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Sony PS3 2.50: The black and white video problem

Sony PS3 2.50: The black and white video problem

By: Daniel Chubb | October 18, 2008 | 89 Comments

The latest firmware update “Sony PS3 2.50” added many great features to all of our Playstation 3’s, but we are also getting many reports of problems as well. The main problem with the latest update seems to be related to the DivX VOD addition.

Some users have video displaying in black and white, although it worked fine before updating. You can read some of the problems users have reported below, feel free to share a comment once reading.

If you have video on your HD don’t get if you have an SD TV unless you like black and white, I found out the hard way.

I downloaded 2.50 yesterday, i also have same problem with my videos showing only in black and white plus small difference in sound. I really hope that Sony fixes this bug fast, because this is not what i paid for. Also I’m very disappointed over the freezing of GTA IV still not fixed.

It’s completely stopped my current DivX movies from working correctly! (Black and white, funny lines at the top of my screen) i didn’t pay R6000 for this. What gives?

About 100gb of films i have are now black n white…not Alfred Hitchcock ones either ones from my pc through media server and avi files on disc do the same, yet b4 update they worked fine.

Since the update some of my mpeg videos are in black and white both from the hdd and DVD. Any word on solutions yet?

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  • wolfking

    its a pain i have loads of films and mpost of them are useless saying that shindlers list looks ok lol

  • Brandon

    im really pissed off i updated the latest system update and my ps3 isn’t reading discs anymore.

  • http://www.myspace.com/jakeoisonfire Jake Black

    my mate had the same problem. apparently you need to go into the settings bit of the xmb and “register DivX” or something. check it out.
    i updated tho and i didnt have any problems.

  • Doop

    all the videos on my ps3 have turned black and white it is frustrating the ps3 has been getting better and better with each update including the features in the new one unfortunately the update brought some uninvited guests like b/w vids my internet browser is failing to load pages more often now to

  • The Future of Sega

    Playing a Sega Dreamcast seems more enjoyable than dealing with Playstation 3 these days……bummer……Also I would like to say F*** YOU GAMERBLORGE for permanently banning my id. Stupid b******!!!!

  • Zain

    I am also having the same problem… i was so totally pi**ed off with this. At first, i thought i had changed some settings by accident… but then i realized that it was the update. now i cant watch any movies properly…..SONY!!!! I DEMAND an update which fixes this bug AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! otherwise my ps3 will be useless… GOODBYE!!!! urs truly…….. ps3 fan!!!

  • RandyChimp

    question, why am i seemingly the only person in the world who has never had a ps3 problem, with firmware or games. All my discs work fine, my system is still powerful and the stuff on my hard drive all works. stop bitching, its probably all fine, you’re just doing something wrong!

  • Joe T.

    YouTube videos don’t play correctly after 2.50. Some don’t show at all, and all others stutter oddly.

  • Robothamster

    Randychimp, you’re not the only one, I’ve never had a problem with my Launch 60gb PS3 either.

  • Addnan

    I thought this update might actually have no problems, but just after reading this article I tried watching a video that was saved on my HD and when I click on it it looks like it is trying to change output. The video does start and it is in colour. The only problem is that the video is not in the middle of the screen but it is a little toward the top

  • Metal Sludge

    Screw you, RandyChimp. This is problem is real.

  • supermclovin

    Does any one know if a HD ready tv will get rid of this problem? if not then I’ll be really pissed off with Sony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Adam

    This is well annoying, we introduce a black/white HD resolution video playback. Just buy a ps3 and update it to version 2.50 . (This is really pissing me off) -.-

  • JD

    @ Future of Sega…

    HA HA… you got banned from Blorge because of your anti-Sony fanboy rants and trolling. Give it time and you’ll probably get banned here too.

  • JonnieC

    Same problem here. 250gigs of movies, 75% of which are now black and white after firmware 2.50. Recoding the movies fixes the problem but takes ages. Any news on a fix yet!

    P.s. Randychimp, you are a jackass. I hope your playstation catches fire.

  • davvid

    My 60GB launch (Aus) PS3 has never had an update…or any other issue! The only problem I get is occasional browser freezes – which everyone encounters. My PS3 is on for 8+hours every day and has been since March 27 2007. I feel sorry for those who have had problems but (fingers crossed) update 2.50 is working brilliantly! Now if Sony upgrade the Java support for the browser it would be perfect.

