PlayStation Store Celebrates 10th Anniversary With A Sale

This month marks 10 years since Sony launched the PlayStation 3 and with it their very own online store. To celebrate, Sony has announced they will be offering up discounts on several of your favorite iconic game and movies titles in a massive two-week “PlayStation Store 10th Anniversary Sale.” The sale will feature some of the biggest hits from the past 10 years and will cover the PS4, PS3, and PS Vita.

Games can be had for up to 60% off for none PS+ members and up to 70% off for PS+ Members. Game titles can be found from almost any gaming genre and include several top titles. The full list is available on the PlayStation Blog:

Example game deals (less w/ PS+ membership):

• Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy (PS4) $24.49
• The Heavy Rain & BEYOND: Two Souls Collection (PS4) $19.99
• Far Cry 4 + Zombi Bundle (PS4) $29.99
• Wild Arms 3 (PS4) $5.99
• Rogue Galaxy (PS4) $5.99
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown Plus (PS Vita) $6.99
• Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories or Vice City on PS3 (PS2 CLASSIC) $3.99
• Metal Gear Solid VR Missions (PSONE CLASSIC) $2.99

Movie Titles:

• Man Of Steel (2013) $8.99/6.99
• Taken Trilogy $23.99
• Wolverine Double Feature $17.99
• 21 Jump Street $9.99

Sony’s initial deals will run from now until 8 a.m. PT on Nov. 15, at which point a new set of discounts will go live for the second week of the sale. To recognize and acknowledge those who have been with PlayStation Network from the very beginning, members with accounts of 9.5 years or more will receive an exclusive PS4 avatar. Details will be sent to those eligible via email. Additionally, there is a special edition 10th Anniversary PS3 and PS4 theme for all. You can download those here: PS4, PS3.

PlayStation Plus Members Get These Games Free For May

Sony has announced another collection of great games that will be available for free of charge to all PlayStation Plus members to download this month. As always the collection features a wide variety of gaming genres with some popular titles mixed with a couple maybe lesser known games.

All the games listed below will be available for subscribers starting next week on May 5 when the PlayStation Store refreshes. If you haven't already done so, now is a good time to download April's free games.

PlayStation 4

• Ether One
• Guacamelee Super Championship Turbo Edition
• Race the Sun
• Hohokum
• The Unfinished Swan

PlayStation 3

• Hohokum
• Race the Sun
• The Unfinished Swan

PlayStation Vita

• Hohokum
• Murasaki Baby
• Race the Sun
• The Unfinished Swan

PlayStation Plus has been a big hit with gamers since its launch last year. The membership program which can be joined for as little as $5/mo with a yearly subscription, or $9.99 for a month to month basis, offers gamers not only free games each month but discounts on titles, free online games saves and other features.

PlayStation Plus Members Get Six Free Games to Kick Off 2015

Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service has been a hit amongst gamers and for good reason. Last year alone gamers were given the opportunity to snag 71 free titles worth almost $1400. Not bad for an optional subscription which costs $49.99 when purchased annually.

For those that didn't get in on last year's freebies there is no time like the present! To kick off 2015 Sony has officially released the list of free games you gaming geeks can snatch up for January starting on Tuesday January 6, 2015.

There is a great mix of games for each of their three platforms with a great mix of a little something new and a few older classics.

• PlayStation 4: Infamous: First Light and The Swapper
• PlayStation 3: The Swapper, Prototype 2, DuckTales Remastered and Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition
• On PS Vita, Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition and Woah Dave

inFAMOUS: First Light, is a standalone expansion to inFamous: Second Son that outlines the backstory of the troubled conduit, Fetch. The Swapper, is a highly reviewed puzzle game that allows gamers to solve puzzles in an attempt at exiting a space station. Prototype 2 is the sequel to Radical Entertainment’s best-selling open-world action adventure game of 2009. Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition is the definitive compilation of the landmark first-person shooter that includes enhanced versions of Duke Nukem 3D and three classic expansion packs, as well as the original version of the classic game.

