Confirmed: Bluetooth headset will be $50, will require firmware update

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 3rd 2008 at 7:00PM }

It appears that speculation has become truth: the official PS3 Bluetooth headset will be available in North America with a MSRP of $49.99. For only $10 more, players will be able to get the SOCOM Confrontation bundle, which includes the headset and a copy of the upcoming shooter on Blu-ray disc. Although PS3 is compatible with most Bluetooth headsets, a new firmware update will enhance the experience when using the official headset. A new High-Quality (HQ) mode will use "advanced wireless technologies and the Headset's dual-microphone design to enable clear and wide-band wireless voice communication with the PS3 system."

Sony is promising future titles will support HQ mode. For example, future games may have voice animation where the in-game character will mimic your speech. Proximity chat will offer voice playback in full surround sound, to match the sound effects featured in the game.

The $50 headset will also be compatible with most cell phones. In addition, it will also work as a desktop microphone when docked with the supplied charging cradle. However, note that HQ mode is only available on the PS3, for titles that support HQ mode.

Gallery: Official PS3 Bluetooth Headset

Tags: bluetooth, headset

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

spinthelights @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:10PM

AND it has a mute button. I love my Jawbone, but that feature makes this seriously tempting. I thought I remember some info saying the firmware would also have an on-screen display of volume changes, mute, etc. Could be mistaken on that.

jarhead906 @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:21PM

Yes it does have the on-screen status for battery level and other items worth mentioning. Go to the Playstation Blog where the full details are listed, especially about 'HQ'.

jarhead906 @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:18PM

Yeah definitely getting the SOCOM bundle. If the game ends up being mediocre (which I'm sure it won't be) then I'll just sell it new and save myself a lot of dough. And I highly doubt this will be packaged with recent PS3 bundles. The 120 GB SKU thats under wraps could have a chance...but $50 is high at the point also.

Livi70590 @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:19PM

Noice. Me Want. I'll buy SOCOM on disk then.

immikeulate @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:20PM

Bought. Well with Socom.

kevin @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:50PM

i have to buy it as my current bluetooth plantronics explorer 330 doesnt work with my ps3 anymore :( makes my log out idk y

Nathanical @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:23PM

i rly want this. my dilemma is, at that price im gonna have to get the socom bundle (and as im in the UK itll probably cost a good bit more on its own), but i want the PSN D/L version of socom for convenience. I wouldnt play warhawk nearly as much if i had it on BluRay, as i mainly play online games as a quick blast every now and then. That type of play really benefits from the easy access on the HDD. I fear id be the same with socom.

KRIS_C_123 @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:29PM

im asuming this will be the ssame price as the warhawk headset bundle in the uk?

am i wrong? please get back to me on this

i was really annoyed with the warhawk bundle cause the headset didnt work, i hope this headset will be of much better quality

jimmyink @ Sep 3rd 2008 10:11PM

I'll be willing to bet the guys at incognito will have a warhawk patch ready for this headset, which will hopefully fix the current issues with the mics. Can't say I'm that impressed with the Jabra Headset that came bundled either.

crazypenguin @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:35PM

i'm probobly going to end up buying socom just for this. i'm not a big fan of FPS (although halo and resistance are rather fun!) i'm not sure whether or not i'll get this, its soooo tempting though, i wanted a blue tooth headset for three diffrent things, and it also has high quality and comes with a 10 dollar games (essentially)

Averna @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:31PM

Socom is actually a 3rd person shooter, like GRAW, Ive been waiting for this for quite some time and I am totally sold on the headset. A worthy replacement for my plantronics headset.

wisconsinista @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:42PM

this equates to a socom purchase. Great move by Sony- giving features not available on other mic's:
- HQ Mode
- Desktop Mode
- Ability to mimic my mouth based on actual words
- Charging dock with PS3 (vs Warhawk mic which I have to charge in another room)

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:59PM

just curious, but why do you have the charge your Warhawk headset in another room? you know you can charge it on your PS3's USB port right? and if your out of USB ports or something, you can always just use a USB Hub to add more ports. god i love being able to use universal PC parts on my PS3.

frankym @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:50PM

Getting this headset day 1. Also getting SOCOM, but I am downloading it instead of buying the bundle. I am LOVE the convenience of having games on the hard drive regardless of cost.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Sep 3rd 2008 9:01PM

i can tell. $30 for convenience huh? different strokes for different folks i suppose.

drdre74 @ Sep 3rd 2008 7:52PM

the price doesnt add up. So are they going to release Socom online by itself for 10 bucks then? If the head set alone is online 10 bucks cheaper than having the game. I'll buy the game for 10 bucks and they can keep the 50 bone headset.

doc j @ Sep 4th 2008 4:47PM

Incentives, my man. Incentives.

There are many of us who would likely not spend 40 on SOCOM or 50 on a bluetooth headset. But, hmm, I am mighty tempted by that 60 dollar deal....

pat1202003 @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:07PM

Well that does it SOCOM bundle it is. Ain't no way I'm goina pay $50 for a headset and for $10 more get the game too and just sell the game for $50. And ta-da a $50 headset for only $10.

