Sony Retires the XMB, Unleashes the PS4 UI

When the PS4 was announced last week, what we all predicted would happen came true – the XMB was dropped. With close-up pics of the new UI released today, the Daily Reaction duo of Seb and Dan say farewell to the old interface, and hello to the revamp.
-Daily Reaction

[Foolsjoker]

I will miss you XMB.

[Abash]

Considering how impressive and intuitive the new interface looks, the XMB will be very hard to miss

[doctorstrange]

I will miss it, while simultaneously looking forward to the new UI. Us N4Gers are complex creatures.

[Foolsjoker]

It was still a big leap forward from the PS2's interface.

[darthv72]

the xmb always felt sort of detached from the system as a whole.

This new UI looks to be more alive and seamless in moving between the different parts of what makes up the UI itself. There looks to be more of a connected vibe throughout.

The XMB was definitely a good interface for what it did but i always felt like there was something holding it back from being more interactive with the rest of the PSN as a whole.

[bigfish]

What goes up must come down, all this good news and amazingness coming from SONY must end soon, surely?? I expect a real bummer announcement coming soon, this is all too good to be true.

[SilentNegotiator]

What problem did people have with a simple category-horizontal, item-vertical OS again? Because I loved the original 360 OS and the XMB.

[badz149]

They did dropped it for the Vita although understandiby the XMB is inefficient for touch screen thus the Vita GUI. I too am feeling that there's nothing wrong with the XMB but things are changing so there goes the old one replaced by the new one although XMB will remain as one of the most easily accessible yet complex GUI ever made.

[THEDON82z1]

I will miss the xmb too but at the same time I cant wait to experience ps4 UI...

[xPhearR3dx]

I agree. The XMB was a heaping pile of trash anyway. It was slow, sluggish and unresponsive.Hopefully Sony has learned their lesson and this new UI will be much more fluid. From the looks of it, I believe it will. Really like the layout.

[TH3 GAM3]

I don't think there's anything wrong with the XMB but I understand the change also. I'm looking forward to see what Sony has to offer next.

[DeadlyFire]

Looks more like PS4 PS Store menus to me. XMB could still exist on the PS4.

[RumbleFish]

The new UI looks like the new PS Store. There's nothing intuitive to it and it actually sucks. It looks like a big advertisement. I prefer things to be simple and modest. I even prefered the older version of the XMB with smaller icons.

[MiloGarret]

Welcome to the Metro UI.

[Calm Down Sunshine]

There's nothing wrong with the XMB...

I don't need to see my face or any of my friends faces in massive tiles on my TV.

Wish they'd kept the simplicity and the "to-the-point" XMB :(

[chazjamie]

i will not miss it at all. good riddance to bad garbage.

[Ares84HU]

I don't know man. I have to see it in action to decide if it's inpressive or
not. Like the new playstation store, it looked good judgeing from screenshots but the way it works is confusing and fustrating. So I want to see the new system in action before passing judgement.

[mistertwoturbo]

Sony hasn't retired it yet until they retire the PS3.

[HammadTheBeast]

GG XMB

Although it will probably be available as a theme.

[Mounce]

I don't honestly even see what was wrong with XMB, people at first compared it to XBL and said this was much cleaner, much easier to navigate....and now that PS3's PSN store is coming and PS4's taking a Windows 8-like boxy-vibe(Or whoever did such a....boxy-design..)

I honestly don't see what the whole problem is, I don't like XBL's UI and am I the only one who was fine with the PS3's XMB? :/ It was simple and clean, you know where the options were. I just don't like Square-jigsaw pieces containing Picture-arts of random or genre-like related areas. It feels more about the 'Look' than it is for convenience.

[Morpheuzpr]

You know what's the funny part? A lot of people criticized GT5s menu which was basically that a bunch of boxes for you to choose from.

[Mounce]

It almost seems hypocritical then of many Playstation users, varying on who or how many praised PSN's XMB when it was compared to the 360's, and now only to glimmer up the new look Sony is going for when really it just seems to be the 'New Look' of this generation, I guess in hopes that the new UI conforms to what most people are used to using in general with technology.

Oh well, even if I don't like the new look, we're clearly going to have to get used to it, lol. Wonder if I'll just accept it and try to adapt like the rest who're the same as me.

[DOMination-]

For me its good riddance and one of the main reasons i preffered xbox this gen.

Firstly it lacked uniformity. For someone with mild ocd it really annoyed me. What i meant was that if you select the bbc app the entire screen went black. Also some games would change the screen when you selected them and some not. It seemed like there was no standard.

Secondly and more important. It felt dull and boring. Cut off from any feelings of being a social place. A friends list was just that. A list completely detached from you in every way. For me personally, MS really nailed the social side of things.

Thirdly, everyone here says its so simple yet there were a million things in the settings tab. Many pointless options, things being repeated in multiple tabs and no way of customising. Dynamic themes could be cool but honestly most of them resulted in me struggling to read the text.

