The PlayStation Vita isn’t even available in North America yet and we’re already on the verge of getting new features through firmware updates. According to Andriasang, the latest PS Vita firmware update (version 1.6) will be released on February 8. The update will bring a map application to the Vita along with the ability to more »

The PS3 is getting another firmware update this week. Usually we don’t have any idea what the firmware updates actually due besides optimization for some unknown software. This time however, we know the PS3 is being updated to support the PlayStation Vita when it releases in Japan in December. PlayStation Plus members are also getting a few more options for their money.

It’s that time again, the time all PS3 owners love. Prepare not to immediately be able to sign in and play online, because it’s new firmware time! Sony has just announced PS3 firmware 3.72, which means sometime very soon, you’ll have to waste time downloading and installing an update with pretty much no value to you, just because Sony says so.

And before you start defending Sony, saying that there’s probably a really good reason for firmware 3.72, the PlayStation Blog pretty much backs up my assertion that this is another pointless update.

That big 3DS firmware update hasn’t even been released yet, and it’s already causing problems! Don’t worry – it isn’t going to hurt your system. It’s just going to possibly cause a little problem for anyone who plays Ridge Racer 3D. There’s a 100% chance that, under certain conditions, a 3DS with the June 6, 2011 firmware playing Ridge Racer 3D will freeze.

Don’t worry though, as this is a freeze that can be avoided…

If you imported a Japanese 3DS, be ready to do a firmware update. Nintendo’s already working to make the system better with firmware 1.1.0-1 J. How complicated. It’s anticlimactic too, as the update doesn’t really do anything special.

Nintendo’s description of 3DS firmware 1.1.0-1 J only has four update bullet points, and only three of those have any effect on your 3DS’ performance…

Well, it looks like you won’t be able to immediately access the PlayStation Store the next time you turn on your PSP. Sony’s released another firmware update for the system, bringing the software up to version 6.35. The PSP isn’t the only one getting an update though, as the Media Go program people can use for PSP downloads has also been updated to version 1.6. Time to start downloading…

The PS3 is getting another firmware update soon. Version 3.41 will be laying the groundwork for game and video recommendations in the PlayStation Store. It appears to be following the lead of Destination Arcade, which also includes a recommendation system. The difference is that Destination Arcade recommendations are limited to games on XBLA. It also looks like recommendations on PSN are made can’t be done individually.

I’ve had my PSP almost a year now and I still can’t adjust to how often new firmware is released for the PSP. Case in point, firmware version 6.00 is officially go for Sony’s handheld system. The PlayStation.Blog announced the update’s forthcoming debut yesterday (September 9, 2009), and it’s now available today. Though I suppose it has been quite a while since a new update, since firmware 5.55 was released a month or so ago on the SMT: Persona, Tales of VS. and G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra UMDs.

The changes are fairly unassuming. You have new color options under Theme Settings, for those people who go with the colored themes instead of ones with wallpapers and custom icons. You can sort your downloaded games into folders, the internet browser’s had a security patch applied and Network Update is now known as System Update.

Fellow video game blog Joystiq made an interesting observation about the recent update…

That’s right PlayStation owners, now’s your chance to jump onto the last major system update of the year for your PlayStation 3.

The download runs very fast compared to previous updates which either means this download isn’t as grand in size as previous ones or that I caught a really lucky connection.

At first glance, you’ll notice that sparks have now overlay the standard wave stream background and the menu icons have increased in size. However, Update 3.0 is more than a simple face lift as you’ll also notice that the PlayStation Store icon has been moved (to right above the game, movie and under the PlayStation Network disc icon) for more immediate access.

Hope you didn’t all go rushing to update your PS3s to firmware version 2.40, lured in by the promise of the Achievement-esque Trophy System, larger friend list and in-game XMB. There are 73 pages of consumer complaints on the official Sony PS3 forums all report the same thing – the firmware update ruined their hard disks. The XMB will not boot and games will not play. Instead, users will be met by the wave pattern.

Sony has immediately pulled the firmware update, as reported on the official Playstation.Blog. Joystiq writer Randy Nelson surveyed the massive list of complaints to report a possible solution found by users to restore their PS3s. If people with affected PS3s can remove the hard disk and reformat it on their computers. Of course reformatting means losing everything – downloaded files, add-ons and games, your profiles, movies, games saves, music, etc.