The Glade 4.0

Sony has just released a new firmware update for the PS3 with version number 4.45. It’s actually a very minor update, with the main functionality change being the ability to turn off trophy notifications when playing a game. The advise right now is not to install the firmware update, though. The reason being it is locking up systems rendering them unusable.

A 77-page thread on the PlayStation Forums is full of gamers complaining about the firmware and their now unusable console. The typical scenario involves a gamer turning on their PS3, getting the 4.45 firmware update notification, and installing the update. When the installation is complete the PS3 reboots, but it never makes it past the PS3 logo or the flowing ribbon animation.

Something in the update is clearly locking up the console before it can boot properly into the XMB menu. The only fix at the moment is also a drastic one: switch out the hard drive in your PS3.

Sony will surely be working on a fix for the problem, but with hundreds, maybe even thousands of PS3 already locked, it’s going to be difficult to come up with an easy solution. For the moment nothing has been forthcoming from Sony on what has caused the issue and how they intend to fix it.
If you boot your PS3 today and see this firmware update is available, don’t choose to install it. It’s just not worth risking your console locking up.