Rumor: PS3 To Receive 3D Firmware Update In July

The 3D revolution is just around the corner; all we need are the first 3D-enabled HDTVs (some of which have already arrived) and the firmware update that will turn our PlayStation 3 consoles into the first true 3D gaming console.

Sony has been saying all along that such an update would be released this year, but they haven't offered a time estimate. However, many developers are apparently preparing 3D upgrades for current titles and designers already have 3D projects in the till. Therefore, we have to assume the update will hit soon...perhaps July. As spotted by PlayStation LifeStyle, it appears that Best Buy may have leaked the information a bit early. Or maybe they had the requisite permission to do it; who knows? The point is, the retailer has provided consumers with a 3D FAQ that answers some pressing questions. And one of those answers has turned a few heads:

"To watch 3D Blu-ray Discs, you’ll need to add a 3D-ready Blu-ray player (or update your PS3 with the appropriate firmware when it becomes available in July)."

Well, the timing seems about right and we wouldn't be surprised if Sony makes the official announcement within the next few weeks. Obviously, even if it does arrive in July, you're still going to need one of those fancy TVs...it's a pricey endeavor but it could be well worth it if you're a hardcore gamer. Personally, I'd like to have one of those 40" Samsung LED HDTVs that support 3D. Might have to happen.

3/16/2010 8:57:53 PM John Shepard

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WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:08:10 PM
Reply

Hey, doesn't rendering a game in 3D totally mess with the frame rate or something? Where's Highlander when you need him?

Can't wait for all this 3D nonsense to fizzle.

5 up, 1 down

fluffer nutter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:05:53 AM

I don't know how much the 3D would "mess with the frame rate" but my understanding is that all 3D enabled sets that are coming out this year are 240Hz. All of Samsung's sets are.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:15:22 AM

I mean in games, because it has to render the double image on screen.

0 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:17:00 AM

You asked about games. I saw that. I just don't know if the game's view will be skewed or not. I haven't read any reports of this from the people that have witnessed the games. A good test would be to see WipEout HD in person.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:26:19 AM

Rendering in 3D does indeed mess with the frame rate, the game has to render images from two points of view and interlace them so that the TV can display them in the correct order. If I remember correctly games with 3D may reduce the resolution in order to manage the required frame rate to render 3D at 60 frames per second.

The PS3 will effectively have to push out twice the number of frames compared to normal because for every individual frame you'd see in standard view, in 3D you need two images for the stereoscopic 3D to work.

10 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:28:22 AM

Thanks Highlander. That's really helpful info. My impression from things I've read around is that it's probably wise to wait a while before buying a 3d tv since there won't be a vast amount of quality experiences to offer. Is this true, or will 3D games be the norm in the near future?

0 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 1:52:43 PM

So then 240Hz will make it so that additional rendering isn't a problem. Smooth.

0 up, 0 down

daus26
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:07:21 PM

@Highlander

If that's true, then oh WOW does PD have something to work on if they want to keep the game at 1080p/60fps..in 3D. Seems a bit impossible, now that I think about it.

We'll see.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:23:31 PM

@Daus26 when rendering in 3D mode GT5 will drop the render resolution to something like 540p instead of 1080p so that it can keep the frame rate up.

0 up, 0 down

ryandon69
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:09:57 PM
Reply

awww man, i think i need to start saving from now if i wanna get on of those TV's for early next year.... GOW 3 should be pretty sweet in 3D!!!!!

0 up, 0 down

redman479
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:21:15 PM
Reply

I agree, I gotta get one!!! Overtime here I come!!!

0 up, 0 down

ace_boon_coon
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:08:11 PM

that's one sexy avatar you have

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:23:10 PM
Reply

I was hoping for a firmware that would arrive sooner and do something different.

6 up, 1 down

OtisFeelgood
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:15:14 AM

Same here. =\

5 up, 0 down

Gone
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:28:10 PM
Reply

Can the 3D glasses fit over a pair of regular glasses? Maybe they will come out with 3D prescription lenses soon.

/no sarcasm intended

5 up, 0 down

main_event05
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 11:35:35 PM

That is why i often avoid 3d movies.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:27:36 AM

This is why I favor the polarization technology for 3D, the lenses are passive and so it is easier to make 3D glasses for everyone, including clip on or 'fit over' ones for spectacle wearers.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:28:52 PM
Reply

Is it 1956?

1 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:06:47 AM

It must be in your mind. Don't forget to stay up at the front of the bus while you're at it. ;)

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:41:29 PM
Reply

I personally don't want to wear glasses while I play video games. I hear people all the time talking about how their headsets get uncomfortable after a while.

