Major PlayStation Store update coming Oct 17 in EU, Oct 23 in US
By
Guy Cocker, Editor
New store design coming to PlayStation 3 will introduce a tile-based interface, improved search, recommendations, and a persistent basket.
A brand new interface has been unveiled for the PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3, and will land on October 17 in Europe and October 23 in the United States. The interface, which is described as a "step change" by Sony, gives the home store screen a new tile-based interface that scrolls sideways, groups content by title, and offers a new search feature, among other things.
The PlayStation Store will now be categorised by platform via a navigation bar on the left of the screen, with Vita content sitting separately to PS3 content. There are also more options for discovering content, sorting it by genre, price (£9.99 or under, for example), or even accessory, such as guitar or microphone.
The new PlayStation Store has also received a search update that Sony claims makes searching for content easier than before. The old keyboard is gone, replaced with a scrollable selection of letters. With each letter entered, results are delivered, while letters that are irrelevant are removed from the list. Sony claims that it wants users to be able to find anything on the store with a maximum of three letters. The search engine has also been designed to float the most popular content to the top of the results list.
The recommendation and basket system has also been updated. When browsing titles, gamers can see "recommended" items which the store believes may be of interest. Users can also add many items to the basket and purchase them in one go, while anything added to the basket and not purchased remains there. In addition, the main page for each game also houses trailers and screenshots which are streamed in high-definition through the store itself.
The new interface is the result of feedback from focus groups and one-to-one research. There is no announcement on a PlayStation Store update for PlayStation Vita at this time, but Sony said the PS3 update forms part of an "ongoing programme of work." Sony also demonstrated a couple of charts that may or may not be there at launch, such top-rated items by users and most popular of the week.
By
Guy Cocker, Editor
Guy Cocker is the Editor of GameSpot UK, a handheld gaming fan, and someone who actually managed to use video games to lose weight. He recently took up the position of games expert on BBC 5 live and is a BAFTA games judge.
44 comments
The store certainly needed some changes. I like what I see in the screens so far. I like that there will be more sorting and filtering options. The current store is extremely limited in that aspect.
It seems like the UI will be easier on the eyes and some of the other convenience features should be nice also.
I'm cautiously optimistic and ready to see what this update brings.
1 Like I really hope I can simply use the triangle button to add to cart. IT IS SUCH A NUISANCE HAVING TO SELECT IT FIRST... Gaaaah
I'll reserve my judgement until after i use it, Although i like the old UI I've had a few issues with it the blue transparent background and the white font, it never seemed to work on my less than ideally sized Rear-projection TV, but i guess that's more my problem than Sony's.
i just hope the search functions better this time around too, it's always been a hassle finding exactly what i want.
1 Like All I am going to say is........Its about time for crying out loud! I am sick of the generic look that is has had for years....
@Killer6b9 I hear ya! That's one thing I like about MS, they always update the UI/Store looks every once and a while, makes things feel fresh!
I think it looks better now, honestly. I wasn't a fan of the old layout, and this redesign looks sleeker and smoother than the original. I'm glad their improving their search and menu functions, I always found it tedious finding what I wanted in the store.
Now what they really need to do is redesign the Vita's store, now THAT is a godawful layout that needs changing.
I always like new updates...at first glace...looks similar to the xbox layout? I actually like the old PS Store look although some of the sub menus I find rather cumbersome.
Sounds nice, but I don't like the idea of downloading another update. Especially when 4.25 corrupted so many PS3s, that Sony actually took notice for once, and was collecting information to help solve the problem.
Well, we have been looking at the same store for years now. A more modern update is most welcome.
5 Like Why fix what isn't broken?? I swear people anymore are dumb as bricks, I've never had trouble finding what I was looking for on the PSN store....
1 Like Seems like the only people really complaining are Xbox fanboys? Oh well. I say it does need an update, this can't hurt.
I'm sorry but I can't take Sony serious anymore. They keep suing others for stupid reasons, they copy Wii's controller (Move),...this article is saying, "we're going to go with the 360's tile-based interface (just the store, for now) and we like their search feature as well." Really, what goes up, must come down. Sony is in big trouble these next ten years. They aren't creating anymore, they're imitating.
@lifemeister M$ is the best, they are very innovative when they bought the Kinect product and spent Billions marketing. They also own all exclusive rights to every single UI update for a console.
What's peculiar to me is that for years I've heard complaints from my fellow Xbox owners that they didn't like the XMB. While I had no trouble, they wished and wanted PSN to be like the 360 UI. Funny that.
Here we are in an article about a PS Store update finally for 2012, and all of the sudden it 's exactly NOT what you wanted.
Let's be honest, you don't like PS3 and nothing Sony can do will change your mind. That's fine too, it's the honesty that's lacking these days.
1 Like @lifemeister Yeah because Microsoft never copies anyone, or sues everyone for all the right reasons. Who the hell are you trying to kid?
I love the current XMB, but if this is better, whatever. We'll see. I probably wont' like this, but I will wait and see. Every version of the 360 UI I liked less and less. The Blades were still my favorite.
@lifemeister You stop lying, it's full of ads that I'm paying to see! You're getting sleepy...
@SolidTy @lifemeister I'm getting sleepy reading both your comments... but any breath of fresh air is always good... now I'm hoping they do something to the main interface.
@Rovelius xbox 720 getting bluray, now "I feel like I've seen that before on another console..." lol
@lifemeister @rfalstad @Rovelius Most likely, the current 360 disks are limiting how much they can put on now. Pay no attention to rfalstad's fanboyish comment.
The first thing I thought when I saw the picture: SONY PLEASE DO NOT GO THE MICROSOFT ROUTE.
I am crossing my fingers that Sony remains gamer focused while Microsoft goes entertainment (even more) next gen. I really want to ditch my 360, but if Sony goes the same route, I might as well stay with them and not loose the fine folks on my XBL friends list.
Anyone remember the original PS Store? Imagine how awful that would be now with all the different things they've added in terms of content haha.This looks like it'll be nice, more sorting/search options is definitely welcome, and separating Vita content is overdue
1 Like How strange. Just today I thought it'd be about time to update that crooked thing. I hope they bring a games library like steam, scrolling through all the downloaded demos to redownload one good game is just ridiculous.
3 Like I never had problems with the old on, however the basket thing will be nice. I've loaded up with items before, then had to leave the store, and when I went back everything was gone.
Of course then again, I've had people steal my basket in Wal-mart as well...
2 Like So it's only an interface revamp.... why? I never had problems with the old one. Except maybe for it responding a bit too slow. But this:
"The old keyboard is gone, replaced with a scrollable selection of letters"
No. No. No. This is retarded. The Youtube app has this, and it doesn't work. It's slow as hell to type on, and the autocompletion feature is crap, tends to show promoted stuff instead of the stuff you actually want. What's so wrong with the old keyboard?
@Lucca202
I agree with you the scrollable letter option on Youtube sux hopefully there's a way to use the old virtual Keyboard setup as I prefer it much more then this new option.
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