Fane @ Sep 4th 2008 5:29PM

Do you honestly believe you can sell the game for $50?

I know people are stupid, but that's expecting some profound stupidity.

more bad asser @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:09PM

Good:
-HQ mode
-Firmware supporting specific features of this mic to help make it supported by first AND third parties
-MUTE BUTTON OMG
-PC mic capability
-charging cradle

Bad:
-$50? How will SOCOM make any money at $10...
-I don't expect them to push this as THE PS3 headset like MS does with their headset.
-I don't expect them to bundle it with the PS3 without a MP game being included. It needs to be bundled with 40gb/80gb/160gb units that don't include games and without hiking up price.
-Games that are out already and include headsets won't get this one retroactively, so the 'install base' of this new 'standard' headset will probably never be as wide as the 360's.

Metal_Gear @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:36PM

1. This is a plan to sell more copies of SOCOM
2. Sony never push optional 'official' parts as they allow 3rd parties to create things too.
3. No need to bundle it as it is optional, besides it would hike up the price of a system and Sony do not need that now.
4. It doesn't matter what headset you havem we can all hear each other, just because this one is new doesn't mean it will block out older Headsets :S And you cant have a 'Headset Community' "You Logitech Headset dudes are complete noobs, Sony is the only way to go!"

francisco @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:13PM

I'm buying the socom bundle and selling the socom game for 40$. That way i only spend 20$ on the bluetooth.

tristan88 @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:17PM

might as well buy socom. thats a damn impressive mic. nice feature set.

Metal_Gear @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:42PM

This headset, little bit of plastic with 1 button from what I have seen and lots of features, people are ok with the price.

Keypad with loads of buttons and loads of features too and people whine, scream, wet themselfs hoping mammy will come and fix the price.

I will be buying the SOCOM bundle too, obviously a huge ploy to sell extra copies so I am setting myself up for a pretty naff game, it will be a series first for me though.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Sep 3rd 2008 9:14PM

i was thinking the same thing. im perfectly ok with the pricing of both products. i dont need the headset but i would certainly buy this one if i didnt already have one. the keyboard on the other hand, i will be buying day one. i have been in the market for one anyway and its much cheaper than the one i was looking at before (DiNovo Mini). plus if i find out i can use it on my PC as well, it will be icing on the cake.

Wrathbringer @ Sep 3rd 2008 9:15PM

Ooo, that's a purdy headset right there. Definitely beats the Jabra that I have right now, though I can't really justify buying another headset since I don't use my current one too often right now...

j.howlett @ Sep 3rd 2008 9:51PM

i said before the price is in line with other BT headsets i've seen. i wanted socom any way so yay me.

ZeroX7 @ Sep 3rd 2008 10:45PM

I getting this headset with Socom bundle... I think it's a better deal...

Evi1d33d @ Sep 4th 2008 1:10AM

see people? this is exactly what Sony wants you guys to do. Currently mic install base on PSN is very low and you rarely hear anyone else talking. By making the headset look expensive, people will buy the bundle and thus raising the mic install base. The bluetooth mic itself probably doesn't worth much as you can get a decent bluetooth headset for $10-20.

Besides I still have my Socom 2 headset and the PS3 eye. Both of them does a good job and works with my headphone on. But more people with mics the better.

ericdj @ Sep 4th 2008 4:01AM

Will the patch make current headsets not stop working all the time too.

MarioJ @ Sep 4th 2008 11:01AM

I remember when the first SOCOM came out and I picked it up (the bundle). I use to play online all the time, I haven't played any since then except the first one for PSP which was really good then. I already got a few of my friends ready to create a team.

MarioJ @ Sep 4th 2008 11:02AM

I remember picking up the first socom back in 2002 at gamestop the day it came out. I used to play it online all the time. I didn't play any others for the PS2 until the PSP one came out. I'm excited again, I already got a crew going with some of my friends.

ascian @ Sep 4th 2008 12:53PM

I'll buy this, with SOCOM, even though consoles are the last places shooters belong, but for $10 diff, no explanation necessary.

HOWEVER i hope to god it works. the only headset i've used with the ps3 was the warhawk bundle bt125 , and that was an epic fail. i recently fired warhawk up again with the latest patches and triple bundle, all i get is static and unintelligble, barely audible gibberish.

i don't know what the deal is. the bt125 isn't an outstanding headset, but it works with ps3 voice chat with people on my friends list. it worked ok with burnout, it was barely audible with lost planet demo, but it did work. by and large though, the quality is so poor it's not worth the trouble. i just hope the sony headset has a large and tangible difference.

Anthony @ Sep 4th 2008 3:06PM

I dont really like the idea of a exclusive hq mode. I already have the headset that came with warhawk, and although it wasnt made by sony, it was still approoved by them. I dont want to have to go out and buy another one so i can enjoy the voice function of certain games that have mimic speech. It just seems unfair to me.