I hope this os syncs trophies automatically when you unlock them. You shouldn't have to set your console to turn on in the night to do it, let alone pay for that "feature".

[jwk94]

This was just posted, how did this get approved?

[Tainted Gene]

...because u touch yourself at night.

[MysticStrummer]

Just going by the limited info I've seen on the new UI, I will miss the XMB. I don't understand why having a big mess on the screen is preferable the the XMB's simple clean look.

[torchic]

I love the look of the new UI, I don't think it's a "big mess" it is better looking than XMB but I highly doubt it's anywhere near as convienient as XMB.

XMB was great because it worked.

[NoSuchUserName]

I kinda agree. After a short while using a new interface, I want something clean and responsive. Also, I don't want to see news etc that I'm not interested in.

[Omni-Tool]

There is more room to throw ads at our eyes.

[doogiebear]

I won't. On with the new.

[Orionsangel]

It's about time. Since N/A PS2 days I feel like this shit hasn't changed. Sony definitely needed something new.

[UnholyLight]

Only cool thing about the XMB was how you could customize it how you wanted . my friend turned all of the labels to the Rammstein R+ logo which is just sick

[ftwrthtx]

But will the PS3 get the new XMB?

[doctorstrange]

Nope

[Kaizin514]

Not likely with how much more RAM the OS is going to have dedicated to it.

[mushroomwig]

The XMB is as updated as it's ever going to get. It's come a long way since it's initial release back in 2006 but there is no need to change it any further.

[RioKing]

^This.

[squarecircle]

Actually the XMB was first seen in the PSX back in 2003.

[TrendyGamers]

Good bye!

[Foolsjoker]

Maybe someone should say some kind words first?

[HammadTheBeast]

GG

[TrendyGamers]

We will miss you.

[SpadeX]

People saying we'll miss you like its already gone? Still, 8 months remaining to stay with XMB..

[alexcosborn]

So long!

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

Nice try!

[doctorstrange]

Exclamation marks!

[wenaldy]

What she said.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

What she said ^_^

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

Darn you ppl messed it up!!!!

The lyrics are "Goodbye, So long, Nice try, I'm gone"

SR71 - Goodbye

[MRMagoo123]

who ever that is ??

[YourSavior]

I like the new UI, so I won't miss the XMB.

[Wedge19]

I have to reserve judgement until I see the full functionality of the new UI. I can't imagine that they would take a step backwards, so hopefully it will be intuitive and awesome and just look a hell of a lot prettier. I wonder what kinds of "Themes" and backgrounds and such we can download for it too, and how that will affect the way it looks and sounds. I love my MGS4 XMB theme.

[doctorstrange]

As much as I love Sony, and I know that insulting them will mean less bubbles, a step backwards is not unprecedented - the New PS Store.

I have high hopes for this tho, as I want something new.

[Kalowest]

The "New PS Store" is terrible, the new UI better not end up like that.

[Studio-YaMi]

You're actually correct,the new PS store is terrible,sure it looks "fresh" and beautiful to look at but when you see how slow it functions,the old PS store whips it's a** HARD !

[HiddenMission]

The new store is not terrible just slow wont be a problem on PS4 thank you more powerful hardware

[LE]

I like the new look, I just hope that you'll be able to change the background pic.

[PR_FROM_OHIO]

Going to miss you buddy!!!

[NastyLeftHook0]

xmb was fast, very speedy.

[CaptainYesterday]

Hopefully PS4 will have some nice themes like The Walking Dead one I have on PS3 :)

[ziggurcat]

as long as it's fast, and easy to navigate, i don't care.

[Indo]

Just keep the simplicity from the XMB. But i like, based from the screenshots, the look of the PS4 UI so far.

[DigitalRaptor]

I like the XMB and will miss it, but I also like the new UI.

So in my opinion, it's onward and upward. As long as it's not too cluttered, then I'm game for it.

[chadwarden]

I hope a Kaz theme with premium Kaz wallpaper comes pre-installed at launch.

[TheFallenAngel]

Lol I remember chad

[kevnb]

I will miss the xmb, flashy uis are annoying when I just want to launch a game or Netflix.

[ElementX]

Then memorize the exact button presses to open a game or Netflix and close your eyes so you don't have to look at it.

[LE]

Lol

[2pacalypsenow]

The xmb and the Xbox blades were and are great dashboards and I will miss the xmb and already miss the blades , but I'm ready for a new one

[Jek_Porkins]

I think the fact that the XMB pretty much looked the same since the PSP launched in 2005, it was beyond time for a change. I like the new look, obviously having the memory to offer something a bit more complex is paying off.

[TotalHitman]

I like the XMB. IMO it's easy to use and it's adaptable for themes.

[black911]

I love the XMB. Just in-game could be improved.

[Sarobi]

Thank you, XMB, for being the most user-friendly UI out there in the seventh generation.

[StreetsofRage]

About time. Talk about a dull boring interface.

[soniqstylz]

Oh hai Windows8.

[Eyesoftheraven]

As long as it's fast, intuitive and visually appealing, I don't care what they do with XMB.

