Sony quietly tests PlayStation Network revamp

The latest rumour on the grape vine is that Sony are now testing a brand new design for the PlayStation Store.

Reg Hardware reports that it will share some similarities to Xbox Live and Steam.

[THC CELL]

Hope its not like Xbox live its too slow navigating the menu's Ps dashboard and psn is fine the way it is

[sinncross]

Well if it improves the PS Store experience then I do not mind tbqh

[GrieverSoul]

I honestly dont like the way the store items are clustered in there but the XMB is just awesome. It works! All is categorized and easy to acess. The Xbox interface is a little confusing to acess. To do simple things as erasing a game from the disc, you have to go to a memory menu to acess it. Why cant I erase the game directly from the My Games section?? Beats me.

The XMB should just get a face lift but maintain its left and right, up and down funtionality.

[jaosobno]

I'd like a complete overhaul of XMB (something prettier and less minimalistic) and hope they change the store completely!

Layout sucks. Classifications are laughable: Shooters, first person shooters, shooting games - WTF?!?!

Confusing, takes too much time to find what you are looking for.

Hope that rumor is true.

[WhittO]

Would love a re-design/refresh of the PSN Friends List/Profiles more than the store though.

You are only in the store for what...10-15 mins max? I'm always in my friends list talking/sending invites/comparing trophies etc.
THAT is what they should be focussing on, that and a new and improved in-game XMB!

[The Great Melon]

The quality of the PSN store varies from region to region. The US store for me is organized pretty well and there is an alphabetical list if that fails. Some regions however are a mess. I gave up looking for something before in the Hong Kong or UK store before.

[blumatt]

I wish Sony would bring that Trophy Hall of Fame to PlayStation Home like they talked about a long time ago. Home has so much potential. I'm hoping that either on the PS3 or PS4 they'll integrate it much more into the XMB (or whatever interface the have at the time).

I'm hoping that on the PS4, Home will BE the interface. I'm sure it'll have enough RAM for it to work. You turn the PS4 on and you wake up in your Home apartment or Home Space. Then you can hit a button and bring up the XMB or you can invite friends into your Home Space to play games on your Home television. lol It sounds crazy but it would be awesome to me!!

[Pixel_Enemy]

I hate that the xbox dashboard is LITTERED with ADS. You have to sift through ads to get to content. I don't care for it.

[Gray-Fox-Type0]

All is fine but i really hope some new useful features are added its been a very long time since any last major firmware update..

[liore]

They always bring out a major update around december

[gamingdroid]

PSN is far too clunky to use and overall the interface is too confusing with too many options. Good interfaces, usually have a specific set of things to do and a expected results that conform to standard UI behavior.

An example of bad design is having drop down boxes for security question (during signup) that the text are too long for the box so you can't read it. Only when you highlight the question from the drop down is it scrolling from side to side so you can see it i.e. you can't see until you select it!

I think a major update is long overdue and look forward to it.

[theonlylolking]

The PS3 XMB goes left,right then up,down while the current xbox dashboard goes up,down then left right.

[Too_many_games]

and if you are playing a game and want to check out the trophies, you should not have to wait for the XMB to load every single game you have played with trophies.

[HxCGamer]

ha @theonlylolking

you are absolutely right, I've never thought about it!

they are both good! a complete remake is ridiculous

XMB is simple, yes there are a lot of options, but non of these options are necessary for someone to watch a movie or play a game.

[saladthieves]

The PS3 XMB is a fine interface and one thing I love about it is its speed of access. I can jump into menus and sub-menus pretty fast. The Xbox dashboard is a bit slower due to the small animations here and there.

The thing they have to work on is the IN GAME XMB. It is absolutely sluggish. Things like accessing/replying messages shouldn't be a hassle. The interface has far too many options that are not necessary. It could be regrouped and made much smaller to improve loading speed.

I would also love it if you could always exit from the menus/sub-menus, regardless of location, with one single push of a button. It takes way too many button presses and confirmation boxes to just exit a message reply.