Sheesh can you imagine trying to wear 3d lenses, a gaming headset, and playing for a few hours. Their will be an epidemic sweeping the world. Headlines will read, "Gamers the world over lose their ears!"

I hope it passes until the technology can give me quality 3d gaming without the need for more headgear.

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:57:56 PM

peoples heads will begin to pop.

4 up, 0 down

leatherface
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 11:02:14 PM

SCANNERS!!!!!!

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:45:33 AM

people will have to lay on the floor to play because all the headgear will be too heavy for their necks to support it.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:42:55 PM
Reply

I can't see this catching right away. I can't afford a new TV right now. Don't need one either.

2 up, 0 down

johnld
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:29:59 AM

after ps3s assault of games on my wallet just this past 3 months, i can barely afford anything right now. hahaha

0 up, 0 down

NeoHumpty
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 10:47:36 PM
Reply

I may be upgrading my trusty old 1080i next tax season, I see. Been wanting to upgrade, anyway. It really depends on how much extra the Sony units will cost me as to whether or not I go for it. I have yet to hear their prices.

0 up, 0 down

Nick Maim
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 11:10:53 PM
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The nice thing is that games can get a real 3-D upgrade anytime.

To upgrade an old... no...ANY video game you're playing right now, all a developer, let's say Naughty Dog, has to do, is issue a 3-D upgrade to a game, let's use Uncharted 2, as a paid download. This would include an additional set of code to make your 3-D compatible TV and player (PS3..) broadcast and display 2 viewing angles of the said game, in an alternating sequence that matched the 3-D glasses youre wearing. Wether current games can be displayed running at full 30fps twice at the same time (60fps) on either console or not is yet to be seen. My take on this is a definite no, not with the current games, but the old stuff from previous gens could be double exposed and then some.

Holy crap. Valve can re-release the Half LIfe series in 3-D!

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 11:11:18 PM
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Good to hear, but since I'm still waiting a while to get my first HDTV(for 3D), I hope the firmware won't do anything to mess up playing (or watching movies) on my 32" SDTV.

0 up, 0 down

JcBball717
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 11:27:36 PM
Reply

I went to the mall over the weekend and went into Sony Style the store and it had a 48in tv playhing in 3d with the glasses and everything. I was amazed how good it looked, they were showing a gameplay trailer of MotorStorm and it looked INCREDIBLE. I cannot wait for this.

Hey John Shepard, do you think they will have updates for games to be able to play in 3D? maybe for like motorstorm? or anything?
Good night-CbRz

4 up, 0 down

Milonakis
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 11:29:35 PM
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I don't get it. Why is this different than a movie they put in 3-d for the glasses.

0 up, 0 down

Irievibes
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 @ 11:50:15 PM
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ive always wanted to do stuff like this, thought about doing it with multiple monitors to resemble a 360 enviroment in say...driving games (assign left and right monitors to left and right views and you see your rearview as you do in R/L by turning your head, not a camera pan in-game) so to me this kind of stuff shows a lot of potential...

i swear , i saw somewhere a diff approach at 3d, sorta like a u-shaped tv, and the images would display in the middle sorta like a hologram effect, could be cool too without need for glasses

0 up, 0 down

Hitch
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:00:42 AM
Reply

You too John? That's funny, Ben said he wants the same kind of tv....

0 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:08:06 AM

John wants the 40". Ben wants the 46".

0 up, 0 down

Qubex
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:03:54 AM
Reply

As you say write Ben, the timing is about right... I think Sony release their new Bravia 3D TV's right around that time too...

If it is not the Polarised type then I am not interested, but I think it is...

Q!

" play . experience . enjoy"

1 up, 0 down

FullmetalX10
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:55:24 AM

You should all get Sony 3d-TVs, not samsung, that doesn't fit with your PS3's at all.
Besides, Sony FTW, that'll be all.

0 up, 0 down

LittleBigMidget
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:13:21 AM
Reply

Ugh HD gaming in 3D, my eyes hurt just thinking about it

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:17:07 AM

my brain begins to liquefy.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 1:58:46 AM
Reply

hmmmmmmmmmmmm, guess ill finally have the answer to weather my Z5500 will support 3D or not.
hope so because playing battlefield bad company 2 in 3D today absolutely made me fu***ng sh*t my pants!
nothing, and i mean NOTHING! has impressed me that much, since well EVER!

if its not i fear ill have to spend the next few months at the casino racking up the cash to buy one, than do the piss bolt when i bring it home because the family aint going to be happy.
ill have to run for the hills for a few weeks till the heat settles down.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:30:58 AM
Reply

The thing I want to know is whether the 3D BluRay standard is the basis for the 3D output of a PS3 for games? If so, then after the firmware update, 3D should work with any 3D TV that supports 3D BluRay, which of course would include Samsung TVs.

