14 DAY TRIAL // Pretty much at the same time as the 3.40 firmware update arrived for the PlayStation 3 home console, bringing with it support for the PlayStation Plus subscription service and the tools needed for tighter integration with the social network Facebook, Sony promised to also launch the 6.30 firmware for the PlayStation Portable handheld. The patch is now out and it seems the maker outed it mostly in order to eliminate the Patapon 2 exploit that allowed for homebrew applications to be loaded on the device.
Officially, firmware 6.30 for the PSP adds the ability to group the video games that are owned by category and supports emulation for Neogeo and Turbo FX content, which suggests that Sony will launch some ports through the PlayStation Network.
These new features are not important enough to warrant a fresh firmware update for the handheld but the community is saying the company's main aim was to eliminate any backdoor that users could employ in order to run their own applications. The Japanese giant has not confirmed whether this was the purpose of the new firmware.
The rumor is that Sony will wait to see whether the fresh security elements it has implemented are working and will then release a firmware update bringing new features and possibly introducing Trophies or another reward system for the platform.
The PlayStation Portable has long been plagued by problems with piracy which have driven off some developers. Before the E3 trade show, rumors were swirling around that Sony was preparing a new handheld, which would feature touchscreen input and motion tracking.
Nothing was revealed at the press conference of the electronic giant but a new initiative linked to the PSP was announced, designed to make the device more interesting to the young audience. With the Nintendo 3DS coming in less than one year, the PSP needs all the help it can get.