Future Firmware Update Details

As we all know, 3D is coming to the PlayStation 3 in two phases; first was the gaming 3D update which arrived with the 3.30 firmware update at the end of April, and secondly there is another firmware update to enable 3D Blu-ray movie playback coming in September.

News that the release window of this update has narrowed from ‘fall’ to September is currently doing the rounds in InternetLand, but of course we knew this already as we brought you the news of this narrowed release window about a month ago.

In addition to the narrowed release window, Pocket-Lint are reporting that there will be a third 3D related firmware update for the PlayStation 3, which will bring 3D photos to the platform. Following on from Sony’s release of 3D capable Cybershot cameras, it’s obviously important that these files are viewable on a 3D display, and this is where Sony’s good ole trojan horse the PS3 comes in… and you thought it was a games console.

They go on to report that Mick Hocking, an SCEE director, said “We think games are going to be the killer content for 3D. In general, we find that 3D enhances all types of games. There are no types that it doesn’t bring a benefit to. We think the games this year are going to do the same [as Avatar did for movies] for the gaming community.”

Although 3D has its sceptics, anyone who’s actually had hands-on time with 3D gaming seems to be unanimous in heaping praise on the format as being nothing less than spectacular and must be seen to be believed. Meaning, I can’t wait to get on board, just as soon as I’ve saved up some pennies.

46 Comments

  1. looking forward to some more added features in firmware updates that don’t need additional hardware for!

    • All you need to be fully up to date is:
      3D TV, enough glasses for all the family, and a new camera.
      If your lucky you might get some change from two grand.

  2. In before complaints about cross game chat…

    • Dam I was just going to say….

    • How about 3D cross gamer chat?

      • I don’t get 3D audio, surely it’s just varying the volume, so when things are close to you it’s louder?

      • Isn’t it just the same as surround sound?

  3. 3D, 3D, 3D. Yawn.

    • Yay, it’s not just me, then!

      • wake me up when the 3D cycle passes….again, thanks.

    • you’ll change your tune once you have ago. i did

      • Yep, me to. Just go and see it first. Be warned you will want to buy one Bad……

  4. There’s nothing better than a still photo in 3D, especially if it has water in the image, I know it sounds stupid, but it gives it a hell of a lot of depth.

    • Within a split second I can think of half dozen things better than a still photo in 3D, most of them adult in nature.

      • hmmmm, you mean, like, real life stuff, and not, like, on a computer or tv screen? wow maaaan.

  5. “There are no types that it doesn’t bring a benefit to” what about 2D side scrollers

    • 3DS managed it. Depends on if the game is sprite based then they can add depth to the background.

      • Parallax scrolling? From a purely cosmetic point of view… or gameplay-wise, assisting the genre to come move into a new dimension like LBP

      • Purely cosmetic. Add’s nothing to gameplay.

      • o_O
        Which is why I said “or gameplay-wise, assisting the genre to come move into a new dimension like LBP”

      • Yeah, got that but never the less, looks cool and is a benefit even if it doesn’t move the genre on. Paper Mario was great but didn’t really move things on.
        All this is futile anyway, I can’t see in 3D.

    • people with 2d tv’s?

  6. Great. Now I just need my TV manufacturer to release a firmware that makes my TV 3D compatible. Oh, not to mention Specsavers releasing a 3D patch for my glasses. Sorted!

    • I would love a 3d patch for my glasses. Would make things more interesting

  7. What is the difference between the new 3D firmware update for films and the 3D films you can buy already? I got Coraline in 3D a while back and it works, so how does will this update change things?

    • Stereoscopic 3D is different from other less technical means

      • aye, analythic is the images pre-merged, so its in red/cyan, whatever the TV, 3DBD’s have the images side-by-side, and the player/TV does the converting into stereoscopic 3D.

      • Ooh of course, you don’t need the annoying coloured glasses! Doi.

      • Still need the annoying non-coloured glasses though don’t you?

  8. 3D.. zzz.. Although of course I think my opinion might be a bit different if I did a Nathan Drake, found lots of treasure and purchased a 3D TV.. Wipeout in 3D.. Now that could be something..

  9. i wonder if these Cybershot Cameras will have a 3DS like 3D display

    • No, the cybershots merely produce a 3D sweep panorama which can be loaded onto your 3D TV, and you can see the panorama in 3D. you view the image in 2D on the camera (it shows the left image).

  10. It’s the current cost of the glasses that puts me off 3d tvs, 100 a go is a killer.
    My other firmware wish is to get persistent text back on the XMB, am I the only one annoyed by the text fading in the Photos, Music & Video menus? It drives me bananas – please Sony can I have an option to keep the text displayed!?

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