PS Network hits milestone, PS3 upgraded to 1.7

1.3 million users have downloaded 3.7 million content items via Sony's online service; new update adds downloadable PSone game support, rumble for USB PS2 accessories.

Just over five months ago, the PlayStation 3 was released in North America and Japan. Just over one month ago, it arrived in the UK and Europe. Now, Sony is revealing the first usage statistics for the console's online service, the PlayStation Network.

This week, Dave Karraker, Sony Computer Entertainment America's senior director of public relations, told GameSpot that the PlayStation Network now has more than 1.3 million users worldwide. Of those users, 600,000 are in North America, where Sony has shipped over 2 million consoles. Worldwide, some 3.7 million pieces of content have been downloaded from the PlayStation Network, though Sony did not specify how many of said items were games.

Though off to a strong start, the PlayStation Network--which is free--still remains less popular than its older rival Xbox Live. Microsoft's online service started in 2002 as a pay-only service for the original Xbox, and has since involved into a two-tiered form--free (Silver) and pay (Gold)--for the Xbox 360 since November 2005. It boasts some 6 million users who have downloaded 25 million Xbox Live Arcade games from Xbox Live Marketplace.

In other PS3 news, Sony has upgraded the console's firmware to v1.7. Besides the usual tweaks, the upgrade adds two functionalities that old-school gamers will find most welcome. First, it allows original PlayStation games downloaded from the PlayStation store to be played on the PS3 console. Previously, said games--which currently include Syphon Filter, Tekken 2, and Crash Bandicoot--were only playable on the PlayStation Portable. Previously downloaded original PlayStation games will be retroactively upgraded for use on the PS3.

And although Sony was dismissive of force feedback when it unveiled the Sixaxis controller last year, the 1.7 update adds rumble support for "USB accessories designed for use with PlayStation 2 format software." Unfortunately, the PS3 doesn't have ports for the PS2's Dual Shock controller, but converters between the two port formats are widely available.

Also released today was the v3.4 PSP firmware upgrade. It allows users to save any original PlayStation, PS2, or PS3 game onto the PSP's memory stick.

350 Comments

  • rocky2k32000

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 5:46 pm PT

    YES! TIME TO GET MY PS3 TO WORK! YAY!

  • grand17

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 3:37 pm PT

    quote from blancobo "DON' T TRY TO MAKE A SONY related NEWS MESSAGE INTO an XBOX/Microsoft Message... it is just sickening..."

    deserves to be said again and again...and again...

  • TrumpyTheDog

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 8:54 am PT

    So it wasn't called PSN back then, big deal, if they had made a better job of it then maybe it wouldn't be such a steaming pile right now, but that's Sony's short sightedness for you, it could have been done with the PS2 but they were so arrogane they didn't think it'd take off. Now they have to play catch up but without the games to go with it.

  • Godak

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 6:48 am PT

    Trumpy, that was only for online gaming purposes. The actual PS3 PSN has only been around for 6 months. The last time I checked, 6 months isn't "years".

  • TrumpyTheDog

    Posted Apr 23, 2007 1:21 am PT

    Seems people are forgetting here that the PSN was available on the PS2 for stuff like SOCOM, just that it was so piss poor its convientley forgotten. So none of this "only 6 month old" garbage, its been around for years.

  • x7x

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 8:22 pm PT

    Why does everyone continue to call names and bicker over silly issues like which system is better. Opinions are everyone prerogative, but when it turns to insults and disrespect, it becomes childish. It really makes no sense, especially when the same thing is going to happen that happened each generation before... some people will root for Sony, and some for Ms, but in another year or two most of those same people will have both or all three systems anyway... so what is the point...
    How many Sony fan-boys went and bought X-boxes, so what if it was only for HALO or whatever the reason was. Same goes for XB fan-boys, how many of you went out to get the new slimmed downed PS2...
    If you are buying the system for some sort of status symbol then a console is not really the way to go, try a house, or some property, tangible assets, or how about that private school money for your kids, something actually worth bickering about ....
    If you like the game buy it, if not keep it moving... how hard could that possibly be!
    Competition is just that till someone gets stupid then it becomes a riot...

  • Ansem_Rev

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 6:48 pm PT

    Yeah were all fans of great games now Sony Fans say.

