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Sony Sued Over PS3 Crashing Firmware
Sony Computer Entertainment America is facing a class action lawsuit over the botched release of mandatory PS3 firmware 3.0 and a later system update that is said to have irreparably damaged thousands of consoles.
Released on September 1 and billed as the last significant PS3 firmware update of 2009, version 3.0 introduced new trophy and friends list features as well as dynamic dashboard themes and PlayStation Store shortcuts. But shortly following its release a number of users reported running into technical problems, including the inability to synch up controllers with consoles and game freezes mid-session.
SCEA said at the time that it was aware of “isolated issues” being experienced by users and that it was “looking into the matter”, before releasing PS3 firmware update 3.01 as a partial fix later in the month.
However, lead plaintiff John Kennedy claims that the latter system update not only failed to rectify the problems but also caused users' Blu-ray drives to malfunction. Sony said it would cost $150 to repair his damaged console, according to Courthouse News.
Represented by California-based Parisi & Havens, class members are demanding declaratory relief, compensation and restitution from SCEA for an alleged breach of implied warranty, negligence and unjust enrichment.
Sony has run into problems in the past when rolling out major PS3 firmware updates. In July last year, firmware version 2.40 - which introduced in-game access to the system's XMB and a Trophies achievement system - had to be pulled for further testing after numerous users reported technical problems - including consoles locking up - after downloading or while attempting to download it. Sony released a new firmware update shortly afterwards which fixed the issues.
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Subscribe To Edge Magazine / Corrections / Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
Yeah, Sony really need to improve their communication with customers. I go onto the official forums sometimes and the technical support forum is full of large threads which nobody seems to address. Not to mention they haven't taken responsibility for their firmware update problems. Is it just coincidence? It would be hard to believe. If Sony want confidence from their market, and confidence is what drives the market they need to show their customers they care about their problems with Sony devices.
It's swings and roundabouts.. Hardest thing to find on the Playstation sites are the phone numbers to ring when you are experiencing problems.. You're right though, there support pages are a bit of a joke..
Having said that, you ring them up any the nice people on the end of the phone are only to happy to help and if you're machine is bricked then you'll have a new one within 48hours.
Dunno what it might be like for all those with warrentee's running out. Even still with the sort of money that it'll cost you to hire a decent lawyer to enact a class action law suit, wouldn't it have been more cost effective to just put your hand in your pocket for the $150?
Who are these people that sit there with a very expensive paper weight, opting to wallow in self pity about how Sony have wronged them rather then getting the enjoyment from it. To each his own!!
Not a good start to the week for Sony with this and UK retailers already cutting the PSPgo's price. Oh well....
In the same week that Nintendo are named World's best company :D
EPIC FAIL!!!!