Mon, Mar 01, 2010 | 17:58 GMT

The APOCALYPS3 – everything so far

defcon1

The world is coming to an end – at least, that’s what it feels like to “fat” PS3 owners right now, with the machines experiencing a worldwide bug blackout.

We have everything rounded up from the situation so far after the break.

Beginning with the initial outbreak, the base story is here. PS3s are seeing errors that prevent them connecting to PSN, it was reported, with further user information pointing to some kind of clock error. 8001050F error codes, apparently, are indicative of the machine being locked off PSN and being susceptible to Trophy data corruption. Not mentioned in Nathan’s story this morning is that this appears to only be happening to fat PS3s. PS3 Slim models seem to be getting away with it, and are carrying on as normal, according to this SCEA tweet.
It appears that even if you’re PS3 isn’t plugged in or is just on standby, your console will be affected as long as it’s a pre-Slim model. Said Digital Foundry’s Richard Leadbetter: “Yup, confirmed on my NTSC 60GB Launch PS3 left on standby yesterday…”
As well as retail units, DF also confirmed that debug units for developers and journalists aren’t working either, stating even if you had it plugged out at the mains, you’re a goner as well: “PS3 bug also affects units that have been completely removed from the mains too… confirmed on my TEST unit too. Hits on boot, pre-login.” Ouch.
As for what SCEE, a statement sent to VG247 this morning, says: “We have found out that some users are experiencing a network connection failure when signing on to PlayStation Network. We are currently looking into the issue to identify the cause of this network connection failure and will update further information as necessary (on the Blog /or official website/). We appreciate for your understanding and continued support.”
The whole situation has even gone as far as even trending on the service. In the UK, the error code “8001050F” was one of the big talking points, while worldwide, “PS3″ is also there as well.
Develop’s also reporting that debug PS3s are being hit by the error.
DF’s reported you can’t go back to an older firmware to fix the problem: “Flashing to a higher firmware doesn’t fix the PS3 bug by the way on either retail or debug units“
UK Community Manager for PlayStation, MusterBuster, has posted the first real statement we’ve had on the situation this afternoon from SCEE: “Our teams are currently working on a fix for this issue. We have no details of an ETA yet. We expect to have further news shortly.“
MAJOR UPDATE FROM MB. Confirms the problems stem from the console’s clock functionalty The full update is below (thanks, Redh3lix): “Update: 16:58 As you may be aware, some customers have been unable to connect to the PlayStation Network today. This problem affects the models other than the new slim PS3.We believe we have identified that this problem is being caused by a bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system.Errors include:
* The date of the PS3 system may be re-set to Jan 1, 2000.
* When the user tries to sign-in to the PlayStation Network, the following message appears on the screen; “An error has occurred. You have been signed out of PlayStation Network (8001050F)”.
* When the user tries to launch a game, the following error message appears on the screen and the trophy data may disappear; “Failed to install trophies. Please exit your game.”
* When the user tries to set the time and date of the system via the Internet, the following message appears on the screen; “The current date and time could not be obtained. (8001050F)”
* Users are not able to playback certain rental video downloaded from the PlayStation Store before the expiration date.

We hope to resolve this problem within the next 24 hours. In the meantime, if you have one of the above listed models, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data. As mentioned above the new slim PS3 is not affected with this error. We are doing our best to resolve the issue and do apologise for any inconvenience caused.
MAJOR ALERT: SCEE’S DEVNET IS WARNING EVERYONE NOT TO USE THEIR PS3s TONIGHT – ON FAT OR SLIM PS3s.

Finally, for now, if you haven’t seen it already, you really need to. This video shows the need to own noobs at Modern Warfare 2. Give this guy a view or two: he deserves it, just for the line “I’m so pissed off right now, I had to put some fucking pants on.” Legend. Watch the video below.

We’ll update this post throughout the day in case anything happens. If you have anything to add to this, add it below. Fingers crossed we’ll go back to Heavy Rain soon, innit.

116 comments

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#51

Patrick Garratt
01/03/10, 2:37 pm

I’m looking forward to SCEE’s statement.

#52

reask
01/03/10, 2:38 pm

I would imagine they would fix them ones for free M OC

#53

G1GAHURTZ
01/03/10, 2:38 pm

@ Pat: They don’t comment on rumour or speculation.

