Sony officially reveals PS3 firmware 2.40 features, coming July 2

by Randy Nelson on Jun 30th 2008 2:55AM

Following months of rumors, speculation, and – most of all – waiting, Sony has officially unveiled version 2.40 of the PlayStation 3's operating system and XrossMediaBar (XMB) interface. Joystiq got a look at it in action last week and can finally unzip our lips about what we saw.

In a nutshell, the update introduces most of the features we've seen floating around as rumors for some time. Here's the short list of what you can now do without exiting from games:

In-game XMB (a quick tap of the PS button brings it up)
View game-specific Trophies (We'll have more on this major feature at 8AM EST / 5AM PST)
Time / date display
Send text messages to PSN users on your friends list
Access accessory settings, such as Bluetooth pairing and voice changer
View and manage downloads
Quits game directly from an icon under the "Game" section of the XMB
Search the web using the Google Search option under "Network" (similar to the latest PSP firmware)
Launch directly into another game from the one you're currently playing
Play music tracks stored on the HDD in games that support this feature
Access a new on-screen music player interface (when listening to your own tracks in supported titles)

~~Sony hasn't announced a release date for its latest firmware update, stating only that it will be "very soon."~~ The official press release says the firmware is coming July 2 (this Wednesday!). There are quite a few rumored / hoped for features that aren't finding their way into this release. There are also a number of quibbles with the functionality of the features that did make the cut. We go in-depth with our likes and dislikes of firmware 2.40 right here.

Tags: breakingnews, firmware-2.40, PS3, PS3-Firmware, sony, xmb

Reader Comments (61)

It's about fucking time.

Yeah the 360 had dashboard access since 2005,lolz.

He said you couldn't play two games at one time. What a disappointment. I mean, I can't play two games at once, I don't have dual HDMI, and I don't have 3 ethernet ports? WTF Sony?!?!

/ sarcasm

Hehe.. looks good though.

@ obie

yeah, but the xbox 360 has to close current game session to access the dashboard

azz

do u think u may be able to voice chat ingame cuz there was still the icon for it in the xmb

260+MB for FULL PS3 firmware
(you can check BR games - all have the latest avilable(at that moment) on disc)

*that should be reply to poster below.
Sorry.

Is this patch going to take 5 hours to download? Small patches usually take about an hour, so I can't imagine how long a patch is going to take that has actual content in it. Either way, long overdue.... I wonder if there is any chance recently released games like GTA4 or MGS4 will have trophies enabled for them..? Hopefully.

an hour to download? jesus h christ, what kinda internet connection do you have? even when i got the GTA4 patch it only took like 3-5 minutes to download AND install (i think it was 19 mb)

The longest Ive ever had to wait was about 30 minutes when I first got my PS3 which was at firmware 2.0 and needed it at 2.3 something. It took a long time but not hours. The last update only took like 5 minutes from download to restart.

Woohoo! Looks great!

And Patches only take me 5-25 minutes to download... And huge downloads (demo ect.) only take like 20 minutes. I guess I am just lucky.

Am I seriously the minority here?

For me ps3 updates take hours,
xbox 360 updates take about 30-45 minutes,

I have crappy internet, but not THAAAT bad. The ps3 is hooked directly into my router through the cord.

Also PSN Marketplace downloads take forever, well, I can't comment on this now, I haven't downloaded much in a long time (because of this reason!)

Please, if ANYONE has any idea why everything goes so slow, please help!

I had the same problem when my PS3 was hooked up to my wireless router (802.11n Airport Extreme). Motorstorm update took like 1-2 hours, and the PS3 Firmware update about the same.

Haven't had any problems since I switched to an ethernet connection. PS3 updates, game updates, and PSN downloads seem about normal, though still not as fast as on LIVE.

I've never had any speed issues when downloading updates or anything form psn.

My updates take about 5-10 minutes to download. Another 5-10 to install. All PS3 updates are cumulative, so this one will take as long as the last (unless it's just bigger). That is, if you have a year-old PS3 sitting around and plug it in, you'll update right to 2.40, and not have to go up in stages.

Check your settings from the PS3. You need NAT Type 2. If not, google it, and you'll find instructions. Alternatively, you could download the firmware updates to a USB stick and install from there.

I'm hooked through the cord, possibly it could be like trying to still use the wifi or something, I'll see if it is...

Tiptup,

the PS3 is a bit harder to setup, just look this up...

http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/index_network.html

looks pretty slick...

Wow, finally!!! I've only had these features on my 360 for the past 2 years.

stfu

TELL US MORE!

Wait so can you google search ingame? If not then the PS3 has basically matched the 360 100% in online capabilities. Though I believe ingame xmb is more seamless than the way you access features ingame on the 360.

He wasn't in a game when he used the google search feature, so I think it would quit the game you're playing if you wanted to use it.

I'm fairly sure he was in a game (pixeljunk monsters) otherwise the google search is kind of pointless cause PS3 already has a web browser you can use when not in a game.

Right on Jitty! Hey let's hook up in voice chat so I don't have to type back and forth like we're emailing, and then send me a game invite for whatever you're playing so I can join you.