If you want to see these titles in action, check out the video below.

This Weekend Only Get 30 PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita For $1 Each

This weekend only Sony has dropped the prices of more than 30 games for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita--ranging from older $6 PlayStation Classics to $20 PS3 games--to $1. This promotion doesn't require a PlayStation Plus membership or anything of the sort; from now until Monday, April 21 at 7 a.m., everyone is free to take advantage of this $1 deal.

Gamer can get classic titles like Braid, Everyday Shooter, Gotham City Impostors, Plants vs Zombies, Retro City Rampage, Super Stardust HD, Tokyo Jungle and more for just $0.99 each. Click here and check out the full lineup which includes the following games:

• Back to the Future: The Game - Full Series 
• Blast Factor
• Braid
• Crash Bandicoot
• Crash Bandicoot 2
• Crash Bandicoot 3: WARPED
• Crash Commando
• CTR: Crash Team Racing
• echochrome ii
• Everyday Shooter (PS3 and PS Vita)
• Gex: Enter the Geko
• Gotham City Impostors
• Jurassic Park: The Game - Full Season
• Plants vs Zombies
• Red Faction
• Red Faction 2
• Red Faction: Battlegrounds
• Retro City Rampage (PS3 and PS Vita)
• Retro/Grade
• Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse
• Spyro: The Dragon
• Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage
• Spyro: Year of the Dragon
• Stuntman: Ignition
• Super Stardust HD
• Tales of Monkey Island
• Tokyo Jungle
• Urban Trial Freestyle (PS3 and PS Vita)
• When Vikings Attack (PS3 and PS Vita)
• World Gone Sour

Sony's Back To School Deal A Free PS3 or PS Vita With Sony Vaio Purchase

Companies are looking to cash in on those back to school shoppers and hope to sweeten the deal a bit by offering discounts on their other devices. Not only gaining a PC or laptop customer but gainign a gamers. So many are now offered free gaming consoles or even free software. If you are a Sony fan, and a gamer, that is looking for a new laptop or Ultrabook to take to school with you this year you could walk away with a free gaming console.

Microsoft might best be known for back to school promotions with the company's Xbox promotion. But this year Sony is offering up a deal that might lure away some shoppers. Sony announced that students and faculty who purchase an eligible VAIO machine will get to choose between a free PlayStation 3 160GB, a PlayStation Vita Wi-Fi, a $200 discount on select PlayStation gear, or or 8% off a Vaio PC purchase.

Several Ultrabooks and laptops qualify for the offer as well as a few all-in-one machines. The cheapest deal we could find is the Vaio 13.3″ T Series Custom Ultrabook that includes a Core i5-3317U running at 1.7GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB hard drive, Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU, and 13.3-inch display. All for just $749.89 including a free carry case worth $50. The prices escalate beyond that right up to the $2,999.99 for the Vaio Z Series featuring a 13.1" Full HD display, 3rd gen Intel Core i7-3612QM (2.10/3.10GHz) , 8GB RAM and a 512GB (256GB x2) SSD. But in all cases you have the option of an additional device for free or discount off another purchase.

You can get the PS3 and Vita with a coupon code (FREEPS3 or FREEVITA), but you'll have to call Sony for more options (1-877-647-7699). Alternatively, CAMPUS8 offers a flat 8% discount on your purchase. Either way if you’re interested in seeing what Sony’s VAIO PCs have to offer or to get more info on the current promotion, pop on over to Sony’s website for the details.

Amazon Instant Now Offering Video Streaming On The Sony PlayStation 3

Thanks to Amazon, Sony PlayStation 3 owners now have another option for streaming videos to their devices, the new Amazon Instant Video app for the Sony PS3 gaming console.

