PlayStation 3 to Get Immediate Update

By Geoff Duncan November 9, 2006

Sony Computer Entertainment will offer the first software update for its forthcoming PlayStation 3 gaming console as soon as the devices go on sale. The free update will update the PlayStation 3 from version 1.0 to 1.1 of its built-in software, and add support for the PlayStation Network online service. PlayStation 3 owners—perhaps best described as "the lucky few" given the product shortages Sony is facing with the PlayStation 3 launch—can access the update from the PlayStation’s menus. The PlayStation 3 goes on sale in Japan on November 11 and in North America, Hong Kong, and Taiwan November 17. Supply constraints have forced Sony to postpone the launch of the PlayStation 3 in Europe until March, 2007.

Despite shortages and a recent price cut announced for the Japanese market, Sony has said it has no plans to reduce the price of the PlayStation 3 in the United States. According to Kaz Hirai, Sony Computer Entertainment’s president, there are no plans to back away from the PS3’s $499 and $599 U.S. prices. "We are very comfortable with the pricing we have announced and have gotten tremendous support from retailers for that price point," Hirai told Reuters. "So it is full steam ahead with the pricing of $499 and $599." Hirai also said the company still plans to ship 2 million PS3s by December 2006, and another 4 million units by March, 2007.

Sony also plans to release its 3.0 firmware update for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in late November, also adding support for the PlayStation Network online service, enabling the handheld devices to purchase and download PSP games and content, as well as wirelessly access material stored on PlayStation 3 consoles via a new "Remote Play" feature.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Gaming

Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t getting DLC or a sequel from Larian, and that’s OK

Shadowheart post-launch outfit in Baldur's Gate 3.

Baldur's Gate 3 game director Swen Vincke shocked fans of the Dungeons & Dragons RPG when he revealed that the critically acclaimed game would not get any expansions and that Larian Studios would not go right into making Baldur's Gate 4. Considering how much of a runaway success Baldur's Gate 3 has been, it seemed like that would be the most logical continuation of things. Larian isn't the only studio to leave behind a wildly successful game either; Nintendo has confirmed The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom also won't get any expansions.

Those might seem like baffling decisions, both from a business perspective and from the point of view of an eager player who just wants more of a thing they love. But they become a lot more understandable when you learn to view these games as complete works, appreciate the post-launch support that has happened for a game like Baldur's Gate 3, and turn that excitement toward whatever is coming next from these developers.
A complete work
Vincke explained to IGN that Larian had actually started to do some preliminary work on Baldur's Gate 3 DLC but that the constraints of working within D&D 5th edition meant that work "wasn't really coming from the heart" and that the team's passion lied with two other projects Larian wanted to make. As a result, leadership at Larian made the decision not to work on a massive expansion or sequel to Baldur's Gate 3 for the time being, and Vincke claims the studio was "elated" by that decision. Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma offered a similar sentiment when he revealed Tears of the Kingdom wasn't getting DLC, explaining that "we feel like we have already fully explored and exhausted the gameplay possibilities in this world" and that "the next [Zelda] game will offer a completely new experience."

Gaming

All companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 and how to get them

Wyll with horns dancing.

There's a lot to see in Baldur's Gate 3, but you're not going to get far without a few good companions by your side. Thankfully, you'll stumble upon a wide assortment of NPCs that'd love nothing more than to accompany you on your journey. These friendly faces fill several different roles -- from mages and healers to archers and warriors, there's bound to be a companion that augments your playstyle.

Many of these companions also come with their own series of quests and unlockable skills, turning them into more than just faceless characters to help you in combat. In fact, you can spend hours unraveling their narratives, and depending on your actions, your companions might look very different at the end of Baldur's Gate 3 than when you first met them.

Gaming

Best PlayStation deals: PS5, controllers, headsets on sale

PS5 and DualSense art.

Next-gen gaming has delivered on expectations, with the Sony PlayStation 5 offering some serious gaming capabilities. Its popularity has made it difficult to find Sony PlayStation 5 deals, and this seems to be the case whether you’re shopping for the PlayStation 5 console itself or games and accessories. We’ve managed to track down some PlayStation 5 deals, and we’ve included them below. It’s also a bit of a deal simply to find a Sony PlayStation 5 in stock, and we’ve managed to do so. We’ve include those links as well, so reading onward you’ll find what we consider to be the best Sony PlayStation 5 deals on the internet right now.
Sony PlayStation 5 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 bundle — $450, was $600

If you’re looking to get your hands on a PlayStation 5 console with a game to get you going, try this bundle with Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. This console features the PlayStation 5’s slim design, yet still has 1TB of solid state storage built in. It also comes with one DualSense Wireless Controller, and of course, a digital voucher for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.