Sony releases PSP firmware update in Japan

TOKYO--As the PSP launched in America, Sony Computer Entertainment released a firmware patch for the handheld in Japan. The patch will update the PSP's system software to version 1.50, which adds some minor new functionality to the machine.

The biggest feature of the patch is the inclusion of additional language options for the PSP menu. Until now, the handheld only came with the option to display its system menu in Japanese or English. The patch will give the device the ability to also display text in German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, and Russian.

The patch also contains fixes for media playback from the Memory Stick Duo. Foremost among these is a resume function, for when returning from sleep mode, and a fix that stops the screen from getting reset when users change the video file they're watching.

The PSP firmware update is currently available for download at SCE's official Web site. Owners of the handheld can either update their machines by connecting online through the PSP via wireless LAN or USB, or they can download the update onto their computers and then transfer it to a Memory Stick Duo. All three methods require a Memory Stick Duo with 14MB free space. For PSP owners that can't connect online or that don't have a Memory Stick Duo, SCE will be including the update patch in game releases beginning in April.

This patch brings the Japanese PSP up to speed with the just-launched American version of the device, which shipped with version 1.50 already installed. It also augurs that the PSP will likely see other, more-substantial functionalities added via future patches on both sides of the Pacific.

The patch is the first official update for the PSP. A file that appeared to be a patch leaked in January, but it turned out to be a sample file for developers that would crash the PSP upon installation.