Rumor: Sony leaks screens of next PS3 firmware, Facebook integration
by Randy Nelson 
{ Nov 11th 2009 at 2:20PM } 
Click to enlarge
Earlier today, website Scrawl stumbled upon what appears to be an unintentional first glimpse at a major PS3 firmware update. The somewhat tiny images Scrawl found buried, yet publicly accessible on Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's website, seem to hint at native Facebook integration on the console, along with the ability to change "gamer card" colors (as if the current friends list wasn't obnoxious enough) and view thumbnails of photos in a grid layout.
The images are still up as of this posting, but we'd imagine Sony will be pulling them before too long -- legit or not. After all, these could simply be mock-ups of design ideas meant for internal eyes only, just ... bungled. The one element that isn't design-related, the Facebook settings subsection of User Accounts, has us thinking there's a higher than average chance these aren't simple mock-ups, but rather the result on a Sony slip-up.
We contacted SCEE regarding the images and were told by a spokesperson that the company "doesn't comment on rumor or speculation."
[Thanks Alex!]
The images are still up as of this posting, but we'd imagine Sony will be pulling them before too long -- legit or not. After all, these could simply be mock-ups of design ideas meant for internal eyes only, just ... bungled. The one element that isn't design-related, the Facebook settings subsection of User Accounts, has us thinking there's a higher than average chance these aren't simple mock-ups, but rather the result on a Sony slip-up.
We contacted SCEE regarding the images and were told by a spokesperson that the company "doesn't comment on rumor or speculation."
[Thanks Alex!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
NitroMikeo @ Nov 11th 2009 2:21PM
Looking at Sony's record of leaks, this is probably true.
eeeeeeeeeeee @ Nov 11th 2009 2:38PM
Are Joystiq total idiots or something? Do I need to upload a image to the euro PS3 forums that says Joystiq are clueless idiots to demonstrate that anyone can upload pictures to there, meaning it's not official..
Jesus. Are all Americans are thick as you lot?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith @ Nov 11th 2009 2:42PM
Are all Europeans that big of an asshole, or is it just you?
psn kbee-haze @ Nov 11th 2009 2:42PM
@ eeeeeee. Shut up u deserve a kick in the head. ROAD HOUSE!!!!
PedoJokerBear [Planeteer | Power of Gall Bladder] @ Nov 11th 2009 2:52PM
"Jesus. Are all Americans are thick as you lot?"
oh the irony.
That One Guy With The Hat @ Nov 11th 2009 2:53PM
@Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith
From all the obviously euro comments I've seen, yes.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 11th 2009 3:14PM
I want to punch eeeeeeeeeeeee in the dick.
tomlinson731 @ Nov 11th 2009 3:19PM
Captain Planet,
Good luck finding it.
John-IRL @ Nov 11th 2009 3:31PM
@eeeeeeeeeeee Ok, I feel someone should explain why everyone thinks your an idiot, in case you missed. The address of an uploaded image to the forums is not going to be http://uk.playstation.com/media/...
Look at this page:
http://uk.playstation.com/games-media/games/detail/item156369/EyePet%E2%84%A2/
The main image comes from this address:
http://uk.playstation.com/media/158259/161/Eyepet_sc003.jpg
Its the specfic address which gives them validity (of some kind).
And I'd like to think that not all of us Europeans are like that.
eNrique @ Nov 11th 2009 5:08PM
One thing I find kinda odd, is that the image showing the facebook integration is in portuguese, but since it's coming from the UK site, loses all credibility to me.
Just saying.
CJLopez @ Nov 11th 2009 5:26PM
@Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet]: I want to Falcon Punch him in the dick
SolidSnakeX @ Nov 11th 2009 7:16PM
If SCEA SCEE doesn't start charging to use the PSN its going to end for there slacking off Company!.. Damn hacking on the PSN every damn night thank to Eric Lempel and Cydonia-X as well Locust-X and Howard Stringer do your F^^^in job or I have my Xbox360 that will kill the PissStation 3 in 2010 suckas!..Fuc faceBook along with threst of the useless applications we don't need for the PS3.. We want CROSS IN GAME CHAT/ IN GAME MUSIC A User Friendly Universal Friends And BAN LIST! J CHRIST HOW F'N HARD IS THAT TO ADD!...
Kenoji (aka Neo Asuma) @ Nov 11th 2009 9:18PM
I said it before, and I'll say it again:
When Sony "doesn't comment on rumor or speculation," it usually means "yes, it's true." It happened with the PS3 Slim, and it will probably happen in this case as well.
koehler83 @ Nov 11th 2009 2:22PM
Whoooooooooooo cares?
Zing @ Nov 11th 2009 2:26PM
You, obviously enough to write a loooooooooong commment.
Solace @ Nov 11th 2009 2:23PM
you mean bookface rite?
Vcize @ Nov 11th 2009 2:25PM
Yes, the popular social networking site bookface.
Captain Planet [Planeteer | Power of Captain Planet] @ Nov 11th 2009 2:32PM
The Office FTW
bongoes Sector 2814 @ Nov 11th 2009 2:33PM
Ah, Jim and his simple costumes.
chris @ Nov 11th 2009 3:01PM
Until he explained it, I thought he had his nose in a book. And then I was wrong...
Alvin_Rod @ Nov 11th 2009 3:31PM
That was actually my last minute costume this Halloween.