[Rageanitus]

As long as its not overloaded with clutter and ads like the Xbox interface. Im good!

Its funny how the xbox crowd complained about how complex the xmb was....

I guess they got confused when they saw the settings column and cannot read properly ;)

[Plagasx]

Good riddance.

[SpinalRemains138]

I love xmb.

Its simple, easy on the eyes and no gimmicks. I love it.

I am not a social network person. I do not care for the new PSN store either so I will have to acclimate to the new style. Im sure I will get used to it, but I definitely prefer the simple metro like xmb. Black and white, icons, select, done.

[YourSavior]

The only thing I about the XMB, was the ability to download custom themes. Other than that, I can't wait to try out this new UI.

[nigelp520]

I hope sony allows us to customize this like the xmb

[TronEOL]

I hope they carry over themes to the PS4. That's something the PS3 had over the Xbox360. The themes were more than a few wallpapers. Some changed system sounds and icons as well.

Other than that, I'm glad the XMB is staying on the PS3. With a new console comes a new UI, right? I'm curious of what the PS4's will run and look like once it's released.

From the screen shots, I'm liking the way it looks. But I can't fully judge it until someone does an in-depth video preview, or I get my hands on it myself.

[InTheZoneAC]

I will be keeping my ps3 and all of it's psn+ downloads, along with the XMB.

And right next to it will be the ps4.

XMB was simple, there were no bs extras, nothing hard to find, etc...

I hate windows 8, I'm hoping I don't dislike the ps4 UI because it looks similar.

[doublejj]

RIP XMB you have had a good run since being apart of the PlayStation theme sin 2003 with the PSX in Japan then it was integrated into the PlayStation 2 and it had all your access in one area and you could easily navigate to them without having to wait too long too transition from one area to another. u will be missed by me as a gamer.

[PersonMan]

I really hope they don't update the XMB to look like the PS4 because if the PlayStation store is any indication, it will make the PS3 slow and laggy. I hate the new PS Store.

[TemplarDante]

Enjoy retirement, XMB. :)

[ArtificiallyYours]

I don't like the Xcross Media Bar, it's not that great of style to keep things simple... (Yeah I kill babies for my opinion right?)

[shivvy24]

i miss the ps1 interface

[e-p-ayeaH]

nostalgia is one hell of a thing isn't it? ( rhetorical question)

[aNDROiD17_]

xmb was quick and easy. and the way you can customize the hell out of it. downloading themes from the ps3 web browser was awesome

[solidboss07]

I will miss Ken 'Father of Playstation' Kutaragi, I will miss the Cell B E, and I will miss the XMB. But, realistically, all which is replacing these is looking better suited to the future.

[leogets]

someone informed me that to play online isn't free and Is confirmed. any one confirm this or is it trolling cunts?

[NotSoSilentBob]

Nothing has been said about the full Online experience.

My PERSONAL gut feeling is it will remain the way it is now(free to play) and will have PS+ along with other tiers for additional features.

[Aztec_MC]

In one of the Screens you can see a "WWW" icon :) It looks like that means Internet Browser is back! (Firefox or Google)... That is a big relief.

[esemce]

Yay! more room for ads. If it keeps psn free then I'm fine with it, they better not start charging us for basic multiplayer though.

That's one reason why I'll probably not buy the Nexbox.

[okmrman]

looks like xbox 360

[evalkheylen]

Ya XMB was great in that way...
Out with the old and in with the new, but new does not mean
good and it does not mean better.

[JeromeNtheHouse]

I won't miss it at all. I think the current UI/XMB is boring as hell. Took em years to finally change the look of the PSN store, and it's still not even all that great. So we'll jus have to see.

[TukkerIntensity]

Uggg....doesn't look promising. Looks more like the Sony Store than the XMB. XMB is so much better than the 360 interface or the PSN Store clunky graphics style of interface....but after this I don't think that will be true. Have to wait and see I guess - but I'm concerned.

[SnakeCQC]

xmb was among my favourite interfaces of all time it was laid out logically and very fast

[kingPoS]

To keep it simple I'll name my top five features of the XMB.

1 You can generate folders within XMB. To the uninitiated you apear to have no control over how your is media displayed. This however is not true. By pressing triangle on any stored file, you have option renaming the album title. (aka the folder)

2 Many have complained that other ui seem overwrought with forced appeal. In it's current form, the XMB is simple and straight to the point.

3 The on screen keypad is crisp, simple and movable with the right analog. What more can you ask for.

4 The suite of video features offered through XMB are incredibly useful, especially the scene search with square.

5 Not satisfied with themes and wallpapers from the store? Well your in luck because there's even more variety out there via the browser.

[Nik]

Don't forget the new UI is to be used with the new Dual shock 4's touch functions.

[Dead_Cell]

What the HELL is that shit? I hate the cluttered messy "yaysocial" look. Give me the frigging XMB back.

[steve30x]

I still prefer the XMB. The XMB is tidier and more simple