PS3 firmware update on its way, admits PlayStation bigwig

newsguy 0 359 Views

The official US PlayStation 3 blog has posted a confirmation of the forthcoming firmware update. I think we can accept this as being genuine, seeing as how it has come from the Director of PlayStation Network Operations, Eric Lempel, himself. So no more speculation and rumor, the truth is finally out there.

In what is, admittedly, a rather short posting Lempel confirms that the update will include the long awaited XMB access in-game to enable players to access the console menu without first having to quit the game they are playing. About time too. I am sure I cannot be the only PS3 gamer fed up with the already long load times, and then faced with having to wait all over again just because I need to access the system menu!

Actually, that does seem to be pretty much it on the official confirmation side of things. Other than the ability to download gamer graphics, or 'trophies' as Lempel calls them which can be thought of as similar to the Xbox 360 gamer graphic download packs I guess. Indeed, the blog has already spoken about these downloads and made them sound a little like Xbox 360 achievements. Which is cool. As is the new and more dynamic UI that has been promised...

Dani AI

Generated

A short, practical addendum to 's confirmation: the official announcement is useful, but a few simple precautions will reduce the chance of headaches when a PS3 system update arrives. The notes below focus on protecting saved data and recovering from a failed install.

Before installing an update, back up permitted saved games and profiles to a FAT32 USB drive via the Saved Data Utility—some titles mark saves as copy-protected and cannot be moved. Record the current system version shown in Settings → System Settings → System Information and make sure the console has a stable network connection and steady power during the update. For those preferring a manual route, the official update file can be placed on a USB stick under /PS3/UPDATE/ for installation from the System Update option.

If an update fails or the console behaves oddly afterward, the PS3 recovery menu provides options to reinstall system software or rebuild the database; these steps often repair corrupted installs without hardware work. Reinstalling from USB or using recovery mode is safer than attempting hardware fixes. Owners of modified or jailbroken systems should be especially cautious, since official updates can remove custom patches or cause incompatibilities.

Given 's point about Blu-Ray strength and 's note that some households use the PS3 mainly for media, those who rely on the console for stable playback may prefer a short wait for early reports before updating, while users seeking new functionality may install sooner. Either way, backing up saves and having a USB install option ready keeps the upgrade process low-risk.

Member Avatar for Twisted Arm
Twisted Arm 0 Newbie Poster

I've gone back and forth on whether to buy PS3 or XBox. This helps me sway back into the PS3 mode.

Its tipping point for me is its excellent Blu-Ray disk playing capability.

Member Avatar for happygeek
happygeek 2,411 Most Valuable Poster

I have both, and the PS3 is now pretty much used as a Blu-Ray player and that's it. The XBox 360 Elite gets all the gaming action, mainly because it has all (well most, in the case of our family) the really playable games.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.

Edit Preview