PS3 3.15 System Software Update

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Hi everyone, PlayStation 3 (PS3) will receive its next system software update shortly – v. 3.15. This is an optional update, and it enables existing PS3 owners who purchase a new PS3 system (perhaps as a second unit for the household) to transfer their content from their current PS3 to the new system. Content such as games, game save data, and videos downloaded from PlayStation Network can be transferred to the new PS3 system and deleted from the current PS3 system. Other content, including personal media files (photos, music, videos), can be copied onto the new PS3 and remain on the current PS3 system.

Here’s a quick primer on how the Data Transfer Utility works (UPDATED).

Data Transfer Utility

  1. Connect both PS3 (A) and PS3 (B) with a LAN cable and connect both PS3 to the TV (using different video input connectors). (Please note, do not unplug any cables when the PS3 power is on.) Turn both the current PS3 (A) and new PS3 (B) on. Please note, firmware (v3.15) must be installed on both systems.
  2. On the XMB of PS3 (A), scroll to the Settings category and select [System Settings] and then [Data Transfer Utility]
  3. Follow the instructions on-screen and select [1. Transfer data from this system to the other PS3 system.]
  4. When PS3 (A) is in standby and ready for transferring data, switch the screen to PS3 (B), scroll to the Settings category on XMB and select [System Settings] and then [Data Transfer Utility]
  5. Follow the instructions on-screen and select [2. Transfer from the other PS3 system to this system.]
  6. After transferring the data, follow the instructions on-screen.
  7. If content that was downloaded from PlayStation Store was transferred as part of this operation, you must activate PS3 (B) before you can use the data. Log in to the PS3 system as the user who owns the content, and then select (PlayStation Network) > (Account Management) > (System Activation) to activate the system.

More details on Data Transfer Utility will be available here once the firmware update is live.

minis

The 3.15 update also enables “minis” to be played on a PS3 system. As we’ve reported here before, “minis” launched on PlayStation Network this fall in conjunction with the launch of PSPgo. These bite-sized games offer a more casual experience and are ideal for shorter gameplay sessions. Now PS3 owners will be able to play “minis,” and those who own both a PS3 and PSP system will be able to play on either platform. “minis” for the PS3 system will be available for download on PlayStation Store in the coming weeks. If you’ve purchased any “minis” already for your PSP and the title becomes available for PS3, you’ll simply need to download the title to your PS3.

As always, we look forward to your feedback.

Comments are closed.

423 Comments

  • I just hope some of the annoyances of the past fws have been fixed. Like not fading all but the selected element in XMB, or using the nice photo grid thumbnail browser on attached storage, CDs, and UPnP too, and also for movie.

  • i guess that cross-game voice chat isn’t coming up this year, the lan transfer is pretty cool thought

  • I’m liking this update. VEry handy because it’s a hassle to put files in memory stick and transferring them back and forth. I couldn’t ask for a better timing OTHERWISE….

    Still waiting for Pan and scan/letterbox zoom in when playing 4:3 DVD/Blu-Ray content: http://tinyurl.com/ykjkm88

    and PS2 is still dealing with scaling issues as explained here: http://tinyurl.com/yfpj88
    (hint, give us a customizable screen adjust like when playing PS1 games on PSP OR fix the aspect ratio ) + upscaling PS2 games as of last update gained an issue : things looks more pixelated than ever and screen smoothing doesn’t seem to do anything anymore.

    and give back Ps1 texture mapping graphics like the PS2 did:
    http://tinyurl.com/ybyscup

    It’s been too long for these things to be fixed

  • I dont understand why I just cant take my fat PS3 hard drive and put it in my soon to arrive PS3 slim…and start it up…wouldn’t that be the simplest transfer data…

  • * link to PS2 scaling issues explained here with corrected link : http://tinyurl.com/yfpj88m

  • Nice, NOW DROP THE PRICE OF YLOD REPAIRS

  • Wow you don’t see the point what we want Eric Lempel Cross In game Chat with In Game Music!..
    These updates are just pointless to end the Year…

  • Is there any chance they release a firmware update where when I group together my digital downloads by album I can then have them alphabetized as opposed to having them listed according to creation date or whatever options are currently available?