Some simple features are also annoying. For example, if I'm reading someone's message (during a game) and I want to read the next message. Clicking the back button doesn't take you back to the messages list, it takes you back outside the inbox, right on the XMB and this can get annoying especially when you have to wait for every sequence to load.

As for the store, what if I wanted to immediately launch a game that was on the disc WITHOUT having to exit the store to go back to the XMB? Wouldn't that be useful?

[MaxXAttaxX]

Are you serious?
The XMB is simple and organized.

I find it extremely difficult to believe that anyone honestly is confused.
Everything is easy to find if you've had your hands on a PS3 for more than a day.

[gamingdroid]

As I said, the basic design of XMB is good, but Sony fudged it up by cluttering it and adding awkward behavior.

I already gave you one example of why it was akward, but I could go on listing it (some are functional and others are UI related):

- once you login to the system, you have to login again into PSN Network
- if you aren't logged in, you don't see your friends at all! Like as if they don't exist. You have to know to log in again... some users might not realize you have to login to see your friends.
- If you have background downloaded items, you can't cancel them in the Network -> Download Management (at least not that I can find), not to mention Network isn't very descriptive of a download.
- PSN Store has like tiny little icons that are hard to read, and the navigation changes a little depending on the page.
- There is a dot to indicate a user is logged in, which isn't very obvious or noticeable. To logout, you have to select the same user.
- Want to shut down the system? The interface automatically selects finish background download before shutdown, instead of confirming shutdown.

I could go on, but there are mostly little things like that littered all over the place that hampers ease of use and is awkward.

Now if you use the system a lot, you won't notice it as you simply gotten used to, but put a novice user there and the glaring problems will show.

That said, I do think the XMB interface looks good and makes the PS3 look very luxurious and sophisticated.

[dragonyght]

@gamingdroid lol its sound like you are trolling m8

"once you login to the system, you have to login again into PSN Network
- if you aren't logged in, you don't see your friends at all! Like as if they don't exist. You have to know to log in again... some users might not realize you have to login to see your friends."

- when you turn on your PS3 it automatically login to PSN of your default user account. now if you switch to your other user account it will not automatically sign you in. so you have to do it manually which only take you 3-5 sec and im pretty sure every body knows that if you not connected online you will not see you friend list ¬_¬

"If you have background downloaded items, you can't cancel them in the Network -> Download Management (at least not that I can find), not to mention Network isn't very descriptive of a download."

- yes you can hit triangle you get to option to status(description of DL), pause and cancel

"PSN Store has like tiny little icons that are hard to read, and the navigation changes a little depending on the page."

-hit square to change the icon from small to xlarge (if you look at the bottom it tell you so)

"There is a dot to indicate a user is logged in, which isn't very obvious or noticeable. To logout, you have to select the same user."

- lol if its your system im pretty sure you would know your default account as for logout it will automatically logging you out if chose any other user (-_-)

"Want to shut down the system? The interface automatically selects finish background download before shutdown, instead of confirming shutdown."

- lol seriously you complaining about this ( ")...(" ) you what im not bother about this anymore

[MaxXAttaxX]

Yes to everything you said.

Some people just looks for issues that do not exist.

[gamingdroid]

If you understand UI, you would know it is the little things that ruins it for the user.

Why is that iPhone which is very similar to Android phones, are still considered a much user friendly platform? They both do the same things. It is in the attention to detail and the conditioning of the user to expect a certain result from certain actions.

It's pointless to talk to people that are oblivious to interfaces or don't want to admit the problems when it is pretty glaring.

[MaxXAttaxX]

We don't have to understand UI in a pro level to know that all of your previous points were just proven wrong.

- You turn on the system. Automatically signs you in to your default account.
- 'Triangle' is your default button for options in the XMB. Everyone knows this. You can cancel or pause any download this way.
- Hit 'square' button and you can change the PS Store icons to much larger sizes.
- You don't have to manually log out of your account to enter another one. It's automatic.
- I bet if the PS3 didn't ask you about finishing your download, you'd bitch about it too, LOL.