Too much sugar in your kool-aid buddy! Ohh yeahhhh!

It's kinda cheap to put a dig button on a story that's covering a story on another blog post with a Digg button at the bottom. Awesome video nonetheless. :S

Awesome. I picked the perfect time to buy a PS3 .

WOW, it took them this long to copy and paste. Thanks Sony.

Copy/paste ... with added polish and on a table that doesn't spontaneously burst into flames.

Oh, haha. I'm such a clever little fanboy.

This is going to kick so much ass.

I'm sure PSN will get a whole lot more busy. Seriously, I always want to get xbox 360 games as opposed to ps3 games, since the xbox 360 is so "connected." The ps3 as of now (not with ver 2.40), feels like I'm playing alone. 360 feels like I'm playing with all my friends. After this comes out, I may just buy MGS

youtube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl2hI4Eh_Z0 :)

"Joystiq got a look at it in action last week and can finally unzip our lips about what we saw."

You guys knew about it last week but didn't say anything? Videogame "journalism" is unique, to say the least.

"We knew about those fires in California, but weren't allowed to say anything about them until today."

I love you guys, but grow a pair! ;) All it takes is a small handful of websites to stand up to these ridiculous demands.

Oh, and in-game XMB looks sweeeeet.

...

I bet it has nothing to do with growing a pair and everything to do with something called a non-disclosure agreement :p

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/nondisclosure%20agreement?r=14

Oh, thank God you told me what an NDA is! And you even linked to a definition, thus cementing your status as a dickhole!

I actually worked for a videogame magazine (print), though not in the states. The only time I held back information was when a friend that worked at a company (LucasArts) personally asked me not to mention something. And yeah, I guess that was kinda shitty of me on a professional level, but not on a personal one. If they asked me to sign an NDA, I wouldn't look at their stuff.

However! Standards are different in the states, and rules are certainly different. I understand you wanting to be defensive of Joystiq, and maybe my criticism was leveled at them when it was intended to be for American videogame journalism as a whole. I love Joystiq as much as the next guy posting here.

I miss Dan Hsu!

"If they asked me to sign an NDA, I wouldn't look at their stuff."

Wow, way to stick to the man....

NDAs are the same here in the US, Europe, Asia, etc...

They can hold back that information as much as they want, hell, even deny you access to events and such, and guess what? they are in all their right to do so....

"I guess that was kinda shitty of me on a professional level"

Professional level?...

"Videogame "journalism" is unique, to say the least."
"I love you guys, but grow a pair!"
"thus cementing your status as a dickhole!"
"I miss Dan Hsu!"

That doesn't exactly scream "professionalism"...

Anyway, what is wrong about following the guidelines set by company? they are giving you official access to their information that hasn't yet been available to the public...

Oh, and this

"If they asked me to sign an NDA, I wouldn't look at their stuff"

makes me wonder if you just wrote based on rumors or after the information had been publicized, once again, where is that professionalism you are talking about?...

Well NDA's are for the most part legally worthless, but I guess game journalists got the choice between spilling the beans right away and as a result not be given the inside track the next time around or spill the beans and get a first.

But on the topic of gaming journalism integrity, I think it fits in the same category as sports journalism, its more about cheerleeding than journalism most of the time.

Oh zuburi. Such a pool of broken reasoning.

Hmm, sounds like tomorrow's comments are going to be a fun filled flame fest :P I can just hear the bickering now...

Ahh, Console Wars

wtf...send TEXT messages to PSN users? seriously...u gotta be kidding me, if corrent (SMS) thats pretty sweet

looks a little complicated, but I dunno, I guess is just me.

I still wanna see the in-game voice message, private chat, picture message and video chat.

I don't think it could be less complicated...

yea pretty uncomplicated indeed. the XMB is about as simple as it gets, well to me anyway.

This trumps XBL in some ways. The most notable is that it is essentially the same menu system. Meaning anything can be accessed like the little game that he launched from in game. What I have to do on xbox is to go out and then launch it. Same goes for settings access etc etc.

And unless they're gonna make you pay for the firmware update (Apple style =p) then its pretty damn awesome.

I wanna see Microsoft's counter to this. PLEASE BE FREE TOO!

You forgot the major way in which this trumps Xbox Live - it's free.

I see what you did there.

Anyway good news. Hopefully more ingame XMB functionality (playing 2 games at the same time he) will be added over time.

So what, it upgrades to 360 standard. I do like the voice changer, though...
I don't SEE any Home in that list. Are you sure it is ACTUALLY announced?

Funnily enough, the voice changer was a feature on the original Xbox LIVE.

I've never had one, but I do remember it being advertised.

Well no... If they upgraded to XBL standard they wouldn't let us play online anymore without paying $50 a year :P

It's close tho...

Yeah but I guess it's one of the setbacks to not rushing a system out before everyone else. not releasing a hardware failing system just for a quick buck...not pissing on owners of the previous console by completely killing it when something new comes out...thanks sony, plus this is way better than the what you get with the 360 ingame blade.

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Sony officially reveals PS3 firmware 2.40 features, coming July 2

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