The Top 5 PS3 Firmware Updates
From Trophies to DTS.
Published: 16:00, 20/09/2010 by Staff.
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The PS3′s been going for a while now, and whilst most of us know the console is regularly updated few of us have ever looked back at what those system software changes were, and which ones could be considered ‘the best’. Well, we’ve come up with what we reckon are the top 5 PS3 firmware updates (if indeed you can ‘rank’ such entities) along with some real stinkers afterwards.
See if you agree…
1. Version 2.40, July 2nd 2008
Has it really been over two years since the PS3 got Trophies? Sure, it didn’t go exactly to plan (with the update getting pulled within hours) but firmware 2.40 brought, finally, some way of digitally quantifying your in-game achievements. Trophies changed the face of PlayStation 3 gaming forever, and we were there at the start cataloging every game that featured the new system. 2.40 also brought Blu-ray upscaling, in-game music and the ability to access the XMB whilst still playing a game. The update of kings, then, and definitely the best one we’ve ever had.
2. Version 1.60, March 22nd, 2007
The one that came with European PS3s, at least some of them, was the first firmware update most readers of this site will really remember. Basically, its primary goal was to enable backwards compatibility on those first capable consoles, enabling your PS3 to play PS2 games (and PS1, of course). 1.60 also introduced Folding@Home, QWERTY keyboard options for entering text and support for Remote Play and keyboard and mouse controls. Perhaps not the most dynamic update, but it’s there for nostalgic reasons at least.
3. Version 1.80, May 24, 2007
Version 1.80 was the first update I actually had chance to look forward to. TheSixthAxis wasn’t live then, but had the site been running we’d have jumped all over the update’s upscaling abilities, bringing regular old DVDs bang up to date with some wildly impressive graphical techniques. Upscaling’s improved since, but 1.80 meant DVDs could output at 1080p and, perhaps more importantly for anyone with a 1080i TV set, Blu-rays could be downscaled to 720p using the PS3. 1.80 also allowed you to Remote Play over the web and do much more with your photographs.
4. Version 3.40, June 29th, 2010
PlayStation Plus means different things to different people, but to most the relatively inexpensive annual fee brings lots of exciting new features including discounts on PS3 and PSP games each month, lots of free demos and time-based exclusives and the cool ability to download patches and updates in the background without interrupting your gaming. 3.40 also brought user ratings to the PlayStation Store and Picasa and Facebook image gallery browsing, useful if you’re of a social nature. Check out ‘Deep Colour’ under the display settings too if you’re HDMI equipped.
5. Version 3.30, April 22nd, 2010
The one that sent a DTS surround sound signal through my humble Dolby Digitial setup. Seriously, there was very little else about 3.30 that excited the gaming community just yet apart from some subtle Trophy list updates and some initial preparation for 3D games, but the addition of the Direct and Mixed Bitstream channels brought crystal clear DTS surround sound through the PS3′s optical cable and into pretty much any amp capable of pushing out sound. A personal favourite, perhaps, but one that cements the PS3 as a truly wonderful media device.
And the worst? It’s got to be 3.21 (released on April 2nd, 2010) which removed the ability to use Linux on your PS3, creating all kinds of excitement, discussion and – yes – law suits, some of which are still ongoing… There’s also been a few that do little except ‘improve the playback quality’ of your games, including 2.42 (July 30th, 2008) and 2.36 (June 18th, 2008), but on the whole, despite the seemingly constant flow of updates, Sony have, on the whole, made the most of the PS3′s ability to continuously evolve.
Long may it continue to do so.
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20/09/2010 at 16:03
Member since: Aug 2008
Most, boring, dinner, party, EVER
20/09/2010 at 19:55
Member since: Jun 2009
i really feel, dat da author of this article should’ve made it a 5,4,3,2,1 list rather than a 1,2,3,4,5 list to gain all da excitement n stuff =1
20/09/2010 at 22:09
Member since: Aug 2008
Excitement of a list of favourite firmwares?
Interesting is this us for geeks like us, I was just being flippant that this would not make great party banter. Not a pulling conversation either
20/09/2010 at 16:04
Member since: Forever
I remember the days of 1.60 well, and how I looked forward to 1.80… I’d agree that 2.40 was the king of updates even though I couldn’t care less about Trophies, as the in-game XMB opened the door for messaging during games.
Since then its been more a case of slow evolution not revolution, and although any additions are welcome you have to wonder what would be possible on the PS3 if SCEA were in charge of it not SCEJ (who can’t see the point in most of people’s needs & wants) who by understanding have SCEA lobbying them for features all the time.
20/09/2010 at 18:12
Member since: May 2009
I think the in-game XMB was the most important update to date.