It's simple and organized, yet it's confusing to you?
Too many options? If it didn't give you enough options that be a cause for complaint too, I'm sure.

So like I said, every one of your points(complains) were totally proven wrong. You can word things any way you want. It doesn't make them any worse than what they are in reality.
What problem is there to admit??? Now it's a matter of us common gamers not understanding UI in a different way?
GTFO.

[gamingdroid]

It sounds more like you want to trivialize it when it really is an issue from a users point. That's the thing, your very comment assumes users know what the standard user interface for PS3 is without informing them.

As I said, the very subtle differences, makes a huge difference in user experience.

Also, your information is incorrect. Depending on how your system is setup, you do have to login manually (mine does that out of the box).

Maybe you are just butthurt that I'm saying something negative about your favorite company? If it makes you feel better, I would be happy to criticize any of the other two competitors. ;)

[MaxXAttaxX]

The first time you sign in will obviously be manual. You could easily check the box to make it automatic. Or is that too hard?

You sound like you want the system to have done everything for you out of the box. Stop playing devil's advocate for idiots who need everything spoon-fed.

That fact that you didn't take your time with the system to know there're such things as a 'square' and 'triangle' buttons is your own stupidity. A 7 year-old who's spent more than a day with the system realizes this and will probably laugh at you for having such a hard time figuring out how to get around you're own system.

I'm baffled at how you were able to find the keys on your keyboard. Maybe it should have a lot less keys so you don't get confused and use a simpler T9 system so that words come up automatically for you LOL.

Besides, how am I butthurt?
All I'm saying is that all negative points you brought up were proven wrong.
It could be a lot more neat and prettier like other more popular UIs. But I fail to see any REAL problems.

[ShinMaster]

PS3's XMB is pretty bare bones and simple.
And I still know where everything is because it's organized too.

It isn't hard. But if you're really having trouble getting around the XMB then you have no business using a PS3 or any computer for that matter.
All I thought to myself when reading your complaints was "Really? lol".

[gamingdroid]

Because I'm pointing out issues doesn't mean I personally have problems with the interface.

As I said numerous times, it is not about if YOU or anyone else you think don't have issues with it. Because a graphics designer can figure their way around Photoshop doesn't mean the general public can or should have to.

UI that are hiding fields/text, going against convention without explicit benefit and in some instances not specifying what buttons to press is the hallmark of bad implementation.

If you do any UI work at all, you would know that and if you don't, and do not stick your head in the sand, then you would realize those simple concept.

"You sound like you want the system to have done everything for you out of the box. Stop playing devil's advocate for idiots who need everything spoon-fed."

That is how things should be built, as simple as possible yet with lots of flexibility. That is the hallmark of good UI design.

Like it or not, that is the way it is!

"Maybe it should have a lot less keys so you don't get confused and use a simpler T9 system so that words come up automatically for you LOL."

mrmm? That is the way it should be, and how computers have evolved too. Predictive text is very useful and even PSN has it albeit implemented against the norm on the side.

[MaxXAttaxX]

If someone's honestly having trouble, then they need some help. The XMB is simple as it is and isn't an issue for the average gamer.
_____

[Edit]
@gamingdroid bellow:

The XMB is still quite simple. The PS3 is not a portable/mobile device like the iPhone. It's not meant to be "pick up and go".

Sony is already doing that with a new interface for the PSVita. And we'll more than likely see something like it for the next system(PS4).
Not everyone uses the PS3 with such a critical mind like you. Just play the damn games.

[gamingdroid]

"If someone's honestly having trouble, then they need some help. The XMB is simple as it is and isn't an issue for the average gamer."

That is your entire argument this entire conversation, and honestly, it might seem like I'm picking on XMB, but it is the little things that make a huge difference to the users. Ease of use isn't measured by how comfortable you are with it, it is how fast somebody new can pick it up and go with it.

The same principles applies to game input choices.

