Sony preps pair of PS3 3D updates
One for games, one for Blu-ray
Sony has roadmapped two key PlayStation 3 firmware updates that will bring stereoscopic 3D functionality to the games console.
Why it takes two updates isn't clear, but that's how many Sony plans to release. The first will be pushed out before June to allow the consoles to play stereoscopic 3D games - for which you'll need a suitable 3D TV, of course.
The second update's release window is less tightly defined: sometime "within 2010" was all Sony said today. It will upgrade the console's Blu-ray Disc sub-system to enable support for 3D BD movies.
News of the upgrades emerged as Sony set out its stall to bring 3D content into the home in June. It hopes to tap into World Cup fever to encourage footie fans to upgrade their old CRT tellies and not-so-ancient LCD TVs to new 3D-capable models.
As a carrot for PS3 owners, Sony said it will offer anyone who buys one of its 3D TVs free stereoscopic 3D gaming content, downloaded through the PlayStation Network. It will include versions of Wipeout HD and Super Stardust HD. It also touted 3D versions of Pain and MotorStorm Pacific Rift, but a look at the small-print reveals that it's only giving away demos. ®
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COMMENTS
It needs two updates because...
...one for each eye?
...one to add it, the other to remove the ability to play music files 'for security reasons'?
...they thought they'd accidentally left some consumer rights in the EULA in the first update, and hope to remove them all in the second?
It needs 2 updates because..
the tech behind 3D gaming and 3D Blu-Ray is very different. I would have hoped a tech site would have understood that.
It's also been mentioned the PS3 HDMI implementation is being updated to support 3D, incorporating most aspects of HDMI 1.4 (all but the Ethernet support), as the HDMI chipset in the PS3 is much more firmware/software based than your average BD Disc player's HDMI chipset..
