Surely you’ve heard of the latest PS3 kerfuffle? The firmware update that gave the system the ability to play 3D Blu-ray discs has also, it seems, broken certain third-party accessories. Sony says this has happened because, you know, unlicensed hardware can be dangerous to your PS3, so disabling certain bits of kit was a necessary action. (That, and to help cut down on the chance of people jailbreaking the system!) One of the companies caught in the crossfire is Mad Catz, and they have something to say.
Says Mad Catz, in an official statement:
Over the last 24 hours, various media outlets have reported on issues gamers are experiencing after downloading and installing the new ‘3.50’ Firmware for their PlayStation 3 video game systems.
Mad Catz would like to take this opportunity to put gamers’ minds at ease. With the exception of a small quantity of controllers sold before 2008, we believe that all Mad Catz products will continue to function as they did prior to the 3.50 Firmware update including high profile products such as our range of Street Fighter IV™ FightSticks and Wireless FightPads; our range of controllers and accessories for Call of Duty®; our Cyborg F.L.Y. 9 Wireless FlightStick; our wired and wireless control pads; and our range of Rock Band™ accessories.
Any consumer who owns a Mad Catz product and is experiencing an issue, including an issue with the PlayStation 3 Firmware update should contact Mad Catz customer services. Providing the product is within warranty, Mad Catz will be happy to offer a suitable replacement.
So what happens to those products that are outside of warranty? I mean, if this lockout mainly affects a “small quantity of controllers sold before 2008,” well, how many of those are still covered by warranty.
Plenty of headaches all around.
Fun!