#54

Thalius
01/03/10, 2:38 pm

Wow cool has it if they had to replace every fat for a slim for free not gonna happen but its a warm felling… lol

#55

theevilaires
01/03/10, 2:39 pm

Sony is doing it on purpose FFS! wake up people. Class action Lawsuit NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#56

Michael O’Connor
01/03/10, 2:40 pm

BTW Pat, something in this post is messing up the layout: http://www.vg247.com/2010/03/01/10-million-wiis-sold-in-japan/#more-82924

#57

tarniak
01/03/10, 2:41 pm

@mington – haha, in your dreams. The difference between PSN and Xbox Live is that you pay a lot of money for the latter one. All we can get for all this trouble is an apology by some fancy SCE public relations bloke.

#58

G1GAHURTZ
01/03/10, 2:41 pm

What an amazing way to ruin your own reputation in a single night. If a patch doesn’t sort this out, the entertainment division or whatever it is now, can probably forget about being in the black any time soon.

#59

theevilaires
01/03/10, 2:42 pm

Someone made a mistake and sent to many deactivate old PS3 signals through the net last night and now the cat is out of the bag. FUCK YOU SONY! I WILL BE PURCHASING XBOX LIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS SHIT.

#60

OrphanageExplosion
01/03/10, 2:42 pm

This is the third and final omen before the End of Everything. The second being RROD of course. The first? Dave “Games Animal” Perry.

#61

Michael O’Connor
01/03/10, 2:43 pm

*gives TEA an especially large tin-foil hat, shaped like a fedora*

#62

Alakratt
01/03/10, 2:45 pm

O’Connor I didn’t say that they are doing it on purpose. I stated a FACT and for who have a brain (and use it) it makes them think why only the PHAT models?

EDIT: Shit…TEA thinks it’s a conspiracy? Fuck…now I have seen everything! Whoever let this fuck up happen will get fired or killed. I prefer killed.

#63

Michael O’Connor
01/03/10, 2:46 pm

Because obviously the problem only exists in the PS3′s hardware?

Anyway, that was mostly directed at TEA, not you.

#64

theevilaires
01/03/10, 2:47 pm

You do know Sony can affect your PS3 without firmware updates right you idiot. Either this is a ploy for them to push their new pay for service or their plan to get rid of the old backward compatible systems so people will buy the slim.

#65

Redh3lix
01/03/10, 2:49 pm

Bet good money they wont issue a patch or promise anything until tommorow.

#66

kdogg
01/03/10, 2:49 pm

but does it affect all the phat models yo?

#67

Alakratt
01/03/10, 2:51 pm

@ kdogg

Up until now yes. But some people are commenting that 80GB models aren’t affected (I have a 80GB) but I won’t even turn it on in the meantime. Good thing I was out yesterday!

#68

Gekidami
01/03/10, 2:52 pm

@65
If its anything like the leap year bug Zunes had, then they wont need to issue a patch tomorrow; it’ll have already fixed itself.

#69

Alakratt
01/03/10, 2:52 pm

@ TEA

If it IS a ploy then it would be to force people to buy Slims. It makes sense since they’re not affected.

#70

theevilaires
01/03/10, 2:52 pm

well to be sane for a moment i hasn’t affected me, but after FW 3.10 my 60GB has been acting weird freezing after I play a couple of games of COD4 and watching videos from my HDD or my external HDD. That fucking snake KAZ cant be trusted and I’m sure if this is a conspiracy he’s behind the whole fucking thing.

#71

Gekidami
01/03/10, 2:55 pm

@66
No. CECHL01- and CECHP01- models arent affected.

#72

mington
01/03/10, 2:59 pm

Now developers’ PS3s are hit by system errors

Debug units unworkable due to endlessly looping error message

Various developers and studios are claiming that their debug PS3 units are failing from suspected internal-clock-related hardware errors.

A multitude of debug consoles – crucial to the development of current PS3 projects – have been thrown into a rebooting cycle, due to an endlessly-looping error message.

The issue comes as a separate issue is affecting retail PS3 consoles, though both problems are thought to be related.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/33995/Now-developers-PS3s-are-hit-by-system-errors

#73

theevilaires
01/03/10, 3:00 pm

Sony wants nothing more than to get rid of those old B/C PS3′s. I’m sure it must be a nightmare pain to make firmware that won’t effect those PS2 chips. They don’t have to worry about that with the slim. So they want to kill off all the old ones.

Ever since that last damn update original 60GB PS3′s have been dropping like flies with several issues ranging from no audio or video, to freezing, and the YLOD.

You mean to tell me up to this point there hasn’t been mass issues of this for those models, but now that the slim is out these problems are starting to crop up faster than artificial corn. FUCK IT. ITS A DAMN CONSPIRACY.

