Over the past few months – and the past few firmware updates – Sony has reduced the footprint of the Playstation 3’s operating system down from 120MB to a much more svelte 50Mb, a reduction of 70Mb.
What does that mean? Most importantly, it’s an extra 70Mb available to developers – and that can only mean good things for PS3 gamers.
"Since the launch of the PS3,†said SCEA’s Patrick Seybold to Joystiq “we have been continuously making efforts to reinforce our support system to game developers, allowing them to express their creativity freely on the PS3. As part of this support for game development, the size of the PS3 OS memory footprint has been reduced through network update for the game developers."
70Mb may not sound like a lot – but considering the system only has 256Mb of memory available to it, with the other 256mb being dedicated to graphics – it’s not an insignificant amount. Don’t expect PS3 games to suddenly increase exponentially in visual fidelity though – the additional memory will only really be able to increase things like extra effects resolution and dynamic lighting. Still, it’ll make for better looking Playstation 3 games – and even Xbox fans have to admit that PS3 exclusives look fantastic.
It should also help make the disparity that’s existed between Xbox 360 and PS3 multiplatform games thankfully become a thing of the past.
Source : Playstation University (via Joystiq)
Last Updated: February 24, 2010
WitWolfyZA
February 24, 2010 at 13:03
they can take all the RAM for the OS option im never gonna use it anyways
Geoff
February 24, 2010 at 13:08
You’re mistaken. The “OS” in question here is the software that makes your PS3 run. Without it, you’d have a shiny brick.
You’re confusing it with the “OtherOS” option.
RSA-Ace
February 24, 2010 at 13:18
This hasn’t just all of a sudden happened. The extra 70MB has been a gradual change from the first firmware to FW3.15.
The problem with reducing it is the fact that it makes it harder to add extra features (like cross game chat).
I think the X360 is on 35MB.
Geoff
February 24, 2010 at 13:25
“Over the past few months – and the past few firmware updates” I did say so, in the first line. 🙂
The 360 uses a maximum of 32Mb. From what I’ve read the original 120 was a ceiling limit really, because the PS3 was still in production. Now that they’ve settled on the features, they can trim the excess. I think that 50Mb still allows for plenty,
RSA-Ace
February 24, 2010 at 14:17
Ah you did say that… I guess I was looking for ‘Over all the months – and all the firmware updates’. But since you still are technically correct I’ll let it slide :biggrin:
Geoff
February 24, 2010 at 14:21
So kind, so very kind. :tongue:
GougedEye
February 24, 2010 at 15:11
Nice. Usually software bloats over time. Good to see the reverse happening.