    The more games I download the more I find this annoying.

  • Awesome, this will help when my husband gets his own PS3 Slim. We have been sharing one for the time being…

  • Blagh where is the cross game chat?

  • Blagh where is the cross game chat? That’s the on thing in my opinion that makes xbox live better…

  • Wow, the timing is so perfect, lol. I’m exchanging my 80GB for a new 250GB with my friend (he wants to play ps2 games) in a week or so, LOL. You are GODs!

  • 3.15 = FAIL! (According to the European blog)

    James Thorpe in his own words:
    “Hi Hirndoctor, you can copy all PS3 save data except for game saves that are protected by the game publishers through the transfer utility. Please check in the game manual for Killzone to find out if the game saves are protected”

    Copy Protected Saves = FAIL!

  • Will they be bringing out the option every to play PSP games that you can download through the store on our PS3?

  • Useless…we need a better update,private chat,voice voice message, custom soundtrack in all games,ps2 backwards compatibility,etc….
    Ps. New avatars!!!

  • Please, please, please, for goodness’ sake, patch the PS3 firmware so that sub accounts have access to Facebook integration like master accounts do… I beg you. I’ll send you money if I have to! Just please, please fix this!

    Thank you so much for all your hard work!
    – Joe

  • nice update. When will we get cross game features..in 3.20?

  • Thank you very much for the Data Transfer Utility! This has been a major feature gap since launch, and I really appreciate you supporting those of us who have been with the PS3 since the start and want to migrate to the latest generation system. Now if you could make this data transfer standard operating procedure when a PS3 gets sent in for service and needs to be replaced (as is typically the case with the YLOD which I just suffered), I’d really be ecstatic. The only reason I went with a 3rd party repair service was that they would repair my existing PS3, thus preserving my save files, whereas Sony would not. Here’s hoping I can stick with Sony service if something like that were to happen again!

  • I hate to be the bearer of bad news JaTIX, but Sony will NOT put in custom soundtracks to a firmware update since Microsoft owns a patent on it. That’s why they left it up to individual game developers to put the code into their games.

    I’d love to see PS2 BC make a comeback and be offered for FREE. However, the grubby SOB’s at Sony have their hearts(and wallets) set on offering PS2 games as digital downloads for X amount and that’s the ONLY way(outside of compilations like the God Of War one)that you’ll see any PS2 games on non BC PS3’s.

    And MGSTigerFox, don’t be giving Sony the idea to charge us for useless crap that some of us may never use. If you wanna pay them for some lame social networking site garbage, then by all means go ahead and do so.

    Aside from in-game XMB and text chat, these updates have added NOTHING for me. Just garbage…pure garbage. Way to take the lead and throw it away, Sony.

  • I’d like to thank you for providing a migration tool. This is a welcome addition and shows consideration for your users.

    I am finding that I have taken to purchasing DLC (of various forms) more than ever expected. As I buy more I have more concerns about data protection for my PS3 content.

    I second the idea to allow networked backup to a DLNA or other home NAS or media server. This would be a boon.

    I strongly encourage you to implement an online backup service with the ability to backup ALL content on the PS3.

    There are now many network object stores like Amazon S3. You might also partner with a company like Symantec and use the back end for the Norton Online Backup service.

    Use whatever client security you desire, for purposes of protecting your intellectual property. A service like this would provide a revenue opportunity from all of the people who don’t want to go out and buy external USB drives. It could also be more convenient (perhaps you can provide a timer setting?), than having to connect hardware.

    This needn’t be expensive. The “retail” cost of online storage is quite reasonable now. A perfect online backup solution would allow for backup of ALL content, including protected game saves.