#74

Eregol
01/03/10, 3:05 pm

@tarniak
Xbox live is hardly a LOT of money.
£40 a year? That’s £3.33 a month, or 11p a day. Not expensive in the slightest.

#75

Benjo1981
01/03/10, 3:09 pm

If this is a hardware problem, I assume the only way to fix it is to replace the PS3?
Conversely, if it’s a software problem, it can be fixed by a firmware update? Yet, the problem seems to be that the problematic PS3′s can’t get onto the PSN…to get the firmware update.

Does this leave the only option being replacement of PS3′s?

#76

OlderGamer
01/03/10, 3:15 pm

I expected Tea to be defending Sony atm. To be honest, I don’t think it was planed. I think sometimes shit happens. I don’t blame Sony for this, but I do think they have a responsibilty to fix it.

#77

Gekidami
01/03/10, 3:15 pm

@75
No, PS3′s dont need to connect to PSN for updates (infact when you download an update it disconnects from PSN). And its not exactly a hardware error in the litteral sense. Chances are pretty high it’ll have fixed itself by midnight GMT.

#78

Johnny Cullen
01/03/10, 3:16 pm

The mastermind behind this! It’s Kojima!

#79

Gekidami
01/03/10, 3:18 pm

You dont mean…

Kojima: “The system is mine! Your games and your PS3 consoles are no longer your own!”

“BEHOLD! GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS.”

#80

Benjo1981
01/03/10, 3:18 pm

@77

Oh yeah, I think the Xbox does the same thing (disconnects from LIVE to update).

So, hopefully, either it sorts itself out..or Sony send forth a nice little update to fix the problem.

Still, they could have done without this..

#81

Benjo1981
01/03/10, 3:20 pm

Here’s a good fix for the problem:

#82

Johnny Cullen
01/03/10, 3:23 pm

That must be it Gek. Makes sense too!

In serious business, another update from DF. No going back to older firmware updates to fix the problem.

#83

OlderGamer
01/03/10, 3:26 pm

lol @ Benjo

#84

Gekidami
01/03/10, 3:27 pm

How would going back to older firmware fix it? I doubt they made changes to the internal clock through updates.

And ofcourse Hitler isnt happy.
What memes are left?

#85

DaMan
01/03/10, 3:28 pm

@Benjo

#86

theevilaires
01/03/10, 3:49 pm

“I expected Tea to be defending Sony atm.”

Ummm I’m not psychotext who makes up pie charts to defend M$ from stupid well known proven failure issues.

If someone is at wrong I don’t care who it is. They need to fix their error and ensure it will never happen again.

#87

OlderGamer
01/03/10, 3:56 pm

I am with ya Tea, I just kinda thought I could log on here and find you telling us(me) to chill, Sony will fix it, and all will be good.

I am worried about my system. I really don’t want a slim, for us BC is a big deal. My son has had it in his room for the last couple of weeks, playing MAG, Civ, and a handfull of PS2 games.

#88

Eregol
01/03/10, 4:00 pm

For once I agree with OlderGamer. And I’m also loving the shorter style of post.
Much better to read.

I love my BC PS3. The fact it’s still going strong fills me with glee.

It wont be turned on today, that’s for sure.

#89

Johnny Cullen
01/03/10, 4:28 pm

Updated.

MusterBuster, the UK community manager for PS, has given the closest thing to an update so far.

#90

Patrick Garratt
01/03/10, 4:28 pm

Update with a Muster Buster post. Says to expect news “shortly”.

#91

The Hindle
01/03/10, 4:32 pm

Everyone is getting along today, jesus its too good to be true.

#92

No_PUDding
01/03/10, 4:32 pm

No update?

#93

No_PUDding
01/03/10, 4:34 pm

NO F YOU HINDLE YOU XBOT!

#94

The Hindle
01/03/10, 4:35 pm

Dam Pud you Playslave!!!

#95

Psychotext
01/03/10, 4:35 pm

I want to play Heavy Rain. I was one scenario off my platinum.

#96

No_PUDding
01/03/10, 4:38 pm

‘Playslave’!

I like it man!

@Psychotext, it’s a good thing, you were getting a little far ahead of me. What with your DS plat and all.

#97

Psychotext
01/03/10, 4:44 pm

I’m tired of gaming down to your level damnit!

#98

zoopdeloop
01/03/10, 4:57 pm

Most people are in the same boat
Today my HR copy arrived quess i’ll put it on hold.
So is there a high chance that this will be fixed on it’s own after midnight?