    But b4 they wouldn't touch an XBOX to play Halo 1 , or 2. They have learned their lesson

    XBOX 360 is a god amongst Mortals

  • blancobo

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 5:55 pm PT

    So... this article is about the PS3 hitting a milestone in its online service, yet there is a direct, obvious, unfair (two services one shy of 6 full months of service and another about 2-3 yrs old) comparison to the already popular Xbox live system. Honestly, I am a true Sony fan, thinking of getting an XB 360... (why?) because I could get games that are good, and are not available for the PS3... So bottomline I am just a true faithful gamer. What I am not is a weak single sighted individual who can not perceive the biased informatioin this website has been rpoviding every now and then. C'mon gamespot... enough is enough.... let's stop promoting Xbox through all kinds of media... let's leave Sony positive news to Sony, their negative news to be compared with other consoles... and let us pursue the same approach for other systems/consoles and their news. DON' T TRY TO MAKE A SONY related NEWS MESSAGE INTO an XBOX/Microsoft Message... it is just sickening...

  • earth79

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 1:35 pm PT

    it's nice that i can use my dual shock controllers...sucks that i gotta buy freakin converters for them.

  • dewmandew7

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 9:51 am PT

    tdr_bushi, it's so that you can move your save data between hard drives, not so you can play PS2 or PS3 games on the PSP. lol. That would be cool though, but your PSP would probably blow. It's also so you play your downloaded PS games on your PS3 and then move your save over to the PSP and continue where you were on your PS3.

  • dewmandew7

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 9:42 am PT

    Great! Now get Final Fantasy VII on the store so I can finally play it!

  • Ansem_Rev

    Posted Apr 22, 2007 1:38 am PT

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R98qC0fd_1w&mode=related&search=

    THERE IS HOPE LOOK EVERYBODY!!!!

  • GrimGravy

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 11:47 pm PT

    very cool

  • Dadriverman

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 10:41 pm PT

    I wish they would add the use wallpaper so's i can change it to my liking.
    It would be nice if the updates had a way to improve on the games for
    the ps2 i have to look better, and to where they use the features those
    original games came with.
    The rumble feature is ok but i can live without it it's not a big thing for me.
    Tho some updates i guess are better then none.

  • pixelsword

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 10:06 pm PT

    Great! I'll probably update tonight or tomorrow.

  • Nemesis_x2

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 8:02 pm PT

    Feel like im playing Star Wars galaxies since they with Sony,update after updates..LOL

  • jacnewforce07

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 7:37 pm PT

    oh how i love updates!

  • tdr_bushi

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 6:47 pm PT

    QUOTE: It allows users to save any original PlayStation, PS2, or PS3 game onto the PSP's memory stick.

    huh?? i dunno how a PS2 or PS3 game will fit on the mem stick of a PSP....... and be rendered on the PSP for that matter

  • cloud890

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 4:39 pm PT

    updates, the quicker the better

  • InFaMoUsInTeNsE

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 3:50 pm PT

    Man there updating the firmware every what 2 weeks thats fast and not good
    -----------------------------------------

    Umm, did you even read the article? How are they updating it that fast? How is the update (with rumble support) not good? Is it because it's one less thing xbox fanboys have to use against the PS3??

  • Daytona_178

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 2:17 pm PT

    sony needs to cth up with microsoft here!

  • dragon62586

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 2:02 pm PT

    That's nice, finally can get vibration from the dual-shock. At last, Sony did something good.

  • R3V3N4N7

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 12:55 pm PT

    XBL>Playstation Network.

  • LittleYoshi

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 9:49 am PT

    2010 2010 2010!!!

  • Latinbro1

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 9:44 am PT

    If sony makes it so that all retro games and ps1 games are playable w/ online on both PSP & PS3 that would be something wouldn't it? This is god though

  • Cruz25

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 8:40 am PT

    good one more step to perfection

  • kinnon38

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 6:49 am PT

    does any 1 know when homebeta starts i was kindda expecting it in the latest update and the ps1 games still arent on the ps store for the uk. apart from that its all good loving rfom and rr7 and oblivion should be pretty sick

  • rstankos

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 5:27 am PT

    Keep 'em coming. Don't mind if the updates are frequent, as long as the experience keeps getting better.