[gamingdroid]

***The XMB is still quite simple.***

The XMB itself is an excellent design albeit not original, as it has existed in many forms on other systems, most notably Windows Media Center. It is what Sony did to the initial design that screwed it up.

***The PS3 is not a portable/mobile device like the iPhone. It's not meant to be "pick up and go".***

Any consumer device is intended to be pick up and go. That's at the core of consumer device, it is made for anyone to use with no training needed. It's not like it is a computer.

***Sony is already doing that with a new interface for the PSVita. And we'll more than likely see something like it for the next system(PS4).***

I hope so, but I don't think a new system is needed to revamp the interface. I think the developers just need a lot of usability testing, and clear guidelines with pre-defined expected behavior for developers to work on. I suspect the reason it is like it is, was because of the pressure to get PSN up and running to compete with Xbox Live. It is no trivial task to compete without someone that is 3-5 years ahead of you.

Sony is also not a software company so they don't have the sort of technical experience with usability. However, their hardware is unmatched which is their specialty.

Imagine a PS-Xbox hybrid console? I would imagine it would be pretty good, but one less competitor, probably not so good....

***Not everyone uses the PS3 with such a critical mind like you.***

That's fine, but if they are not critical it is even worse. The consumer will only see frustration at why the user cannot figure out this supposed very simple device. Ever handed the remote to your grandmother?

***Just play the damn games.***

Like wise to you! ;p

[Rageanitus]

I prefer the XMB over 360 interface..... Its much more intuitive and you can fit expose alot more features with button pushes...

But I do admit the xbox interface allows advertising to be exposed easier..... which imo s not so good for just the gamer....

Sorry to say this but you know the designers of xbox interface were confused.... why you can access the same options from main navigation pane vs the "other" menu page with by pushing the xbox button.. Why did they do that I dont know.

[saladthieves]

Because the "other" menu houses options that are NOT available on the dashboard. Things like turning off the Xbox 360 can only be found on this "other" menu that floats above the dashboard when you push the guide button.

They also did this so that this menu would always be available and immediately accessible regardless of what program you are running. They were right because it clearly works. You can launch a game that is in the drive, access the market place and other stuff without the need of going to the dashboard.

[subtenko]

More community features. The rate option is nice, a comment feature would be cool B-)oh and video reviews, and more previews of the game/ game contents.

[Nate-Dog]

Just fix the darn in-game XMB and stop it from loading up every single column even though only about 2 can be used while in a game. That's the only thing that annoys me about the PS3 and it's not like it's a massive thing to fix.

[Why o why]

true, streamlining would help.

[NewMonday]

only thing that works in the in-game XMB is the friends column

[r21]

post your idea on ps blog share thingamajig

[Rage_S90]

This idea has been there for ages...

[Tr3y_4_Li43]

PS Store is ok design. Better change XMB design. -_-

[Kee]

I just wish they'd make the in-game xmb load faster. Trying to read a message from a friend can sometimes take about a minute.

Then i find out that the message just says "OK" and then I'm really pissed, but I digress.

And yes, I agree the PS store is fine, I'd just like a revamp of the xmb in ways that make sense or even let us customise the order of the xmb menus ourselves, that'd be neat.

[Graphics]

Yea I would like the xmb to at least look fun when its turned on. Thing is so boring. Cheap graphics cheap everything. I have to keep constantly changing themes just to make it look different because the XMB is really boring to look at.

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

completely agree. i hate to seem like a sucker for the small stuff, but the biggest problem i have with the ps3 is the fact that the UI is incredibly boring and limited. even the smallest animations on there are kind of ugly. the entire UI is gray.. any text that pops up on screen just looks so cheap and awkward. like when you first paid 300 bucks for a brand new xbox you were greeted with a UI that was fun and had a lot of care put into it.the xmb on the other hand is so dry and basic that if i bought my first ps3 nowadays,id be pretty shocked that such an expensive machine was so extraordinary in terms of the love and care they put into the UI.