For this technology to work, there needs to be a single standard format for the 3D video data stream. The technology of the TV shouldn't matter as long as the 3D video data stream is the same from device to device. Considering the involvement of the HDMI 1.4 standard and BluRay, I am guessing that there is something of a standard emerging there, but consumers need to know this in order to go ahead with their purchases.

As for 3D games? Gran Turismo 5, MotorStorm an games like Soul Calibur would appear to me to be great candidates for 3D. I also cannot wait to see the combination of 3D, PlayStation Move and Home. That would finally seem to bring real virtual reality nearing the sophistication of a holodeck to the home (pun not intended) space.

Last edited by Highlander on 3/17/2010 2:33:18 AM

4 up, 0 down

xnonsuchx
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:15:42 AM

The TV has to support the IR transmitter for the shutter glasses to properly sync the shutters. Also, regarding 3D games, you'd need games regularly running at 60fps to generate 30fps stereoscopic.

I'm currently very skeptical about 3D TV...only decent 3D that doesn't require any glasses would really impress me much.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:40:28 AM

nah the TV does not need to have a inbuilt emitter, as far as i know all sony 3D TVs will have them in built but they are supplying them separately too.
i would assume other manufactures will be doing the same.

0 up, 0 down

natho86
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 4:15:43 AM
Reply

Highlander you are a wealth of infomation!

6 up, 0 down

PAKINIPS
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 5:07:54 AM
Reply

Meh, wont be using 3D for at least a year.
Hope the firmware update comes with something else as well, a better browser for example, my phone browser is better than the ps3s

1 up, 1 down

xnonsuchx
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 5:57:07 AM
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I'd rather know when they're going to fix stuff they broke in 3.10...and add welcome features MOST users would like to have.

1 up, 0 down

JackC8
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 6:56:12 AM
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Two or three thousand bucks for a new TV to replace the nearly new TV that I've already got, just to play games in 3-D? The cost/benefit ratio kind of epic fails for me :) None of the movies I watch are in 3-D, I wouldn't even want to watch TV shows in 3-D, not that there are any such shows.

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 7:51:00 AM

yeah 1 problem I have with this whole 3d whirlwind we're experiencing is that most 3d movies showcase their 3dism by pulling off all kinds of super cheesy moves. Characters constantly pointing towards the screen, all big and drastic. If anything 3d is only making the acting in movies worse.

1 up, 0 down

JackC8
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 8:53:37 AM

Exactly - it's all about characters and story.

0 up, 0 down

FullmetalX10
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:00:11 AM
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I might get a 3d TV when the PS4 comes out, or when they have made the glasses obsolete.

0 up, 0 down

FlyingKickPunch
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 12:24:23 PM
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everyone knows rad racer was the only game to truly get 3D right.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:05:41 PM

OMG! In that case what we need to launch the world of 3D is....

Cue Kaz Hirai...

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiidge Raaaaacerrrr Threeeeeee Deeeeeee!!!!

1 up, 0 down

FlyingKickPunch
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 2:45:22 PM

only if its filled with "giant enemy crabs"!!
lol
which would make it historically accurate, of course :)

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 9:24:45 PM

Genji is a wonderful game... ;)

0 up, 0 down

bearbobby
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 3:24:43 PM
Reply

On the bright side, these new models will help to drastically drop the price of the current sets. Looking forward to getting a new tv, love watching the prices drop!

3 up, 0 down

Lobosabio
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 5:14:44 PM
Reply

someone told yesterday that in four years ALL TV sets are going to be 3D.

But the thing that really amazings me is about MATRIX being possible today. we have the pieces NOW.

- 3D Video glasses like CINEMIZER
- camera sincronized with head like in GT5
- MOVE type of 3d control for 3D enviroment.

perhaps when PS4 arrives, we wouldn´t need TVs at all!!

0 up, 0 down

pyrobomber70
Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ 10:27:23 PM
Reply

To do 3d the tv will at least need to be at 120hz so when you play a game at 60 fps the tv will be able to handle it very smoothly. The reason why I know this is because I am currently waiting to purchase a new 3d enable tv. 240hz will become the standard eventually because as we all know faster is always better with computer processing.

0 up, 0 down

THE NTMIDTR
Thursday, March 18, 2010 @ 9:12:15 PM
Reply

I just got my first HDTV a year ago! I wanted 120hz over 60hz then... (just as 240hz was coming out sadly)

However, I don't see myself getting a new 3D HDTV anytime soon unless I win ESPN.com's $10,000 March Madness bracket!!!!

0 up, 0 down

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