Amazon.com. and Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEA) have announced the launch of the new Amazon Instant Video app for the Sony PS3 gaming console. Making the PS3 system the first and only video game console system to offer Amazon Instant Video. The new app will give PS3 owners access to Amazon's library of 120,000 streaming TV shows and movies available for purchase or rental. For PS3 owners who happen to be Amazon Prime members you will now have the option of watching your free Prime Instant Videos on your PS3 system as well.

Customers can access Amazon Instant Video on their PlayStation 3 system by installing the Amazon Instant Video app directly from the TV/Video Services category on the XMB (XrossMediaBar). The Amazon Instant Video app can also be found in the PlayStation Store, under the Media & Apps category.


The Amazon Instant Video app is custom designed to harness the powerful entertainment capabilities of the PlayStation 3 system and provide customers with the best Amazon Instant Video experience to date including:

• Instant streaming of nearly 25,000 high-definition movies and TV shows that start and resume in just seconds.
• New smart lists such as Recently Watched, Next Episode and Personal Recommendations. These lists appear on the home screen of the PS3 system app and update dynamically based on what customers watch and buy. They make it easy for customers to find the next thing they want to watch - start watching an episode where they left off, watch the next episode in a series and introduce them to new TV shows and movies that they will love.
• Whispersync lets customers seamlessly switch from one device to another. Start streaming a movie on Kindle Fire, then pick up right where you left off on your PS3 system - avoid the frustration of having to find your spot.
• Your Video Library gives customers access to purchases from Amazon Instant Video on the PlayStation 3 system or any of the hundreds of other devices enabled for Amazon Instant Video. For a list of compatible devices click here. 

For more information on how to get started visit, www.amazon.com/instantvideo/ps3.

Sony Cuts $50 Off The PS3 Prices Drop To $249

Sony announced today that the company is discounting the price of the PlayStation 3 by $50 in North America and Europe, effective immediately.

Starting today the 160 GB PS3 and the 320GB PS3 will be available for $249 and $299, respectively. In addition, a limited edition inFAMOUS 2 bundle is now available at participating retailers across North America. The bundle retails for $299 and includes a 320 GB PlayStation 3, a copy of inFAMOUS 2 and a 30-day membership to PlayStation Plus.

"The new price will make the PS3 more accessible than ever before, so there’s never been a better time to join PlayStation Nation. We know that while future-proof technology is important to you, content is still king — that’s why we continue to focus on bringing you exclusive “must have” titles that are unmatched by anything else on the market. With games like Resistance 3, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One and one of my personal favorites, Uncharted 3, all on the horizon, there’s a lot of great entertainment in store for you."

The new price is most likely designed to help spur sales of the PS3, which according to sales data provided by analyst group NPD, and released by Microsoft, has trailed behind the Xbox for 13 out of the last 14 months. This move may also help Sony recover some of the bad press and mounting costs associated with the company's infamous PlayStation Network hack. The company said the bill for that would top $140 million.

Sony Tells Gamers "Crack Your PS3 Get Banned From PSN"

Sony really really doesn't want PS3 gamers to crack their game consoles. The company is so adamant about the issue that it has been fighting what may be a long, ugly legal battle to remove all traces of the PlayStation 3 hacks and cracks available online. Now they are taking the fight to consumers and looking to block all cracked PS3's from the PlayStation Network

Notice: Unauthorized circumvention devices for the PlayStation 3 system have been recently released by hackers. These devices permit the use of unauthorized or pirated software. Use of such devices or software violates the terms of the “System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System” and the “Terms of Services and User Agreement” for the PlayStation Network/Qriocity and its Community Code of Conduct provisions. Violation of the System Software Licence Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System invalidates the consumer guarantee for that system. In addition, copying or playing pirated software is a violation of International Copyright Laws. Consumers using circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently.

To avoid this, consumers must immediately cease use and remove all circumvention devices and delete all unauthorized or pirated software from their PlayStation 3 systems.
Sony announced today.

