Rockstar reports PS3 failures could be result of latest firmware update

by Steven Williamson on 19 May 2011, 13:09

Tags: Rockstar Games (NASDAQ:TTWO)

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The latest firmware update for PlayStation 3, v3.61 could be causing problems on some older PS3 models, claims Rockstar Games. The developer has recently released its detective adventure L.A. Noire, and some users have reported freezing during the game, as well as consoles overheating and shutting down. Rockstar believes this isn’t a fault with the game, but may be a result of the recent firmware update.

A post on the developer's support site reads:

"We have received some reports of PS3s overheating while playing L.A. Noire or beeping three times before shutting down/turning themselves off, mostly on older 60GB and 80GB fat models."

"Primary reports seem to be that updating to firmware 3.61 will cause PlayStations to overheat. There have been various reports of this on a few different games now, all reporting their PS3s turning off or 'Red Lighting' after having installed 3.61.

"This can range from games randomly freezing to PS3s turning off anywhere between 30 mins use to two hours. We have confirmed locally that multiple games (Rockstar and non-Rockstar) overheat or freeze only when 3.61 is installed."

While Rockstar is carrying out an internal investigation, it’s asking anyone affected by any issues since the update to contact Sony support direct and not the Rockstar helpline.


HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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Posted by gtech - Thu 19 May 2011 13:12
It's the game rather than the PS3, it's also happening with 360's.
Posted by shaithis - Thu 19 May 2011 18:25
Oh the radio earlier they had it as a news article and the person they decided to talk to about it had it happen in Portal 2.

I can't see how it's the game, as unless they are somehow overclocking the PS3s, they are just using the resources available to every game.

Personally, I think it's more likely to be a case of a lot of people only playing online frequently and without PSN available a lot of machines have had their usual duty-cycle messed with, plus some will have never been turned on over that period and they would have failed before the update and game release anyway….thus causing a larger-then-average failure rate atm.

Either that, or there is something wrong with 3.61
Posted by TooNice - Thu 19 May 2011 20:53
People have reported issues with the 3.60 too. My 60GB US PS3 Fat has seen less than 100 hours use so far, but I am quite afraid of upgrading it. Those defending Sony tend to use the “machine being on it's last leg” argument, but it can't be just coincidence that a lot of users report issues after an update. We should see people talk about their machine failing on a regular, spread out basis. And frankly, it doesn't matter if the people who is right. The people with bugged consoles are stuffed either way. Sony do not care how many hours I've used my console. I know that my console still works very well, and I want to upgrade to play some of the new games that I've bought and *requires* the new firmware. Yet I know if anything happens, I will regret it :/

First Sony console that I've bought (ironically, I bought a Pal PS2 after the PS3 just because it was like £17), but with all the trouble they are having, I will think long and hard what I'll do in the future (and I do not even dislike Sony).
Posted by Ferral - Fri 20 May 2011 08:33
I've had a few issues with the 3.61 firmware on my 250 Gb Slim. When I press the PS button on the controller and quit out of certain games it beeps 3 times and restarts (Demons Souls & Red Dead are the culprits so far on this one, picking up L.A Noire this morning and will test accordingly).

Also when I put in a game or BR and it starts up the image gets resized a few times before it settles. This used to happen if I had PS1 upscaling enabled in the game settings on the XMB, now though, even though it is disabled it still happens.

More quirks than anything else but I REALLY dont like the restarting, makes me wonder what is going on and if something is wrong as it didnt happen with the previous firmware.
Posted by shaithis - Sat 21 May 2011 13:43
You may see some oddities as they keep adding more stuff to thwart crackers……same old story though, the paying customers get a raw deal due to protection.

I really hope they go with a steam-style system in future, then perhaps they could open the system up a bit more to the tinkerers, homebrewers and linux fanatics, without having to worry too much about IP theft.

Silly position they have put themselves in atm.

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