Source: ps3blog.net

Firmware 2.52 is now out, it’s just a minor update. See here for details

Source: ps3blog.net

Go and upgrade your PS3 to Firmware 2.5, available now. All the new features are listed here.

Source: ps3blog.net

Some guys over at CVG said a “source” told them the firmware 2.5 will included a screen capture feature. Which a couple games have already, like Resistance 1 & Metal Gear Online. Hopefully this is truely built into the firmware unlike the youtube video upload feature which is up to the developer to implement. Anything else you want to see the in the next firmware update?

I would like the following:

* Option for a custom PSN ID image
* IM type feature for communication instead of “e-mailing” back and forth basically.
* In Game Voice chat
* Display Profile quicker
* Be able to save different wireless access points, the psp can.
* Register multiple bluetooth devices like keyboards or headsets and store them so you can switch between them. Cell phones can even do this.

First PS3 firmware 2.5 details

Source: ps3blog.net

Firmware 2.42 is up | Go grab it! Not sure what it does yet, still downloading it. [Update - Nothing to see here, maybe prep for something to come? Life with Playstation perhaps?]

Source: ps3blog.net

Rumor: Sony customer support says 2.41 coming ‘midweek’ | I never had any issues, but hopefully this helps the people who did.

Source: ps3blog.net

Lots of people have been vexed by the lack of in-game music control after updating to firmware version 2.40. Wasn’t this supposed to be one of the features of the new firmware? Sony certainly touts it as such, and give a demonstration using PixelJunk Monsters in one of their firmware videos.

Talking to Gary, I find out that this feature is NOT supported by PixelJunk Monsters. The version of PJM in the video must have been a “special” version. Other people have tried other games, and sure enough, in-game soundtrack support is just not there.

Now, this isn’t surprising really. Because the fine print says that this new feature is only available in games that support it. Okay…

But then - what is new about this feature? Super Stardust HD suppported in-game soundtracks before firmware 2.40. Other games did as well. So why is Sony touting this as a new feature in firmware 2.40? We’ve had in-game soundtrack support for a while now, for games that support it.

Here’s my guess.

Prior to 2.40, if a developer wanted to use in-game soundtrack support, they’d have to give up some of their own precious memory resources to use it. I’m thinking that now that 2.40 has hit, it’s now fully integrated into the runtime PS3 OS, so developers no longer have to take a memory hit to use this feature. Makes sense, right? Maybe that’s why the upcoming Cagney update for Burnout Paradise adds soundtrack support, but is being released after firmware 2.40.

Can anyone confirm or deny? Anyone have contacts at Sony?

Source: ps3blog.net

IGN gives a pretty thorough summary of everything that’s in the new 2.40 firmware update. There’s nothing substantially new there that we haven’t seen in the press release or videos, except for this:

For third-parties, Sony promises that many developers are working to add Trophies into their games for this fall and onward. For the near future, Sony will not require that developers feature Trophy support in their games as some titles may be too far along to easily add them. However, at an undisclosed point in the future, all PlayStation 3 releases will indeed be required to make use of Trophies. We’re hoping that’s sooner than later.

Now that’s news that I like to hear. Frankly, I think that Sony’s approach of letting developers do what they want is only good to a point. There are some games that just have to have certain features, and as far as trophies go, I think that all games should support them. So kudos to Sony for getting this right too. (Frankly, I think that all racing games should support custom soundtracks.)

As a side note, I was surprised by how impressed the IGN folks were with the leveling up system Sony’s implemented. It never occurred to me that having levels might be better than just a total points system. As a big action RPG fan (I cried when I heard Diablo 3’s not coming to consoles), I should have seen the merit right away. Tsk tsk on me.

Firmware 2.40 Impressions

Source: ps3blog.net

The Sony Europe Press Release:

Get more from online gaming on PLAYSTATION®3 with the free 2.40 firmware enhancement

PS3™ to give online gamers the features they’ve been requesting:
XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) access in-game and trophies available in this free, automatic system upgrade

June 30, 2008: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced new online gaming functionality for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™), which will become available on July 2, 2008 with the 2.40 enhancement, an automatic firmware upgrade that delivers several of the features most requested by gamers. Combined with PLAYSTATION®Network’s unique service of free* online gaming, the enhancement makes PS3 an even more attractive platform of choice for the online gamer.

Firstly, the 2.40 enhancement allows XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) access in-game. This means that you can access the PS3 menu at any time while playing most games, simply by tapping the PlayStation button on your controller. With 2.40, you can check if any of your friends are online (thanks to their own user profile), read and send messages, change some settings for games, all without having to quit the game you are playing. While you can’t pause an online multiplayer game involving other people, you can rejoin play at any time when you’ve finished browsing. Along with these enhanced communications features, the Friends list capacity will double to 100 Friends.

2.40 also delivers trophies to recognise players’ achievements in the online arena. Other competitive activities recognise winners with trophies – so why not gaming on PS3? Many online games will have gold, silver and bronze trophies – with platinum available for those who snag all three – all displayed on the XMB for everyone to see.

Super Stardust™ HD, a PLAYSTATION Network-exclusive released last year, will be the first game to leverage the Trophies system and will offer a variety of trophies**. The following first-party games are also slated to offer Trophy support:

· BUZZ!™ Quiz TV
· LittleBigPlanet™
· MotorStorm™ Pacific Rift
· NBA 09 - PS3
· PAIN**
· PixelJunk™ Eden
· Resistance 2™
· SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation
· Warhawk™**

The 2.40 enhancement is just one more reason to join PSN, the online network for PS3 users that lets you game online for free*. All you need to do to join is connect your PS3 to broadband and register, or go to the connection guide at www.eu.playstation.com to find out more.

Once in, you’ll find online matches and leagues for all of your favourite games – whether that’s MotorStorm™, Resistance™, Warhawk™ or Gran Turismo™5 Prologue – absolutely free (although users are responsible for paying their broadband fees) and at any time of the day or night. You’ll also find PLAYSTATION®Store, where you can download entire games as well as extra levels, content for your existing games plus internet browsing, video chat thanks to PLAYSTATION®Eye and much, much more.

There’s never been a better time to join PSN. Sign up now to make the most of the 2.40 firmware enhancement - see www.(website).com to find out more.

* No subscription required, broadband fees apply

** Requires a game update to be downloaded and installed

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe - Virtual Press Office

Source: ps3blog.net

Firmware (v2.36) coming soon, (v2.40) to include trophies, in-game XMB What does it do? Well not much - “improving system stability when playing select PlayStation format software titles”. But at least we have official word that FW 2.40 will have in-game XMB and trophies. Hopefully we get 2.4 “soon”.

Source: ps3blog.net

FW 2.40 Not Coming June 10th Unfortunately, the rumours that firmware 2.40 would be arriving today seem to be untrue. Ah well, you gotta treat rumours as rumours…