  • 03207771

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 5:10 am PT

    All the consoles are great! Its just up to the customer to choose which one they prefer and thats that. Jeez some people argue over petty things.

  • bihboy69

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 5:06 am PT

    i was expecting custom backgrounds, but this is good too

  • princeofgames90

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 3:07 am PT

    Man there updating the firmware every what 2 weeks thats fast and not good

  • daewoo10356

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 2:50 am PT

    cool, rally cross!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

  • xche78x

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 2:35 am PT

    sony seems to be doing everything it can to PLEASE all of its supporters.
    most sony news this past few months have been positive, ever since that 1.6 firmware appeared, lots of enhancements and now more on 1.7
    i as a ps3 owner is very glad that there has been fast updates and yes they do fix problems and enhance experience. but i still hope for more...

    straight VGA support so we can use our PC monitors
    more arcade games to the PSN (MVSC please)
    release the PLAYSTATION CARD (prepaid cards) competitors have em and they are reaping the rewards while sony still lags behind.

  • kazanator

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 1:37 am PT

    but there isnt any ps1 games in the store in the u.k >

  • Hell-Fire21

    Posted Apr 21, 2007 1:10 am PT

    Only 1.3 million users worldwide? Not a lot of popularity considering the population count. Either that or people just haven't had time to get that darn second mortagage processed Lol But congrat's anyway Sony, at least you're trying.

  • solarized2

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 11:51 pm PT

    Can european PS3 owners even download PS1 games yet??I looked yesterday and the last update was GO SUDUKO not one PS1 named

  • Ackad

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 11:07 pm PT

    I can't wait to buy Crash Bandicoot!!!!!

  • nazraq

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 10:11 pm PT

    so i guess nobody knows how to make crash bandicoot work. not even sony. i sent them an e-mail asking how or if it would be playable on the ps3. they sent me a cut and paste remark about how the update would make select titles playable on the ps3. they gave me no list. no link to a list. no nothing. so, i'll tell you this: i'm not gonna download any other games to find out if they work. if sony would have given me a straight answer i might be inclined to spend my money on their products. but i guess it's a stretch to ask for a straight answer from sony.

  • 7thRonin

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:59 pm PT

    nice

  • SambaLele

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:44 pm PT

    PatIsStuupidd

    really funny comment!! XD

  • Latinbro1

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:43 pm PT

    As I read this article a thought popped into my head. Has the potential of offering something cool but I don't know if people will take notice. And if MS releases a handheld they could do the same. As of the firmware we can now play PS1 games on the PSP and PS3. Wouldn't it be nice to apply this to all DL content (with the exception of those games that are obviously too large or graphically superior to the capabilities of the PSP). Make multiplayer available \on both devices and have them communicate a la PC Live and 360 Live communication. So if I'm on the road and want to play a friend who's at home on Street fighter alpha I can do so. Just a thought and I don't know if anyone else thinks it would be a cool idea. Don't know if the DS and Wii could do that but it would be nice too as a bonus

  • GhostPoet

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:32 pm PT

    Honestly...I think the PSN is decent...but it's no where near as complete and user-friendly as Xbox Live.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 9:18 pm PT

    I still can't say much about the PlayStation Network. I spend a lot of time browsing around and downloading movie/game trailers, but I haven't played any online games yet. It simply doesn't compare to XBOX Live! yet in terms of functionality. Maybe that will change when Home arrives.

    The ability to play PSOne games on the PS3 is something I wanted since they started offering said games. Maybe I'll actually consider purchasing some now.

    And the return of rumble is good news to me. My PS3 still spends most of its time playing PS2 games (or Folding) and the rumble has been sorely missed. Not to mention the fact that I like the DualShock controller much better than I like the SixAxis. The DualShock, while not my favorite controller, has a nice weight to it. The SixAxis just feels too light. Hopefully Sony will produce a SixAxis with rumble in it, and it will get the weight back up to former levels.

  • eternalcube

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:33 pm PT

    Evolution1245 "damn i want a ps3 now"

    ================================
    damn i don't want a ps3 now

  • dpballes

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 8:29 pm PT

    Nice to see Sony really supporting their console

  • Evolution1245

    Posted Apr 20, 2007 7:59 pm PT

    damn i want a ps3 now

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