"By identifying PlayStation 3 systems that breach our guidelines and terminating their ability to connect to PlayStation Network, we are protecting our business and preserving the honest gameplay experiences that you expect and deserve," Jeff Rubenstein, Sony Computer Entertainment's Social Media Manager, wrote on the company's official blog.

It looks like Sony means serious business. The company is already suing George "Geohot" Hotz, the hacker that originally discovered the PS3 root key for DMCA violations. A judge already ordered Hotz to remove the code from his website and also demanded he remove a how-to YouTube video.

Don't Pay Best Buy $30 For PS3 Firmware Upgrade

It appears as though Best Buy is screwing bilking non-tech customers out of their hard earned cash by charging them a $30 fee for upgrading their new Sony PS3 to the latest firmware. A practice which we see as very unscrupulous!!

According to gaming site DualShockers, who originally reported seeing the advertisements at the Best Buy in Staten Island, New York City, Best Buy has the audacity to advertise a service that even the most un-tech friendly of users can do themselves.That's right folks even grand-ma can update the firmware on the PS3, its that easy! Bu the folks are misleading their none-tech customers and are charging them $30 for something that can be done for free at home!

Here's the breakdown from the reports and the advertisement:

A PlayStation 3 Slim 120GB is $299.99 at most retail stores and online. But if you head to you local Best Buy you may see it priced at $329.98 as part of a 'package deal' This package deal is advertised as including the latest firmware upgrade from Sony. The firmware includes the following changes/fixes

• Play all Blu-ray movies & PS3 games
• Eliminates bugs & glitches
• System runs smoother
• Improved connection to Facebook
• Power save settings
• Photo gallery and video editor
• Adds PlayStation Plus (Subscription Based)
• Improved System Settings

The issue at hand here is that the $30 'upgrade' that Best Buy is charging it's customers for is something that basically runs by itself on any internet connected PS3 for nothing. Yes that's correct folks it practically installs itself and I all but guarantee its easy enough anyone can do it.

Performing a firmware update on the PS3 is as simple as going to the system menu and selecting system updates and requires nothing more than a few button presses on the controller (and of course an internet connection).

Best Buy has done some pretty shady things in the past but to me this one takes it. The sad part is that they seem to see nothing wrong with bilking unsuspecting customers. When asked by Industry Gamers confronted Best Buy about the policy the company stated the upgrade offer had been in place for nearly two years and the company denied any wrong doing stating:


"While many gamers can handle firmware upgrades easily on their own, those customers who do want help can get it from Geek Squad, and we continue to evaluate this offering to ensure it meets their needs," said a Best Buy spokesperson. "The service goes beyond a firmware updates, and includes user account setup, parental control setup and other components."

Sadly many customers out there will see the deal and think its something they need to spend the extra cash on not knowing its something they can do on their own within a few mins times.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Announced

Activision, the producers of the popular Guitar Hero series have officially announced the latest incarnation of the popular game. The latest installment, version 6 to be exact, of one of the world's most popular music game series will be known as Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and will feature the biggest on-disc selection of rock music ever in a Guitar Hero game and Quickplay+, which invites gamers to rock out to any of the on-disc or over 500 songs in the Guitar Hero Music Library.

"Guitar Hero has set the standard for music based gaming and with Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock's all-new Quest Mode, robust and authentic set list, over-the-top challenges and rock-inspired new hardware, we are once again bringing the soul and energy of rock n' roll to fans around the world," said David Haddad, Chief Operating Officer, Guitar Hero.

In Quest Mode, using any combination of instruments, players will embark on a larger-than-life, epic rock journey from the stage of CBGBs, the infamous punk-rock club in New York City, to the molten lava fields of rock treachery as eight Guitar Hero characters transform into rock warriors that must join together to use their unique, game-changing powers to help the Demi-God of Rock take down "The Beast" and save rock n' roll.

"The world is a boring place. Come with me, and enter a world populated of Demi-Gods and Beasts. Transform from an everyday person and become the savior of rock and roll," said Gene Simmons of KISS. "It was an honor and privilege to narrate Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, even more so, to voice the Demi God. From the God of Thunder to the Demi-God, how cool is that..."

