PS3 Firmware v2.40 – XMB, Trophies & everything you need to know
We knew it was coming, we just didn’t know when, or all of the details. But PS3 Firmware v2.40 is released on July 2nd, and here is a run-down of what to expect from the potentially Xbox Live-killing update.
Online functions are becoming increasingly important in this day and age when almost everyone has a high-speed broadband connection and a willingness to venture online and interact with complete and utter strangers. Xbox Live seemed to get the balance just right from the time of the Xbox 360 release, while Sony has slowly but surely been catching up. Now, with Firmware v2.40 finally here, the Playstation 3 is offering almost everything you could ask for.
The Firmware update will be automatic, and free to each and every PS3 owner connected to the Internet. There are two big enhancements this time around, namely the long-awaited in-game XMB (XrossMediaBar), and the Xbox Live-imitating Trophies.
The XMB feature enables users to check incoming messages, see their friends list, change settings and more besides, all while remaining in the game, and not having to exit beforehand. This will only be possible during PS3 games, but not during playback of PS2 games, Blu-Ray discs, and DVDs. Here is the first official demonstration of in-game XMB from Sony:
Mike took a long look at Trophies yesterday, but in a nutshell, the system is similar to the Xbox 360’s achievement points system, and rewards gamers for completing certain tasks in a particular game. There are bronze, silver and gold trophies to collect, and then a platinum one is rewarded for obtaining all three.
The system will not only kick in with new games released from this summer, but is also backwards-compatible via patches for certain games. Here is the first official demonstration of the Trophies system in use from Sony:
v2.40 also allows playback of your own music (stored on the hard drive) during certain games. Again, new titles will likely be made with this feature enabled, while developers can also release patches to allow it on older titles.
There are some other minor features included in this latest Firmware update as well, (discussed at length on Joystiq) including the ability to search the Web using the Google Search option under ‘Network’, the ability to launch directly in to another game from the one you’re currently playing, and more besides.
There is now a full FAQ for v2.40 on the Playstation Blog, which sets out to answer the seemingly never-ending set of questions that PS3 gamers have over certain features. It’s a long but interesting read, though my recommendation is just to wait until you have the update and explore it yourself.
This is a huge update in terms of narrowing the gap between the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3’s online capabilities, and with the Playstation Network being completely free, it could even be argued that it has now overtaken Xbox Live for sheer usability.
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15 Responses to “PS3 Firmware v2.40 – XMB, Trophies & everything you need to know”
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July 1st, 2008
yay…first comment……..go ps3
July 1st, 2008
Only good can come of this.
July 1st, 2008
24 hours… 24 hours… 24 hours….
-Arvis
July 1st, 2008
360 fanboys and neutral gamers are running out of reasons not to buy a ps3.
July 1st, 2008
Whatever games 360 has, the big thing people always would say is that Xbox Live is better – but what is left that it can do which PSN cannot?
I ask that in a ‘please I’m interested’ way, not a rhetorical 360 bashing way.
July 2nd, 2008
2.40 is here, and boy is it good …..
July 2nd, 2008
2.40!!! going to take it for a test drive but ive got a driving lesson at 11
July 2nd, 2008
royzy – cross game invites, stanardized gamertags easing the ability to find and invite friends, and voicecom standard while the ps3 does not include a voice com. i”m sure there are others, but you get the point. let me guess; “it doesn’t matter” to you…. right?
bourne – if you say so, but until the ps3 actually unseats the 360 as number two this gen, it’s more wishful thinking.
sony has been hyping an “xbox live killer” since 2002. still not here. it’s funny that more people choose to pay for xbox live than choose to take sony’s online for free….
sorry dave, the only that can “argue” it’s better than xbox live is those who haven’t used xbox live. the fact you even said that proves you know zip about it.
July 2nd, 2008
oh..and gaming classes ie; hardcore, casual, etc.. which makes finding like minded gamers very easy.
July 2nd, 2008
uh…looks like the new update is locking up ps3 in the process… wow..and to think, you ps3 fans think the ps3 is “more stable than the 360″..? looks like psn has been hacked too according to Gamespot forums.
keep trying sony… you’ll never be as good as xbox live. and why? becuase online gaming runs on software at it’s core. ms is a midly successful software company whereas you are not.
to think $600 for the ps3 only to have it bricked and hacked…. oooo…not good..
http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11190&Itemid=2
July 2nd, 2008
Kev- too early to know if this is a wide spread issue (lockup). I downloaded it last night and had no problems. Not saying the problem doesn’t exist, but let’s atleast wait and see how big the problem is before you start slamming it.
July 2nd, 2008
No Kev I do care, that is why I asked.
Cross game voice chatting is a ‘biggy’ i grant you that (well not to me especially, I have no headset).
What do you mean by standardized gamertags?
July 2nd, 2008
Royzy if u see me online, send me a message and i’ll join u on resistance, i dont think we’ve had a game on it yet!
July 6th, 2008
I haven’t played resistance in ages! But yeh, for sure. Handy having ingame XMB for that sort of game organization, init. It’s a date Bourne.
August 28th, 2008
for royzy — the xbox 360 and ps3 are in large the same, however what keeps the 360 ahead is Competitiveness online,(no one cares about fancy looking dashboards) i think this is sad but online gaming on the 360 is taken very seriously by millions, you need to remember microsoft is much more powerful than sony and will forever hold sway in the console market (if they want to)
also many game developers prefer the xbox 360 market e.g rare, bungie, ubisoft(all the good ones)
reply to my email if you wish i dont visit this forum often – alekso_1337@hotmail.com