  • I’m glad that you all seem to finally be realizing that people do in fact own more than one PS3. But keep in mind that after that data transfer, people will most likely keep their old PS3 as well.

    Can you all implement an intelligent system to copy save data etc. from one PS3 to another which are NOT in the same household.
    For instances where there may be a PS3 at each of your parents houses. Instead of going through each modified save and copying them individually a multiple ‘check’ system may work better…

  • Also, can we create ‘playlist’ like groups in our friends list? After the new friend sorting options became hard to navigate (see my note below), I find it hard to find my ‘real’ friends in the list. (Add certain people to specified groups for better organization. ex. ‘People I know’, ‘Killzone clan’, ‘MW2 clan’, etc) and lists could be sorted by name, date created, or can be user organized. Similar to your buddy list in an instant messaging program.

    The organization of the friends list was much better before it was updated with the two new options. It was much easier to find an offline friend when my offline friends were in alphabetical order. Now I have to change my order from ‘status’ to ‘name’ in order to find someone without going through a list of seemingly random names. I’m just asking that you add a 3rd option please…

  • Wow! that’s great but I’m also worried if all minis will be playable on PS3. Can you guarantee us that it will really play?? Thanks a lot!

    http://sabetsu.com/

  • With minis being on the PS3 now, is there a chance mini’s will get trophies?
    I ask simply because I would love to have trophies for tetris, if there would be trophies for tetris it would motivate me to buy it

  • … and compatibility with the Playstation 2?

  • Does this update address the 80029564 error at 14% install that many of us seem to suffer when installing content downloaded from PSN?

  • Once again you missed the point Sony by not allowing us to back-up and transfer over our copyrighted save files. I have 2 PS3’s and I can’t even move my Demon’s Souls file to my other PS3 now because why? Very backwards thinking.

  • CAN WE PLEASE GET SOME NEW AVATARS?

    I mean, I know we have like 20 of them, along with the colorful piles of crap but I really do think it’s time for an UPDATE.

    How long does this take, Sony? Seriously, get your priorities straight. LISTEN to what your consumers want.

  • I wonder if anyone will reply to these comments.. but i have a question.. in regards to backing up saves and transferring to a new pS3..

    i was planning to pick a new ps3 slim this month, and wish to transfer all my data from my old ps3 to the new one and save all the files from the old to the new slim.

    will my save files be intact? I just read many people on the DRAGON AGE ORIGIN discussion forum that when they backup the files, and restore on another PS3, all the save files were not restored… with this new sofware update, will i be able to keep the save game files?

    i heard a lot of games have locked save files.. ex: killzone 2 da:o etc..
    please tell me.. when i buy my new ps3 slim.. i can CONTINUE TO PLAY MY GAME.. and restart the hours and hours i’ve played so far… (hoping)

  • What I would like to see would be to run voice chat software like Ventrilo on the ps3 that ran in the background.
    If only there was an app for that!

  • Well it looks like this 3.15 update will be the last firmware update for 2009…Still no arrivals of new avatars or premium avatars. Since the launch of firmware 3.00 on September 1st 2009…nothing so far….It’s Decmeber 8th 2009….Oh well…It only does everything

  • “Also… when are we seeing an update that allows us to have more than one psn account on a psp? I’m not going to buy a copy of each psp game for each family member, yet everyone wants to play in their profile…”

    I second this comment by Fexelea – if PSP Go is ever to take off, it needs to allow easy logging in/out of family accounts. I for one am sick of having to delete/recreate accounts. We can’t all afford multiple PSP’s, much as Sony seems to think we should.

    If you can do it on PS3, then I see NO argument against the same fair treatment of PSP owners.

    Please address this.

  • My Tetris Mini still only plays on my PSP. Hope this gets sorted out soon.