I got a lot of "Book Face, Book Worm, Book on Face" answers.
Bagels (@AlsoBagels) @ Nov 11th 2009 4:33PM
From the creator of "3 punch Jim" comes bookface.
Marty @ Nov 11th 2009 5:16PM
That's what she said.
Duke @ Nov 11th 2009 5:39PM
His better costume was "Dave".
jack shiels @ Nov 11th 2009 2:25PM
wowza... looks v. nice.
Adam @ Nov 11th 2009 3:29PM
Did you just use v. instead of very? I've never seen that - you shortened the word by two keystrokes and made your comment about 50% more difficult to understand at first glance.
jack shiels @ Nov 11th 2009 4:56PM
I notice you said "I've" there. Hmmm...
Seriously man, why bother with such a nonsense post?
Moris @ Nov 11th 2009 6:32PM
Adam's post makes plenty of sense, where as your post doesn't.
What seems to be the problem is you and your single brain cell can't comprehend Adam's post, or even proper English for that matter.
jack shiels @ Nov 12th 2009 4:39AM
What a nice introduction to the Joystiq community. I get chastised for using abbreviation and then called stupid :(
Oobgarm @ Nov 12th 2009 11:42AM
We take abbrev. seriously here, you know.
Papa Midnight @ Nov 13th 2009 11:47AM
That's not an abbreviation.
Lesnar v. Mir
That's an abbreviation (Brock Lesnar versus Frank Mir) and a commonly accepted one as well.
You're usage makes it look like you are saying "looks versus nice" which makes absolutely zero sense what-so-ever.
You got down-voted, though, for criticizing someone for using a common contraction of "I have".
Stated shortly: Don't make yourself look like an ass, then act an ass on top of it when called on it.
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) and co-leader of ATDF] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 11th 2009 2:24PM
Oohh.. I don't care about facebook. But you can change the color of your profile. :0
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) and co-leader of ATDF] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 11th 2009 2:26PM
I hope that other people can't see the color you changed your profile. The friends list will look like a rainbow.
DrunkRaba @ Nov 11th 2009 6:30PM
Yeah that may be sort of cool. I could care less about facebook though :/
TVGenius @ Nov 12th 2009 12:24AM
YES, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION... CAN I WORK ON MY FARM IN FARMVILLE ON FACEBOOK ON THE PS3?
(yes, I'm being a jackass, but feel free to vote me down anyway)
Shagittarius @ Nov 11th 2009 2:25PM
Wow, Facebook, is this some new revolutionary way to socialize?
HighFiveJesus @ Nov 11th 2009 2:29PM
i still can't check facebook on my phone, so i guess this is cool?
I admit, there was a point where i was specifically trying to use facebook on my ps3 browser and it wasn't going so hot, so I SUPPORT THIS.
captainprotonx @ Nov 11th 2009 2:25PM
Fuckbook? AGAIN????
Cheesus Crust @ Nov 11th 2009 2:34PM
Join now! Its the facebook of se....
Wait... nevermind.
Levi @ Nov 11th 2009 2:58PM
hahahah yeah. We all watch internet porn.
MrAlex @ Nov 11th 2009 3:01PM
There's porn on the internet?
Michael T [Planeteer | Power of Mr. T] @ Nov 11th 2009 3:23PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-TA57L0kuc&feature=related
Dan @ Nov 11th 2009 6:58PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgu3bnyqwPo
SolidSnakeX @ Nov 11th 2009 7:23PM
Gen-Y shit lmao.. I rather have Cross In Game Chat/ In Game Music!!!! As well as A Universal Friends and Ban List God Almighty how damn hard is that to add you F^^^^^^ Idiots who control the PlayStation Network!! If you can't provide these features then Fuc the PSN!...The 360 will then kill the PSN!.. All Thank to Eric Limp Dick with Howard Stringer as well as Cydonia-x Locust-x..God its not that damn hard to add these features to the PSN!...3 Years and they haven't done $hit for us Dedicated PSN users!..If things don't change soon I'm outta here.....=(
PuBeLeSs @ Nov 11th 2009 9:32PM
i am ashamed to actually get that... thank you cheeus crust, levi, andmralex.
NitroMikeo @ Nov 11th 2009 2:25PM
Im also hoping and praying that party voice chat comes with next firmware. Because if that happens, what does Xbox have left? And I think Sony knows this.
Ordeith @ Nov 11th 2009 4:35PM
Better looking multiplatform titles?
sorry, had to.
NitroMikeo @ Nov 11th 2009 5:03PM
Burnout Paradise?
Asher @ Nov 12th 2009 1:50PM
I totally agree. It's a huge ordeal trying to link up with friends to play a game using text chat only.
Just yesterday a friend of mine got a ps3 and uncharted 2. With him being new to the ps3 and not being able to talk with him was incredibly frustrating (not toward him, just the fact that I couldn't point him toward any options or tell him what to do until we were in the same "party" in game.)
PLEASE do something about this sony!
On the note of text communication, I also think the existing messaging system is a disaster. look at functioning e-mail clients or AIM for reference or something. There are too many convoluted menus that have to be navigated to reach a new message as it is.
With that said I'm not bashing the PS3, i love the system, but there are the few things that I see as major flaws.
CaramelZappa @ Nov 11th 2009 2:26PM
Cross game party chat please. Don't give a shit about facebook on my console.