The first songs off of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock's new set list which will eventually feature more than 90 tracks are:

• AFI – "Dancing Through Sunday"
• Avenged Sevenfold – "Bat Country"
• Black Sabbath – "Children Of The Grave"
• Buzzcocks – "What Do I Get?"
• Children Of Bodom – "If You Want Peace... Prepare For War"
• The Cure – "Fascination Street"
• Def Leppard – "Pour Some Sugar On Me (Live)"
• Dethklok – "Bloodlines"
• DragonForce – "Fury of the Storm"
• Drowning Pool – "Bodies"
• Foo Fighters – "No Way Back"
• Foreigner – "Feels Like The First Time"
• Jane's Addiction – "Been Caught Stealing"
• KISS – "Love Gun"
• Megadeth – "Sudden Death"
• Metallica & Ozzy Osbourne – "Paranoid (Live)"
• Muse – "Uprising"
• My Chemical Romance – "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)"
• Queen – "Bohemian Rhapsody"
• Rammstein – "Waidmanns Heil"
• The Rolling Stones – "Stray Cat Blues"
• Silversun Pickups – "There's No Secrets This Year"
• Slayer – "Chemical Warfare"
• ZZ Top – "Sharp Dressed Man (Live)"

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock will be released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Wii.

For more info checkout the full Activision press release or visit GuitarHero.com

Update: Sony PSN Service Restored

Earlier today we reported that Sony PS3 owners were having issues with the consoles and the Playstation network. About 6pm PST Sony reported via Twitter that those issues have now been resolved. According to the full post on the Playstation Blog the issue was caused by an internal clock glitch that reported 2010 as a leap year.

We are aware that the internal clock functionality in the PS3 units other than the slim model, recognized the year 2010 as a leap year. Having the internal clock date change from February 29 to March 1 (both GMT), we have verified that the symptoms are now resolved and that users are able to use their PS3 normally.

If the time displayed on the XMB is still incorrect, users are able to adjust time settings manually or via the internet. If we have new information, we will update you through the PlayStation.Blog or PlayStation.com.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Network Issues Render PlayStation 3 Units Inoperable

Sony has confirmed that a networking glitch, which originally appeared yesterday afternoon, continues to leave some customers unable to connect to the PlayStation Network. The networking issue by itself really isn't that big a deal, however this glitch seems to be affecting the ability to play offline single-player games.

Sony says they believe they have identified the problem which they think is being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.

According to a post on the Playstation Blog Sony says they hope to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, if you have a model other than the new slim PS3 it is advised that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data.

Errors include:

• The date of the PS3 system may be re-set to Jan 1, 2000.
• When the user tries to sign in to the PlayStation Network, the following
  message appears on the screen; “An error has occurred. You have been
  signed out of PlayStation Network (8001050F)”.
• When the user tries to launch a game, the following error message appears
  on the screen and the trophy data may disappear; “Failed to install
  trophies. Please exit your game.”
• When the user tries to set the time and date of the system via the
  Internet, the following message appears on the screen; “The current date
  and time could not be obtained. (8001050F)”
• Users are not able to play back certain rental video downloaded from the
  PlayStation Store before the expiration date.

PlayStation 3 Slim Repair Guide From Rapid Repair

Good news, the fine folks over at Rapid Repair got their hands on the PlayStation 3 Slim this afternoon and they are working feverishly disassembling it. Rapid Repair of course is best know for iPhone, iPod and Zune repairs, however they've been adding to their forte by creating disassembly guides for things like the Palm Pre and Amazon's Kindle.

Images of the PS3 Slim disassembly can be found at the link below:

http://www.rapidrepair.com/guides/playstation-3-slim-ps3-repair/playstation-3-slim-ps3-repair-guide.html

Please note that images are being posted live so there may be a significant delay between steps. Rapid Repair anticipates that the final step of the disassembly will post around 11pm EST tonight.

