PS3 to get official bluetooth headset and voice chat firmware update

[Queasy]

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While virtually every Xbox Live gamer has a headset, far fewer PS3 owners took the plunge with Warhawk or a stand-alone headset. The forthcoming official PlayStation 3 headset is the plan to fix that problem, and a newly announced high quality voice chat mode, coming with a firmware update around the release of the bundle, will further sweeten the deal.

Sony has announced that the official PlayStation 3 headset, which will come bundled with SOCOM: Confrontation for $59.99 or standalone for $49.99, supports the new "High Quality (HQ)" mode. This special mode offers "advanced voice technologies and noise cancellation techniques to provide clear and wideband voice input."

In addition to new UI elements, including an in-game battery indicator, the firmware update will also enable an advanced form of speech recognition for future titles and voice animation that will allow characters to lip-sync along with your voice chat.

The voice chat on the PS3 at present is lacking. Most mainstream retail Bluetooth headsets don't produce great sound in games like Warhawk and Resistance. This, coupled with poor voice transfer protocol, has forced many games to default to "push to talk" modes. With the new microphone and an increased focus on audio communication, though, that's a wrong Sony seems anxious to right.

Good news. But the fact that any kind of headset is not bundled with every PS3 sold is still going to mean there are lots of people out there doing without. Of course, you can also make the argument that not everyone on Live uses their headset and you don't always want to listen to the ones that do use their headset. :laugh:

 

[dlock13]

So you are telling me that we can have several little kids screaming in my ear simultaneously the sounds of Blue by Eiffel 65 in sync? This isn't good.

 

[destrekor]

Well I plan on picking this up. Wasn't exactly planning on getting Socom, but hell, if I get Socom for $10 more, might as well.

 

[Schfifty Five]

edit: oops, wrong thread! d'oh.

 

[zerocool84]

good, i need a bluetooth headset for my phone