Firmware 3.0 Causing Crippling Glitches? News

Over on the official PS3 forums, a significant number of PS3 owners are reporting a glitch with the Firmware 3.0 update that causes problems when they attempt to sync up DualShock 3 controllers with their system.

While other users are also reporting system freezes with games such as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the biggest problem for Sony will undoubtedly be the purported controller glitch as it has the potential to leave PS3s paralysed by the problem. Without a working controller, it will be difficult for DualShock 3 owners to download a patch that rectifies the glitch.

SixAxis and third party controllers appear to be unaffected by the problem, although DualShock 3s are seemingly lighting up the red LEDs on the PS3 for player 1 and 2 slots even though the controller itself is completely unresponsive.

One poster even appears to have rung up Sony to report the issue and was then told that they'll probably have to send their console back to the manufacturer so that it can be fixed.

"I too am having the same issue and they said I probably need to send my PS3 in for fixing, of course after going over all the so called fixes like default settings on the PS3 and the reset button on the controller, still nothing. Also they told me to check my controller on my friend's PS3. When I spoke with them they said there's no way to go back to an earlier version. The funny thing is they haven't heard of this problem yet even though it's on all types of forums. Luckily I have an off brand controller that works with a USB type adapter. There has to be a patch of some sort coming out when they do realize what's going on, I doubt they want to fix all those PS3's that are having the same problem," said poster DaT-MaN-CaS.

We rang up Sony's customer care number posing as a disgruntled Firmware 3.0 downloader and were met with a similar response, where we were told that they are "Not aware of this problem at all" and that we should "try a friend's PS3" with our controller.

The thread entitled "Firmware 3.00 controller not working !!" is now 140 posts long on the US PS3 forum, which would suggest that the problem is more widely spread than a few people who don't know how to download an update properly. We've contacted Sony Europe for official comment and will update this article if anything comes through.