Gaming: Sony Provides "Sneak Peek" Of The Upcoming PS3 Firmware (v2.60) Update

Eric Lempel the Director of PlayStation Network Operations provides PS3 users with a sneak peek into the software updates for PS3. The newest Firmware v2.60 is said to be coming soon and is designed primarily to enhance the system’s media capabilities.

According to Lempel's blog post the key feature is a new Photo Gallery application, which delivers a suite of tools for sorting through and displaying your digital photo collection. Digital pictures can be organized in groups according to various criteria, including the camera used to take the photos, the event date and time, colors in the photos, as well as the number, ages, or facial expressions of the people pictured. You can also create slideshows set to music and build photo playlists with an easy-to-use interface. The Photo Gallery application will need to be installed separately from the XMB after you update your PS3’s firmware. To install the Photo Gallery application, go to the Photo section on the XMB, select Photo Gallery and press the X button.

While there is no official word on the release date some sites are speculating it will be available for download tomorrow January 21. Until then here’s a video walk-through of the firmware showing off the Photo Gallery.

Possible PS3 Price Cuts Coming

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter believes Sony will cut prices on the 80GB PS3 base model from $399 down to $299 by April. He also believes that, wishing to maintain momentum, Microsoft will follow suit, knocking $50 off of its 60GB 360 Pro model around the time of the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, which runs from June 2-4.

"Once the PS3 is at a more affordable price point (we expect a cut to $299 in April), we think that sales of that device will once again begin to grow. We expect another cut in price for the Xbox 360, with the feature-laden Pro model likely to come down in price to $249 at or before this year's E3 show in June. We expect Nintendo to maintain Wii pricing at $249 until the company sees signs that demand is slowing, which means a price cut may not happen until late in the year, if at all," Pachter said.

According to GameSpot Pachter's statements were part of his NPD preview report released on Monday. Pachter and EEDAR's Jesse Divinch weighed in on the forecast of NPD Group's December game sales which is expected this Thursday. Both analyst predict strong console sales with more than 3.25 million Wiis sold domestically during the month, followed by 1.35 million Xbox 360s and 750,000 PlayStation 3s.

It was recently reported that Sony has reduced the production cost of its second-generation PlayStation 3 revision by 35 percent. According to a teardown report by analyst firm iSuppli it now costs Sony about $448.73 in parts and labor to manufacture each new PS3.

With the drop in production costs it is likely that we'll see some price cuts down the road. How soon and how much is unclear, however it would seem unlikely that we'd see such a drastic cut. Sony obviously still feels selling PS3's at a loss and recouping the revenues through games sales is the way to go, but I don't know that they are going to slash a $100 right off the top.

Sony has been working the promotions angle previously offering up to $150 off a PS3 with their new Sony card, a promotion that has been in affect since last November. They have since lowered the deal and it is now down to $100 off.

PlayStation Home Beta Hits A Snag, Faces Connection Issues

Earlier this week Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced that its PlayStation Home Beta service will become available for all PS3 users around the world. The much anticipated announcement came with a great deal of excitement and fan fare for PS3 users, however it appears the new service is off to a rocky start.

Just hours after going live on Thursday users began complaining of various connection issues. Users complaints varied from no connection at all to being kicked from the service after only a few minutes. Several other posts on the PlayStation Forums suggest users are experience lag and over all slow downs in the service.

Sony communications director Patrick Seybold has acknowledged the problems in a blog post, and says that Sony is working on solutions:

We are aware that some people may be experiencing difficulty in accessing the PlayStation Home beta at present. This is due to overwhelming demand for the service as people access Home for the very first time since it became Open Beta and appeared on the XMB.

While we prepare solutions to ease the problem, you may continue to experience difficulties accessing Home. We kindly ask for your patience as we work to meet the incredible demand for this revolutionary service.

