Yesterday’s firmware update, which introduced little to the gaming public beyond a simple ‘you may also like’ feature designed to make it easier to buy more games from the Store, was also the first update to trial what appears to be a new ‘patch’ system, if rumours are to be believed.
Normal PS3 system software updates are into the hundreds of megabytes in size, but at some point in the past with a recent update, it seems that Sony enabled the PS3 to just grab smaller patches rather than the full thing, and 3.41 took advantage of this new feature by only downloading a 40 megabyte file if needed.
Speaking on the PS3news.com forum, one user has spotted this patch when updating his PS3, the patch being titled ‘PS3PATCH.PUP’, and lists some of the types of files included in the update. Naturally we assume the PS3 can only use this smaller PUP if you’re already running 3.40, but most of us were.
This brings the PS3 more in line with the Xbox 360, which can deliver incredibly quick updates that literally only take a few seconds to download and install. It’s really good to see. So, quicker updates, less bandwidth for Sony, and the option to swiftly push through new features. Win, win and – er – win.
We’ll chase this rumour up with Sony once they get in.
jimmyjrg
yea! that will save a bit of time i guess.
wonkey-willy
took me less than 15 seconds to d/l about 2mins to install
whats that about?
gurglesletch
Mine would’ve but it was stuck on 99% for a few minutes.
JesseDeya
Wow, I’m surprised Sony didn’t make more of a song and dance about this. Good to hear if it turns out to be true!
fps_d0minat0r
im sure they will when they enable background updating and the only thing we have to do is accept the agreement.
Radboud
I thought this was the case.
Yesterday I started the update and after 5 seconds it was at 15% :)
But like JesseDeya says, Sony could have said some more about it, but it is kinda cool that they do this sort of stuff without actually saying it…
So probably Firmware 3.41 was just some final test of the patching system, but we can’t have an update with no features, so they stuffed in the “May also like..” option of the store (which could have as easily been combined with the previous or next bigger update)
Bilbo_bobbins
I noticed this too, normally it takes me a while but it updated much quicker last night. Good work Sony.
DrOf1337
Don’t belittle our new feature! try it – you may also like it… :D
beeje13
A good advancement for everyone, and these liitle updates now prove that the PSN is always evolving.
Lymmusic
this has been the case for a long time… updates check the current version and only updates the section changed…. i’ve had a fat since 08 and slim since january and fw updates have only taken more than 2 minutes to dl and install since the update that apparently bricked some ps3s
Lymmusic
*rather since the update that apparently bricked some ps3s the updates have only taken 2 or 3 minutes to dl and install
cc_star
Got to 20% in about 5secs, sadly the rest still took about 10mins. Stupid Angolan server connected to the web on dialup
Oh well, I made a nice cup of coffee
djdustb
I’m still a bit miffed that this wasn’t covered by PS+. I turned on my system and still had to run updates. Not one patch has downloaded automatically so far as I can tell, most disk I have put in have asked me to update.
Erroneus
And you have turned on automatic updating? Anyway it doesn’t do firmware updates automatically, which I think is great or at least should be optionable.
It updates the last 10 games you have played and the next time it runs, it checks for updates, for the next 10 games you have played.
djdustb
I have it turned on and scheduled, it has pushed over some demos to me (Thanks for the Heavy Rain demo Guys, however I do own the game, but I have seen no evidence of game updates running. I am going to test this tonight, I fired up UC2 today and it is on 1.08, if it is not 1.09 by tomorrow I will be a bit annoyed.
I think they should also change the automatic updating so you can choose, games, firmware and demos or a selection of them.
Radboud
Yes and I want it to run in the background when Folding is running….
I have the automatic updating turned on, but I rarely turn off my PS3, so still no automatic updating for me I guess :S
Kinda silly that you have to turn off your PS3, only for it to turn itself on and start updating, after which it can turn itself off again….
Bilbo_bobbins
sounds like P+ is really worth the money if one of the major advantages of it doesn’t work.
JoshHood
It works just fine for me, remember that it only updates between set hours every other night. So if the update was released after your set update period, or on your off night, then you’d miss it. Don’t know about your game update issues, that works fine for me too – keeps my most recently played games all up to date.
djdustb
I didn’t realise it was every other night.
Radboud
@Josh,
But does it work for you when you do not turn off the PS3?
OBBICH
Yesterday’s patch was only 40 meg file? Felt like ages downloading it and my broadband isn’t particularly that slow. Just felt like a usual firmware update for me.
I will monitor more closely next time!
retro_
Not for me! It took maybe a minute or two at the most to download and install.
Charmed_Fanatic
Small updates atlast :)