FOSTER CITY, Calif., June 30, 2008 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA)
today announced details of PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system software update 2.40,
designed to enhance the way PS3 users play and interact with one another. Through regular
firmware updates, SCEA has the ability to continually deliver new features to PS3 system
that address the needs of its users. Now with the 2.40 update, PS3’s community and ingame
experience will be upgraded with new offerings that gamers have asked for. The
update will deliver XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) access in-game, enabling PS3 users to
connect and communicate with other gamers and utilize other XMB features seamlessly
while playing most games.
In addition to being able to communicate with friends from within a game, PS3 users will also be able to earn Trophies following the 2.40 update. This new, integrated
system enables gamers to tout their accomplishments via profiles, which also allow users
to compare their skills to other members of the community. Firmware update 2.40 will be
available on July 2.
“Today’s PLAYSTATION 3 experience has evolved significantly from what we
debuted at launch, and the 2.40 firmware update will drive the PS3 community experience
forward at a time when the platform’s momentum is stronger than ever, with the launches
of several recent blockbuster titles and other exclusive content on the way,” said Peter
Dille, Senior Vice President of Marketing and PLAYSTATION®Network, SCEA.
“We listen closely to our community, and we’re proud to deliver new features that have been among the most requested D XMB access in-game and Trophies. These features
provide new ways for the PS3 community to easily connect, communicate and share
gaming experiences with one another in and out of games.”
XMB Access In-Game
XMB access in-game will enable gamers to interact with friends using messaging, view their friends’ online status and profiles (including their Trophy collection), and add
new friends they meet online to their Friends list – all without interrupting the flow of
gameplay. By pushing the PS button on the PS3 controller, the Home menu takes center
stage over a game in progress. Depending on the game, XMB access will either
automatically pause the game or it will continue to run in the background. With these
enhanced communications features further connecting the PLAYSTATION Network
community – which has more than 9.8 million registered accounts worldwide as of June
2008 – the Friends list capacity has doubled to 100 Friends.
Beyond utilizing Friends list features, XMB access in-game will allow users to sign-in to PLAYSTATION Network, manage PLAYSTATION®Store downloads, quit a
game, and access various options within the Settings category. PS3 users can also quickly
end their game and navigate directly to other PS3 system features simply by selecting to
view content such as photos or videos stored on the system’s hard drive. XMB access ingame
works with most existing PS3 games.
In addition to these enhanced community features, the 2.40 update lays the groundwork for gamers to customize their individual gaming experience by accessing the
XMB during a game and selecting music stored on their PS3 system’s hard drive. Once a
music file is played, users can access a control panel via the XMB that enables them to
pause, stop, or repeat the track; go to a different track; or shuffle. The 2.40 update provides
developers with the tools that will enable them to offer personalized background music as
an option in their games, and the supporting titles are expected to be announced in the
future.
Additionally, the firmware 2.40 update includes Google-powered Internet search
functionality on the XMB, allowing users to input search terms and be directed to a search
results page without having to first open the PS3 Internet browser.
PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system recently added similar Internet search functionality
through a firmware update.
Trophies
Trophies offer a new and innovative way for gamers to showcase their gaming accomplishments. PS3 users can earn virtual trophies, which will be viewable on the XMB’s Game category under a new Trophy Collection icon, and will also be touted
through individual profiles. These profiles will serve as virtual representations of PS3
users, allowing them to personalize their identities and display their gaming
accomplishments within the PlayStation community. Gamers will be ranked on a Level basis
depending on the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum trophies they earn across all
games. They will also be able to see how much progress they have made toward the next
Level, as well as compare their Trophies to friends.
Super Stardust™ HD, a PLAYSTATION Network-exclusive released in June
2007, 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™*
*Requires a game update to be downloaded and installed.
PS3 users can expect to see additional first and third-party games bringing Trophy support to their feature sets through 2008 and beyond, providing even greater opportunity to showcase their accomplishments and compete with friends. SCEA is actively working
with developers to ensure that Trophies are incorporated into new titles in the future.
About PS3 and PSP System Software Updates
PS3 and PSP systems were designed to continually evolve with regular system software updates that deliver new features. There’s no additional investment required from
consumers, who simply update their systems and can immediately enjoy the benefits of the
added functionality. This process lengthens the lifecycle of PS3 and PSP, and consumers
no longer have to worry about their hardware becoming outdated or missing out on
exciting new capabilities. SCEA will continue to release system software updates on an
ongoing basis. For further details and instructions on how to update the PS3 and PSP
system software, please visit us.playstation.com.
About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment
lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer
entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system,
the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system and its
online and network services PLAYSTATION®Network and PLAYSTATION®Store.
Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets
and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer
entertainment system, PLAYSTATION 3 and the PSP system for the North American
market. Based in Foster City, Calif., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as
headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc.
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