Users Report Firmware 2.42 Causing PS3 Failure

Reports of hardware failure seem to follow PlayStation 3 firmware updates as regularly as Summer follows Spring, but following the issues with firmware update 2.40 you can't be too careful. Multiple users over at the official PlayStation forums are reporting that their PS3 consoles are no longer reading discs following the 2.42 update last week. Some report that games play for several minutes after the update before the drive stops working, while others say the issue kicks in immediately. At least one forum-goer reported that performing a reset on his system fixed the issue, while others have tried with no luck.

It's pretty hard to get a good idea of just how many people are having the issue, what with the forum topic filled with "me toos" and claims that anyone reporting an issue is simply a troll. For the record, I just updated my system and have had no issues whatsoever. We've contacted Sony for comment on the issue, and will keep you all posted should further developments arise.

Update: We sopke with Sony's Patrick Seybold, who is aware of the forum thread and is checking with their folks to determine if there is a widespread issue.

PS3 Udate 2.42 - System no longer reads my discs [PlayStation Forums]

SCEE Explains Firmware 2.40 Problems, Says Everything OK Now

PlayStation 3 firmware update 2.41, a fix for the problem-plagued 2.40, is officially live now, and SCEE has released an official statement explaining just what happned:

"The PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) system software version 2.41 is now available for update from July 8, 2008. With this update, we have fixed the problem that prevented a limited number of PS3s from activating properly after updating to version 2.40, when certain system administrative data were contained on the HDD.

The statement continues:

2.40 Fix Coming "Midweek"

Sony's big 2.40 update for the PS3 has been down since the middle of last week, following some issues a few users had while trying to install the firmware. When, then, can we expect a fix? Around the same time this week, if Sony's customer support are to be believed. They say that firmware 2.41 - which will fix the busted 2.40 - will be out "midweek". Unless they're making that up, an official announcement from Sony on the matter should turn up later today.

PS3 firmware 2.41 out "midweek", says Sony [CVG]

Sony: 2.40 Firmware Problems Not Widespread

A day after taking their 2.40 firmware update for the Playstation 3 down after message boards lit up with people complaining of sporadic problems with the software, Sony Computer Entertainment says that they are now assessing the issue and will put the update back up once they have solved the problems.

“We are aware of a number of consumers experiencing an issue with installing firmware 2.40 on PS3. While our consumer services department has seen a low volume of calls on this topic, we are committed to enabling the community and XMB access features delivered in the 2.40 update. In order to further assess the issue, we have temporarily taken the firmware offline for further testing. We are working diligently to isolate the problem for those few consumers and to identify a solution before we put the firmware back up.”

We are still waiting to hear back from SCEA about what sort of solution they may be able to provide to those who have already updated their firmware and are having problems. If you're adventurous, some gamers have already come up with their own solution.

Sony says that once a solution is found they will make sure to update the official Playstation Blog with the information.

Firmware Update Page [Playstation Blog]

The release of PlayStation 3 firmware 2.40 last night seems to have caused a wide number of issues for those who updated to the new release, as we reported earlier. It now appears that Sony has since pulled the newest update, reverting back to firmware 2.36 as the most recent available version. We were just prompted to download version 2.36 after having skipped the most recent pair of PS3 software updates.

This may be a temporary move to prevent more widespread reliability issues. We are awaiting confirmation on the move from Sony and will update when we hear back.

Thanks to Eddie H for the quick tip.

Update: SCEA has gotten back to us to let us know they are "looking into it."

PS3 2.40 Update Problems And Solutions

While it seems like every time the PlayStation 3 undergoes a firmware upgrade is plagued by people trying to blame broken systems on the update, last night's 2.40 update seems to have caused genuine issues with many posters over at the official PlayStation forums. Owners of PS3s in all shapes and sizes have been reporting that their systems were loading to the initial PlayStation wave screen and simply hanging there after applying 2.40. No icons, no controller functions, no nothing, just the wave across the middle of the screen.

There doesn't seem to be any real pattern as to which systems are affected. 60GB, 40GB, 20GB, and 80GB systems alike have all been afflicted with the issue. We've contacted Sony for word on the issue, but in the meantime several of the more tech savvy forum posters have determined how to fix the issue, if you're willing to yank out your console's hard disk drive.

2.40 Q&A Gives Us That Morning-After Feeling

PS3 Trophies Not Applied To Old Saves

You didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you? The folks over at PS3 Fanboy are reporting that older PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network games patched for support of the new trophy system, which goes live with firmware 2.40 this Wednesday, will not award trophies retroactively. The system will not scan older saves and award you trophies based on your progress. This means that you will essentially have to go back through and play the game all over again in order to earn your much-deserved Sony achievement points.

The reasoning behind this? I can go to several websites right now and download completed saves for any number of PS3 titles and pop them right onto my system, just like that. Suddenly everyone would have perfect award scores for everything, chaos would ensue, and eventually fans would burn Sony offices all over the world to the ground. Armageddon is not nearly as fun as it sounds.

Everything you need to know about firmware 2.40 [PS3 Fanboy via CVG]

It's official. The next next PlayStation 3 firmware update—version 2.40 for those keeping score at home—will bring in-game access to the Xross Media Bar (XMB) and the addition of "Trophies," a previously rumored feature that looks to emulate Xbox LIVE Achievements. That's our best guess, obviously, as Sony Computer Entertainment America is shy with the details, something it will be providing later.

The official PlayStation blog adds that the 2.36 update, coming sooner, will improve "system stability" for select PlayStation games. Stability? Pfft! We want shiny trophies and we want them now!

Firmware (v2.36) coming soon, (v2.40) to include trophies, in-game XMB [PlayStation.blog - thanks, Sean!]

PSP Firmware Update Adds Much Needed Googling

Firmware version 4.00 is due "soon" for the PSP, according to PlayStation Network Operations director Eric Lempell—typically "soon" means within the next few hours in these terms—and while it may not make the handheld a flying breakfast car, it's respectable. The newest update adds Google searches directly from the PSP's XMB, giving gamers on the go another avenue for cheating during pub quizzes.

Far less exciting than that feature is the option to speed up or slow down video playback via Memory Stick. Yup. Things will be slower or faster, depending on which direction one presses on the D-pad. Hey, remember that Google thing from earlier? Wasn't that awesome?

PSP (PlayStation Portable) v4.00 Update [PlayStation.blog]

Sony Explains Slow PlayStation Store Speeds

Sony's new PlayStation Store launched this week with a few hiccups like broken images and long load times. And while all of us expect the service to smooth out soon, Sony has addressed the issues on their forums.

We are aware that many of you have experienced delays whilst the PS Store's thumbnail icons are being downloaded. This is a temporary consequence of a new system implementation and high global traffic levels, and will be resolved within the next few days.

PS Store re-launch & slow loading of icons [PS Forums via Eurogamer][image]

PSN Store Makeover Is Live, Broken

The New PlayStation Store In Action