[nickjkl]

ill just be over here with my custom themes that i can make

[aaronisbla]

Wasn't aware that the XMB was suppose to 'look fun' what ever the hell that means. if it does its job, why the hell would it matter? fix the sluggish in game xmb and be done with it.

[fabod86]

we'll see..

[quiddd]

Is it discouraging that people who find it "far too text heavy" are in other words saying "I don't want to read."?

[nightmarex121]

That be cool, i hope its true.

[newn4gguy]

The store is fine. If you want to make it look shinier...go ahead...but don't make it slower.

The XMB can be improved. At least give developers more memory to work with on the dynamic themes. Some of them are nice, but they're running at such a low resolution that it's hardly worth it.

[dkp23]

They should since psn it too clunky to use.

[Barajas_201]

"Sony is readying a 'deals of the week' section too, making it easier to pick up bargains." its been out there for years, its called Special Offers, jeez whats up with this uninformed articles T_T

[NyGiants7]

The PS Store is fine the way it is, it's very easy to find things on it. I just wish they'd bring back the top 10 downloaded to the front of the ps store page instead of an ad for a game.

[DJMarty]

All XMB needs is a smaller version for when running in game, cut out the bloat, then it should run better in game using less ram.

[CrazyRap]

don't care if they made a makeover.
All what i care about is make it faster.

[montyburns000]

thats what you get when you fail at design. no trophies, clumsy store and the network itself are afterthoughts. sony was too arrogant in thinking this was going to be another ps2 type generation

[ExitToExisT]

its about time

[tawak]

finally!!! i have seen xbox update their dashboard almost every year from "blades" to the "tiles" (this fall)..and my ps3 has been stuck with xmb, there is nothing bad about xmb,but their is always room for an upgrade or change
----PLEASE UPDATE THE PS3 BROWSER TO GOOGLE OR FIREFOX-----
(so i dont have to conect my laptop to my tv when i watch naruto and bleach every friday) ^_^

[ainsz]

Just update the browser full stop! My science is it terrible!! >.<

[thespaz]

I hope they don't change the design of the XMB because I really like the interface as it is. If they change it and make it look cheesy, and force me to upgrade, I'm gonna be pissed.

I get kind of sick of forced upgrades. I understand why they do it, but if they remove a feature you liked or change something you don't want changed... then force you to upgrade, it's not really the PS3 you first bought anymore.

I hope they wait until the next generation console to change the layout and stuff.

I already hate the PSVita's bubble icon layout. It looks so tacky.

[ainsz]

I thought that too about the Vita. I think it might have been a beta sort of thing though. Hopefully they'll sort it for release.

[Platinum_k]

as usual...

(I MEANT THIS IN A GOOD WAY)

PSN is constantly improving everything about PS3. SMART choice to go with the flow on what the gamers want!

[Neko_Mega]

I want the PSN to be like Japan's, most of the time they got videos to see what the game is like or at least screenshots.

Other then that, I don't really care because it doesn't bug me.

[Dayngls]

id like to be able to press the PS button while a message notification is showing and have it open the message...same goes for a trophy notification..brought to the trophy details

[XIIIWARRIOR41]

I hope to GOD it's nothing like XBOX live! Their navigation I just can't seem to scroll through as easy as PSN. I don't mind change but at least make it as useful as the first XMB.

[Bzone24]

Your controller may be broken if you find it hard to scroll through Xbox live navigation.

[Sarobi]

If it looks anything similar to Steam then it is bound to be cool

[kisty789]

They need to re-design the look make it more this gen but keep the left/right up and down way ;)

[SnipeySnake]

I don't mind as long as its faster.

[punisher99]

I don't mind an update. But I've always preferred the xmb over the 360's dashboard. In my opinion, the XMB looks and feels more professional where as the 360's dashboard just looks and feels childish. Doesn't mean its bad, but I just prefer the xmb but an update is always welcomed.

[SuperbVillain]

PSN is fine to me.It's very simple,too simple? maybe.Like someone already stated it should maintain it's current functionality but just given a face-lift

[TheCampfireSong]

I just hope they keep the Money Currency and don't move to the points system like Microsoft.

