice messaging / Voice Recognition
– Skype on PS3
– Radio on PS3
– Avatar of our choice
– Ability to send PS3 messages from PC, PSP or Cellphone (Sony Ericson). Additionally the ability to send video, audio files and themes to PSN friends.
– Sound notification when receiving a message, friend signed in, chat invitation..etc
– Multiple internet configurations/connections
– Audio and video chat in-game
– Ability to continue a download while watching a bluray movie / playing a game / playing a ps2 game / ps3 is on standby mode
– PERFORM DOWNLOAD AS BACKGROUND for every single download, from firmwares to game patches
– Auto-install completed downloaded demos
– Auto-PS3 shutdown once a download is over / Auto-standby after _ minutes
– Sleep timer
– Turn off the controller after a certain time of inactivity
– Personalize tune at startup/shutdown login/logoff
– Screen and video capture
– Additional Video and Audio format support
– Web browser: Ability to copy-paste
– PS2 games purchasable via the store and/or installable from our discs to the PS3 HDD
– Ability to download GAME patches from PC, just like FW updates
Online Features:
1) Be able to watch a friend play, from your screen
To make myself clearer, let’s take an example: JUSTIN.TV
You play, recording yourself with your webcam and broadcasting your gameplay to the entire world. Anybody coming on your channel will be able to see you play. So basically, what i am saying here is a concept pretty much similar. When online on PSN , it would be great to have a feature that lets you connect to your friend’s game and watch him play….In other terms, i would be a ‘Spectator’.
2) Take in-game videos screenshots, and being able to host them online directly from the PSN
The PSN lets you (although still very limited) upload in-game footage directly to YouTube. Well, that’s good for a start isn’t it, but i mean….YouTube? No. Just no. SCE need to set up a private video sharing website, in which all content would not only be in HD, but also uploaded directly from our consoles.
3) Stuck in a game? Meet the Virtual Walkthrough!
Let’s admit it folks, we’ve all got stuck in games..and still do. One of the game i most used a walkthrough was Zelda: Twilight Princess. I can vaguely remember the number of pages i printed off the GAMEFAQ walkthrough, but it certainly was above 30. Aren’t you fed up with that? Moving to your PC to look for the solution ; Making sure you always have papers and cartridge ready, cause if you don’t you’d have to constantly come-and-go from console to PC ; Reading the walkthrough while playing..well believe me i am. I believe it is time we have a Virtual Walkthrough. In other terms, an in-game walkthrough that would help us in our ‘stuck’ situations, and lead us to the solution.
4) Not an online feature, but a feature in general..a really important one: Game Cutscenes accessible anytime
Am i the only one who wishes i could re-watch all cutscenes from the games i play? I’m sure i’m not. I believe this is a game developer decision, and not a console manufacturer’s, but whoever it is they must hear us: We want to watch all cutscenes from the games we’ve completed ANYTIME. Whether it’s on the Disc itself (unlocked after completing the game maybe), or an option to have them all transfered to our HDD, we want it!
5) Organized Clan Management System
Clans Clans Clans..Numerous clans exist for nearly every online game available today. A great feature would be the integration of an Organized Clan Management System. The use of such a system would basically let console users to not only group the clan members, but actually manage the entire clan overall: Have a motto, a logo, statistics, …etc
In other terms, Clan Identification. An mIRC equivalent would also be a critical addition, as it could offer the following features:
*Finding scrims
*Communicating with other teams and league officials pre and post match
*Score bots. Dump live match information from match servers into an irc channel
*Finding ringers
*Finding PUGS (Pick Up Games)
*Recruiting
6) Eliminate P2P ; Dedicated Servers ONLY
The majority of console games today use P2P for online play. P2P is not only cheap, but so terrible that it makes the online experience virtually unplayable. Eliminate P2P ; and let the console online experience expand through Dedicated Servers.
7) PSN Game Reviews
You know how when you play a game, the titles displays under your PSN username? Well, the game review feature will follow the same concept: you will be able to review only the games that you play. Rate the game out of 10. Then Sony could do an official user rating list, which will basically be an official list made out of all user ratings, and that could be checkable by all ps3 users anytime.
8) Trophy Ranking
The title says it all. A worldwide / Regional trophy ranking list.
9) Official Sony Calendar
Basically, a calendar created by SCE, available on the PSN and accessible at any time. The calendar will offer numerous features, such as:
*Video games and BluRay release dates [according the region you live in]
*Events dates [E3, GC, TGS, CES]
I only have a few suggestions cause most of these are awesome updates one is having the life with playstation tiny text fixed and add a zoom function too it and to be able to look up your zipcode for a forecast and to have Home release soon. but overall most are good updates.
Sweet update Sony! Lots of good stuff!
And for all of the people asking for more and more and more and more stuff, why not be grateful for once and post your wishes on the PSU forum.
O_O WOW
Great additions! Some of this stuff is a really nice unexpected suprise. Thanks for the great support.
Please make it mandertory to have custom soundtracks,and trophies in all ps3 games starting 2009 please and that me and my brother can play with our own psn ids at the same time
Awesome functionality added. Thanks for the update.
Both updates seem great. They both include most of the features I have been wanting. I won’t go on about what else I want (just yet!) as you say there are additional enhancements coming as well.
I wonder how the psp sleep timer will work and what these trophy interface alterations look like.
I must say I am a bit disappointed on the screenshot function being on a game by game basis. Won’t that mean it’s no different to devs adding it like they do at the moment (wipeout HD etc), in which case, doing it in-game would be better because you can have specific effects for the game. I don’t see how this “new” function adds anything.
Anyway, great work, can’t wait to try the psp store.
Great work Eric!
Now I can be satisfied with an auto-install function for demos and games.
Great
– Youtube connection
– Internetbrowser: make it Flash combatible
– Possibility for videosnapshots
Thank you!
oh i forgot to say.. you are saying “this tool will allow everyone to capture” do you mean video or just shots?
This firmware update applies to screenshots only. The PS3 already has the capability to capture videos and upload them to YouTube. Developers are starting to incorporate this into their games, such as PixelJunk Eden.