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Official word on US and EU PS Store Update w/ Screens

March 31, 2008 in Press Release comments 16

With a confirmation for the EU stores update, scheduled to hit in April as well as some fancy new screens on what the redesign will look like, the US is also confirmed to be along the same timeline for the release.

The redesign is a response from Sony to customer feedback based on a survey held last year. Users suggested that they wanted the stores GUI to be easier to navigate. This update will yield in a pause on updates to content of aproximately two weeks while Sony puts the new store up. None of the changes done will effect the current amount of funds attached to your account.

edit: put in a correction; no updates for two weeks, not an overall store downtime of two weeks

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that it will revamp the PLAYSTATION®Store for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) in mid-April with a new, more dynamic look and improved navigation. Currently an integrated online storefront, the PLAYSTATION Store will live natively on PS3, enabling customers to more easily and quickly locate and purchase games, and download demos, game videos, Blu-ray movie trailers and other game-related content for PS3.

To enable enhancements to be made to the store, no additional downloadable content will be posted prior to the revamp, starting April 3. However, customers will be able to access, browse, shop and download from the PLAYSTATION Store during this period. Regularly scheduled PLAYSTATION Store content updates will resume with additional games and game-related items, including the downloadable version of the highly-anticipated exclusive PS3 title Gran Turismo™ 5 Prologue, the next installment of the billion dollar selling racing franchise and intense precursor to Gran Turismo™5.

In the PLAYSTATION Store, customers can use their PLAYSTATION Network accounts and “virtual wallets” to seamlessly purchase and download content for PS3. The PLAYSTATION Store revamp will not affect PLAYSTATION Network accounts or the virtual wallet system. There are currently more than 3.5 million registered PLAYSTATION®Network accounts in North America

The PLAYSTATION Store can be accessed via XMB™ (XrossMediaBar). Customers accessing PLAYSTATION Store starting in mid April will be prompted to download a free firmware update, which will automatically enable access to the new PLAYSTATION Store.
tekmosis
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  • 1
    Xenctuary Mar 31, 08
    Looks like Sony have been listening to feedback from consumers and finally designed an easier to navigate PlayStation Store!



    I have no idea why a two week downtime is required, though. Microsoft have their layout changes to the Xbox Live Marketplace made available through 30 second Dashboard updates approximately every six months.
    • 2
      jmac353 Mar 31, 08
      I think they're completely changing the way that it works. No longer a simple internet browser store. True it sucks but I also don't care that much at the same time. They're clearly focused on getting it done just in time for GT5P which is a very good thing.

      I'm all for the update.

      Confirmation on non-internet browser store
      • 1
        tekmosis Mar 31, 08
        Going for the "lets not use our proprietary browser that doesn't completely adhere to W3C standards" for the store is a plus, imo. Great piece of news to boot on top of the announcement for the release but I agree, a two week downtime is pretty dumb :<
        • 2
          Guticb Apr 1, 08
          Well, they need to do major testing while it's down, before releasing it to 8 million PSN users.

          It's a pretty sexy redesign though!
  • 1
    Keano* Mar 31, 08
    Finally, an easily navigations PSN store !
  • 1
    tekmosis Mar 31, 08
    there we go, two more screens. Xenc got to it faster than I could attach them
    • 0
      Xenctuary Mar 31, 08
      *blows away smoke from GameGrep approval gun*
  • 1
    Krunal Mar 31, 08
    NICE!!! That has GOT to be better than the current layout. I just hope that like currently, it's not the 'HD-Only' PS Store and that those of us on the SD version will also get the same layout and not a toned down limited shitty version...

    • 0
      Xenctuary Mar 31, 08
      I'm pretty sure they'll be exactly the same, since the store will be built into the new firmware. Judging by the screenshots, there's also no discrimination between 16:9 widescreen and 4:3 ratios.
  • 1
    Steel Magnolia Mar 31, 08
    Great news! 2 weeks is a lot though. Can't they just work on it offline and then have downtime of an hour or so to upload it? Sorry if that is naive, but I don't understand how this sort of thing works.
  • 3
    jmac353 Mar 31, 08
    Wait a minute, does it actually say downtime? Are you guys just confusing no new content with downtime? The Store doesn't look like it's going to be inaccessible, it just won't be updated for the next 2 weeks. Big difference.
    • 1
      Xenctuary Mar 31, 08
      Good observation. The main article has been edited by Mr. tekmosis to reflect this.
    • 1
      tekmosis Apr 1, 08
      Yes, edited to correct my mistake. Thanks for pointing it out. (:
  • 0
    Sayyed Mar 31, 08
    Sweet looking store! Definatly much better looking then the current one.I hope they got rid of the stupid mouse cursor.
  • 0
    Mnmfan Apr 1, 08
    That Store is gorgeous. Lets hope the content will live up to it's look. GT5P is already on the Store though. I wonder if Home will be in that firmware. Doubtfull but one can hope.
  • 0
    StarJet Apr 1, 08
    Looking good. Now what about the PSP PSStore?

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