For now at least it would appear as though users will just have to wait it out. The heavy bandwidth usage that is plaguing the PlayStation Home servers will likely subside over the next few days and hopefully be then Sony will have a fix.

Get $150 Off The Purchase Of A PS3

Sony together with Visa have released the new PlayStation credit card. Gamers who qualify for the card can use it to purchase a PS3 and you’ll save $150 of the total price.

Starting today until December 31, 2008, you could save $150 on the purchase of a PLAYSTATION 3 this holiday. There are a couple ways to do this. You can go to to www.sony.com/newpscard to get instant approval for your card, and an immediate $150 credit when you purchase a PS3 directly through the website.

Or you can go www.sony.com/getpscard to apply for the card and upon receipt of the card, use it at any authorized PlayStation retailer to purchase a PS3. The $150 credit will show up on your billing statement.

Sony Announces New 160 GB PS3

Today at the Leipzig Games Convention, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced it would release a new 160GB PlayStation 3 in Europe for €449 ($660) shortly after that announcement Sony Computer Entertainment America announced a similar model for the American market with a $499 price tag.

The new limited edition Drake: Uncharted Fortune PS3 bundle using the new 160GB hard drive will include a DualShock 3 wireless controller and a free download of the game PAIN. The limited edition bundle will go on sale in November, just time for the holidays.

President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, Jack Tretton said in a statement, "As PLAYSTATION Network continues to evolve with our recently launched video delivery service and more exclusive games, PS3 owners are demanding more storage capacity. Consumers also are utilizing PS3 as an entertainment hub for their digital media, placing content such as their entire music collection on the hard drive. The 160GB PS3 system addresses this growing consumer demand in a compelling bundle that delivers significant value."

In addition to the new PS3 Sony also introduced a new Wireless Keypad accessory that attaches to the top of standard PS3 controllers. Sony says that the Wireless Keypad is paired to the PS3 by connecting it with the USB cable to the PS3 system. Once paired with the PS3 the keyboard connects to the PS3 with built-in Bluetooth.

Sony Releases New PS3 Firmware v2.41

Today Sony released its second attempt at a Playstation 3 firmware upgrade, version 2.41. The 2.41 update does everything that the 2.40 update was supposed to do, without the annoyance of making your system completely useless.

Last week we reported that Sony pulled the PlayStation 3's latest firmware download (v2.40) due to reports of inoperable consoles after the update process.

PS3 owners were reporting problems ranging from small things like microphone's cutting out, to the more serious issue of consoles being bricked with no boot at all or remaining frozen at the initial wave screen.

Sony, to date, has remained silent on the technical issues surrounding the 2.40 firmware upgrade since it was released and subsequently pulled from PSN last week. The 2.40 update was a substantial update, meant to provide trophy support for PS3 games, a la Xbox 360's Achievements, as well as an in-game XMB interface upgrade.

Sony Pulls PS3 Update After Several Issues Arise

Just hours after making it publicly available, Sony has pulled the PlayStation 3's latest firmware download (v2.40) due to reports of inoperable consoles after the update process.

Owners of every model of PS3 are reporting problems ranging from the small things like microphone's cutting out, to the more serious issue of consoles being bricked with no boot at all or remaining frozen at the initial wave screen.

In response, Sony has taken down the update for the time being and made an update to their knowledge center post for the 2.40 boss with the following text:

"UPDATE: 7/2/2008, the PlayStation 3 system software version 2.40 has been temporarily taken offline and will not be available for download as our engineers examine any possible issues with this update. The Knowledge Center will be updated with information as it becomes available; please check back here for further details."

Before they took action, Sony PR director Patrick Seybold reportedly told Joystiq they are "looking into it right now and will work with those customers [to] directly address any issues they may be experiencing."

The firmware update added several notable features, most prominent of which is the ability to access the XMB operating system screen while playing PS3 software. It also added an Internet search command that does not first require an open browser, and a new "trophy collection," which lists all the user's objective-based trophies collected from games which support that feature.