It would be nice if we were able to write reviews about games and such at the store to make our purchases a little bit easier.

And i hope they start improving the in-game xmb and optimizing it, sometimes it's so clunky it freezes the game.

Not that i love Call of duty or anything, when accessing the in game xmb, it's so smooth and fast, i dunno why.

[xtremegamerage]

Nate-Dog

Spot on about the xmb, should also be layered, and be able to hide sections you don't want seen or touched ftm.

[Soldierone]

I personally don't want it to be like Xbox Live to an extent. the OS for 360 sucks, personal opinion so don't get all angry and keep reading. Its hard to get to something specific, its slower for things I want to do, etc...

Unlike a majority of the short attention span people roaming the internet, I don't need pictures to stay interested....

If they take the postivies from Xbox Live such as how it streamlined into games, combine that with the organized XMB of PS3, then Ill be fine. The store should have a short attention span mode and a regular mode, the first of course being the mode where its all pictures.

[Der_Kommandant]

Noooo

XMB is perfect!

[Megulito]

most of these comments sound dumb and offer no real solution really read/vote/post on the psblog and also read the menus they are self explanitory and if then your still confused there a manual built into the xmb/browser.
I for one love the xmb its catogorized and logical as well as very consistant the only thing that would make a cool addition would be short cut options and the ability to customize your in game xmb and button presses to save on load time and navigation. other wise the xmb is perfect and to be more on topic the store is fine there are times i miss the color changing background ont the old store but im happy in general.

[Game0N]

XMB is too sluggish!

[LOOK_AT_THIS_I]

I would like to be able to access my friends list while listening to music. Not sure which update took that out but I thought we were able to up to the network going down.

As of now you have to exit out of the music, select your message then restart the music. You can run straight through the video to get to messages still. I would think the video would be more cpu/ram heavy rather than just music. Curious as the reason for this action.

[TheCampfireSong]

It's weird, because when i play certain music i can back out without the music stopping.

[XxPURExX]

well i like the PSS i find it a alot easier to navigate then XBLM. I would like faster download speeds tho from the store as well as a new in-game XMB and friend list.

[Hicken]

This sounds more like it refers to the Playstation Store instead of PSN, itself.

[StarWolf]

used for hits/viewers

[b_one]

"PSN is far too text heavy" lol, me no read, me has club.

[0321]

Good. After they update that. UPDATE the main PS3 XMB FFS! I'm sick of look at a revamped PSP XMB!

[WitWolfy]

Just wish we could read messages sent to us while playing PSone games.. So annoying having to exit the freaking game every time just to see a pointless message sent to you.

Not to mention the time it takes for your trophies to open when you wanna see what you've unlocked!

And why on hell do I always get disconnected from PSN when I decide to play a PS2 game???? Is it supposed to be top secret that my PS3 is the few left that can do it, is Sony scared that I'll boost about it nagging my friends list going... "hey wassup... look what im playing... and guess what your console doesnt have that feature! SUX TO BE YOU MUHAHAHA" or whats the deal?

[PSWarlord]

I can admit that the ps3 interface is abit dull, but its simplicity makes up for that!Sure theres some hidden shortcuts like Pressing Triangle on Network Management to Sign Out, when you secretly want to play Harry Potter. But overall I personally think think that it has a high end quality interface!Xbox interface is more childish tbh, with avatars etc.
Anyone get the feeling like the PS3 is a test for the PS4, because I hope we dont go tho all these silly minor updates again, Ill b happy with one major overhaul a year

[thespaz]

This is such a minor thing but has anyone noticed that if you use a different font (Rounded or Pop) instead of the default, it still loads the default font when you use XMB within a game? That bugs me because it's inconsistent. I can't imagine a different font takes more memory than the default one.

[trenso1]

I would like to add that party chat system xbox has the xmb is fine the way it is. I honestly find the xbox interface confusing maybe its cause it dont use it everyday. But i hace trouble just finding old video i want to watch on the market place atleast with the psn store i know exactly where to go