Firmware 1.80 to include 1080p upscaling for games and movies
Sony has officially unveiled plans for PS3 firmware 1.80. This update looks to be the most significant yet. Here's a breakdown of what to expect: — Full 1080p upscaling for DVDs, PS2 and PS1 games.
Context & Ripple Effects
From the pre-launch period, when the open question was whether the PS3 could push 120 frames per second, the conversation around the console has shifted to what software can unlock after purchase. Firmware 1.80 answers one of the loudest early complaints by extending the PS3's native 1080p output backward across the DVD, PS2 and PS1 catalogs — no new hardware required.
It lands in a busy week for Sony's platform strategy: the company has also confirmed a camera-and-microphone add-on bringing voice and video calls to the PSP, including calls to some BT phones, while separately confirming an 80GB drive for the South Korean PS3. Reports of an 80GB US model remain unconfirmed.
First-order effects
- Existing PS3 owners get near-native 1080p playback of their entire DVD, PS2 and PS1 libraries through a free download rather than a hardware revision.
- PSP owners are positioned for a communications upgrade, with Sony confirming a camera-microphone peripheral for wireless video calls between PSPs and select BT phones.
Second-order effects
- Free, feature-heavy firmware raises what buyers expect from any console maker's post-launch support, pressuring rival platforms to match software-delivered capabilities or cede the HDTV-owner segment.
- Confirmed peripherals like the PSP calling kit open a new accessories revenue line and pull telecom partners such as BT into Sony's handheld ecosystem.
Third-order effects
- If major capability upgrades continue shipping at no cost, console competition shifts from launch-day specifications to the cadence of post-launch software — a structure Sony appears set to institutionalize.
- The PS3's trajectory points toward the console as the single high-definition living-room device, with game playback and movie playback converging on one box.
The trend: Console makers are turning free firmware into a primary competitive weapon, extending hardware value and consolidating the living-room media hub role long after launch day.