  • nothing important.. still waiting the MKV video format support and could be cool a 3d file viewer like .3ds, .obj,.c4d etc… Could be good new avatars..or mutch better can be that we can set our personal avatars…or use our Home alter ego as avatar..see because some users have the same avatar..this is ugly. Can set an animated background etc.. i think those are a good features for a good firmware.. ops.. i don’t care about this, but, the big part of the users wish a cross game chat.

  • @314
    I retract my previous statements.
    After upgrading and reading the info on the system about the data transfer, it WILL MOVE copy protected saves files to the new system.
    Not ideal as it erases the new system it is copying to but it performs the function of moving copy protected saves.

  • NEW AVATARS now please for the love of God !

  • I can confirm that it does move copy protected saves. Just happened to be buying a new PS3 last night because of a failed blu-ray drive. I followed the directions exactly as posted and didn’t get any errors with the transfer. However, I was playing AC2 this morning and stunned more than 4 guards with sand (one of the trophies I still needed) but I did not get the trophy.

    Has anyone else done the transfer and got a trophy using an existing saved game?

  • I’ve got to say I’m pretty disappointed with this update, when I heard “data transfer utility” I was pretty excited as now I wouldn’t have to run back and forth between PS3’s to transfer game data with a usb stick (depending where I would be playing that night). So the solution to this problem is for me to disconnect 1 PS3, slug it around the house connect it directly (really why not via router, switch, WiFi?) and transfer data, and repeat to keep wherever I’m playing up-to-date. I’ve believe we as customers deserve a better solution! I would pose the question; Do the Project Managers, Developers, Designers and other employees at Sony who have multiple PS3’s accept this as a solution to “data transfer”

  • Can you selectively choose which content to transfer? If not, that is a serious limitation. Not so much a problem if you are replacing an old PS3 with a new one presuming you are going to get rid of the old one. But what if you are keeping both? Isn’t it reasonable that you might want to tranfer some game content to the new one while retaining other content on the old one?

  • Please fix the issue with fade out in XMB, and use thumbnail grid browser for non-local photos. These are obvious bugs that are esay to fix.

  • Oh, and please: “Synchronising trophies. Please wait…”. That current sentence looks so enormously brain dead!

  • after the update I started to have some issues using the web browser, the system freezes when I’m asked about running a plug-in.

  • I hope that themes will be updated to accommodate the mini icon.

  • Still waiting on cross game VOICE chat.

    Still waiting on the ability to leave VOICE messages.

    Maybe we’ll get those features in 2014.

  • Bluetooth A2DP ??? Is this possible with the PS3? It would be a very nice feature.

    Thx.

  • my nephew gewts error code 8002f997 and cannot load…..

  • Why do the PS3s have to be directly connected to each other? Wouldn’t it be much more convenient to allow PS3s on the same network to transfer data between each other? Or even be able to transfer data between each other over the internet, provided both are turned on, the same user is logged into both, and both consoles have been activated for that user’s content.

  • This is a great feature. I still have one suggestion for Sony, one that I hear from friends more often than any other, especially for those who have not purchased a PS3 yet. Why not make a higher-priced model available that is like the first 2 models and has the emotion chip and plays PS2 games? I think this unit would be a great seller. How many friends I have that have a PS2 and have no more room to hook up another machine. Please Sony, release a higher-end model that plays all PS2 games. Millions of people have dozens of PS2 games and this would be a perfect upgrade and easier transition for them. I would buy a 2nd model if it had this function like my original 60gb model, which isn’t going to last forever and it would be nice to have one available, even at a higher price, that has the emotion engine.

  • sony can we get a “back up all” function for game saves? ive had four yellowlights and i always backup my saves daily anyway, but it would be nice if i could save all savefiles apposed to copying one by one. another idea would be using a cloud to store all save information like google does.

  • Since now we can transfer data to another PS3, it would make sense if we could also change your PSN id’s right? Still waiting on this option Sony. Please make it available asap!

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