TGS 08: Firmware 5.00 and PlayStation Store launch next week

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 9th 2008 at 12:12PM }

The PLAYSTATION Network is coming to the PSP next week -- at least in Japan. Firmware 5.00 will be available on October 15th and will add the built-in PlayStation Store under the new XMB category.

Japan will then get a regular release of downloadable titles through the rest of the holiday season. Games include:

Yuusha no Kuze ni Namaikida or2 (10/16)
Bleach Soul Carnival (10/23)
Secret Agent Clank (11/20)
Patapon 2 (11/27)
LocoRoco 2 (12/4)
Resistance Retribution

Notice how every SCE first-party title is downloadable, including Resistance Retribution? It looks like Sony is finally ready to give up on UMD ... or at least give consumers a viable alternative.

Tags: 5.00, firmware, playstation-store, psp, store, tgs08

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

GoBob @ Oct 9th 2008 12:27PM

Good to see the that the west is getting a lot of games- oh wait...

shamus @ Oct 9th 2008 12:31PM

Is this 3000 only? I have a psp 1000 and I'm not willing to give it up until later in the year.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Oct 9th 2008 12:33PM

I severely doubt it. Sony isn't that mindless as to segregate their customer base. You can bet it will work on the PSPhat.

Andrew Yoon @ Oct 9th 2008 12:41PM

All PSP systems.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Oct 9th 2008 12:33PM

Well that was a nice surprise. Now all I'm waiting for is US confirmation!

eleonora @ Oct 9th 2008 1:05PM

get ready the successor of the psp is coming,and sony is getting ready ...thank god!!!

N008 Slayer @ Oct 11th 2008 12:21PM

Where did you see this???

TM @ Oct 9th 2008 1:07PM

is the 5.00 update on Oct. 15 for NA or just for Japan?

Livi70590 @ Oct 9th 2008 1:18PM

Any chance of linking PSN on Playstation 3 to PSN on Playstation P?

Gurbinder @ Oct 9th 2008 1:25PM

Ok seriously. They jump an entire number just for these features. I mean yes they are good features but I would perfer that it was 4.50 instead of jumping from 4.05 to 5.00. It makes 4.00 seem inferior, which it is, but just the number all together

David Black @ Oct 9th 2008 2:09PM

I'm sorry Gurbinder but if you don't consider a new category on the XMB (PSN) and direct access to the PSP store over WiFi a major feature then I just don't know what would do it for you...

joeybeast @ Oct 9th 2008 3:26PM

Are you two seriously arguing over the numbering of firmware?

David Black @ Oct 9th 2008 5:43PM

No joeybeast, Gurbinder was complaining about the numbering while I attacked the fundamental foundation of his post...that this didn't constitute a major update. Who cares how Sony chooses to number their firmware editions as long as we get meaningful content upgrades such as this ??!

Joe @ Oct 9th 2008 2:25PM

Is there any chance of Yuusha no Kuze ni Namaikida or2 or Bleach Soul Carnival coming to the US or Europe. Bleach never came out in the US the last time Sony made Bleach and I would love to give the game a try. So is there any chance these game will come out or not.

Plus is Sony going to bring over any other games from Japan to either the US or Europe because Japan gets the best PSP games yet they never come out any were else.

I want to say I think this is a great idea more games will come out on PSN for the PSP the only thing I worry about though is if your PSN account gets banned you can't play these games. Also will the games be a lot cheaper this way then buying them at a store.

lorddshadow @ Oct 9th 2008 5:27PM

I think there is a possibility for Yuusha. Sony really has been promoting the weird but cool games lately and a few (Echochrome, Patapon, LocoRoco) have made it to the US. It's not a big possibility, but it is one nonetheless.

Mr.U2 @ Oct 9th 2008 2:56PM

umm.... i feel like I just downloaded 4.00. This is still cool though. Glad that UMD's are becoming a thing of the past.

Jeremy @ Oct 9th 2008 4:14PM

Well, the PSP is really dead to me. Because of internet speed is capped (Verizon sucks), I can't download games.

I guess this solves the problem of stores not carrying PSP games anymore, though.

General Specific @ Oct 9th 2008 6:55PM

I have an easy answer: Change your IP. Comcast is getting a big slap in the face over net neutrality so they aren't going to be capping their lines any time soon.

Also, UMD blew, it was one of their smaller blunders

aj @ Oct 9th 2008 7:27PM

Most people actually can't change their ISP.

I'm stuck with Shaw, and my 60 gigs a month cap.

Think about it - the reason why caps exist now is because of the minority that suck so much bandwidth up on their own. When digital distribution kicks in, what's going to happen? The caps get smaller. Duh.

At least some ISPs have a huge cap. And FYI - Comcast actually has a 260 gig cap. Read your service contracts before you sign, people.