20/09/2010 at 16:06
Member since: Apr 2009
Didn’t realise about deep colour, will check that out when i get home!
20/09/2010 at 17:08
Member since: Dec 2009
I don’t have a link right now but you should be able to find with google some jpgs which you can use for testing deep colour and also super white.
20/09/2010 at 16:08
Member since: Apr 2009
Wonder if Cross Game Chat would make the top five when its finally released….. there i said it, thought i would get it in early!
20/09/2010 at 17:06
Member since: Jun 2009
I can’t wait for the day that Sony either say it will or wont happen. Saves all the talk about it I reckon.
20/09/2010 at 16:09
Member since: Jul 2009
That was quite an interesting read for me, I got my first PS3 last year (replaced it with a slim last month). It’s nice to to know of it’s life before me!
20/09/2010 at 16:21
Member since: Jan 2010
I prefer the early firmware, the one that allows you to play PS2 games!!! which I’m sure has been left out of new consoles as some part of a conspiracy to keep you buying PS2′s (and thus making Sony money whilst making a loss on PS3′s!)
The one firmware that sucks is Trophies, I thought that by completing many games meant that I was a good gamer. Now thanks to trophies I can see that I’m only about 38% (on average) good at my games…and my friends know this also, so cheers Sony for pointing out to the world that I suck…
20/09/2010 at 16:32
Member since: May 2009
In the case of PS2 emulation, I think it was the removal of hardware, not a firmware update that stopped most PS2 games working. NVIDIA’s Graphics Synthesiser (the PS2′s GPU) was removed from later models in an effort to cut costs.
20/09/2010 at 18:49
Member since: Jan 2010
Then why did PS2 Singstar discs start working after an update???? Lies I tell yer, lies….Anyway they’re watching me so I got to go…the bastards are after me trophies, all 38% of them…
20/09/2010 at 19:06
Member since: Forever
I’m sure they haven’t you just need to press select to use the in-game disc swap facility
20/09/2010 at 22:03
Member since: Sep 2008
@Blagger
The game is only reading the tracks off the old discs, the code that is running is from the ps3 singstart you started the game with.
20/09/2010 at 16:26
Member since: May 2009
The worst update for me was 3.00 of Sep 1st 09. It added the boxes, removed the wonderful ‘game start’ noise and ruined the orchestral swell at startup. It also made it that Platinum trophies no longer count towards the total percentage of each game, disabled upscaled background audio on the browser and photo gallery, added pointless subtitles to menu options (Anyone else rage at Music Settings: Adjusts Settings for music?! Pointless clutter.), removed the Information Board marquee, the cool loading swirl was replaced by a whirling clock and yet more clutter in the form of the Store icons under Video and Game.
Cor blimey.
20/09/2010 at 16:30
Member since: Forever
In my view… most of those are good things.
20/09/2010 at 16:36
Member since: May 2009
Fair enough, each to their own opinion but surely it’s better for things like the game start noise to be optional? That way everyone’s happy.
20/09/2010 at 18:31
Member since: Jan 2009
Yeah, I miss the game start noise :(
20/09/2010 at 19:08
Member since: Dec 2008
God I miss that noise. Though I’m very happy they don’t count the Platinum towards the total percentage anymore. Platinum means you’ve got them all. No point in giving that a percentage as well.
20/09/2010 at 16:30
Member since: Feb 2010
My favourite was FW2.10 because it gave us the Earth/Gaia music visualisation.
20/09/2010 at 17:05
Member since: Dec 2009
Me too, it’s the only one i use but seems to suit a lot of my music tastes. I can’t wait to see the new pixeljunk visualiser (they did the others also).
20/09/2010 at 17:48
Member since: Feb 2010
Let’s hope that PixelJunk lifelike actually reacts (like Sound Spectrum’s G-Force & WhiteCap), rather than move at it’s own pace.
20/09/2010 at 16:31
Member since: Nov 2009
Here’s hoping firmware 3.50 goes straight in at number 1 as being the best firmware update in a long time. Please please let it be cross gamer chat, you know you can do it Sony…
20/09/2010 at 16:45
Member since: Jul 2009
I suspect x-game chat isn’t ever coming :(
Didn’t 1.6 also give us background downloading? What I remember from the early FW updates was just how FFXII played better and better with every new Update. Happy days :)
20/09/2010 at 18:22
Member since: Nov 2009
Yes I suspect your right. Wish they would just come out and say it rather than string us along.
20/09/2010 at 18:44
Member since: Aug 2008
Yes it did, I don’t know what they’re on about backwards compatibility, although now I think, the US was hardware based, ours was software based, so makes sence.
But yes, the main feature was background downloading.
20/09/2010 at 16:35
Member since: Nov 2009
2.10 which brought Divx playback.