Official word on US and EU PS Store Update w/ Screens
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.
News Story attached to:
Submit a Story
Register
Get Started
Webmaster Tools
Comments with -5 or lower "thumbs" are removed from display.
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.
I'm all for the update.
Confirmation on non-internet browser store
It's a pretty sexy redesign though!