  • Zain

    ok guys so i know now that the problem is there. BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS
    WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?? how do we let sony know? when will it be done? how will it be done? etc etc

  • sebjoh

    I have the same problem, I hope that they will fix it SOON!!!

  • taks

    OMG! NOT another PS3 article from ms fanboys. lolz! i almost believed it though! no issues so far with my ps3 nor any of my friends. read about the PS3 2.50 firmware updates from reliable ps3 forums peeps!

  • mel

    I’ve never had a problem with my european launch 60GB PS3, not even with the notorious firmware 2.40.

  • frankie

    If all you guys are having problems with the update and are having problems its probably cause you are are still playing on ancient tvs.WHY WOULD YOU BUY A PS3 HD SYSTEM AND PLAY IT ON AN SD TV HELLO MCFLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Tony RedGrave

    I dont have any black and white vid. problems (60Gb PS3)
    btw in DMC4 start of the 2nd mission (after cutscene) used to froze at scarecrow apearance, and when U finish the boss fight with Dante (Berial`s head explode then freeze), now no problems with that. Bside new firmware, I also upgraded my PS3 new with 250Gb HDD
    This firmware is FANTASTIC!

  • TW

    OKAY HERES HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM

    turn off the ps3. then turn it back on and hold the power button for a little while until you hear 3 beeps. A recovery menu will appear and will give you a few options to fix the problem you are having;

  • JamesH

    Yah my 60gb ps3 works fine, you guys can bash me all you want but I find it hard to beleave that every update they brelease it breaks a million systems but yet I have never met any of you in real life. Kind of fishy.

  • rob

    no problems at all with any of the up dates useing my 60gig now 250gig ps3 and it is backwards compatible.

  • Doop

    TW that doesn’t work i tryed 4 times it made the 3 beeps and that was it no recovery menu appeared

  • Rui

    i dont what are you guys talking about cuz my 60gb works perfectly
    and i love the new firmware

  • Loki

    I’m gonna have to say the real problem so far is… NEW PS3s
    I’ve been going EVERYWHERE(hundreds of sites) and reading up on problems.
    Everyone that says their’s fine, including mine = original 60gB models
    I guess paying a few extra hundred $$ was worth it.

  • keith

    my 80gb is fine but my brothers 60gb is in black and white tried to find out what the problem was instead found out is was not just him sucks to be you guys

  • isaac

    you guys must be doing somthing wrong i have never had any probs with my ps3, games,firmware sorry cant help

  • DJ

    if you buy a new hd tv your problem is fixed, trust me I had the same problem on my SD tv but when I bought the new tv: problem fixed. But you guys are right, sony should fix this problem because its unfair.

  • http://biopunk.cz potwor

    Hey boys,
    i have same problem and i know where it is – its “new great feature” – if movies was rendered for 30fps (NTSC) and you have PAL version of PS3 with older tv, PS3 simply switch to NTSC and some TV sets cannot automaticaly switch between 50Hz/60Hz, movies with 25fps are ok.. I think, eror is in setup , when i set 50hz for all movies, it have no difference.. I hope sony will repair this soon, or its another HYPE why to buy new great HDMI displays? :-D

  • sam

    Been having problems with my (40gig) ps3 as well, and i recon its to do with the update. before the 2.50 update my vids were fine….but now they are all in black and white. sony are pricks……lol. i’ve tried everything!!!. hopefully the next update will fix it. If not then i’ll simply trade it in for a…….(cant believe i’m even thinking this)…….a 360 elite.

  • IMMY

    do you idiots not have a job to go to or just live on government benefits and sit at home home with your ps3 with wireless controller in one hand scratching ur head with other thinking y does my ps3 play movies in black and white. go out there and get a JOB

  • Daylight

    Ok i can understand the problem, funny thing my PS3 is fine because i Have a HDTV… and honestly i ddint bother buying PS3 until i got one. The update was great, i love all the new stuff, i have no complaints…
    What Pisses me off is you guys, saying i didnt play all this money for this to hpn blablablabla, ur ps3 is fine, ur TV is shite…. save some money get a new one, and STFU allways ranting about something.

    I love my PS3… F****ck XBOX360

  • Doop

    perhaps if your like me you didn’t expect that after paying over 500 pound for the console you’d be expected to pay another load out on a hd tv just to watch your videos and this is the first time my ps3 has had a fault from an upgrade and b/w videos are defiantly NOT going to get me to change my entertainment system for a simple games console (xbox 360)

  • director of a limited company

    @IMMY

    LOOL you halfwit

  • emad

    only two of my videos r black and white.

  • dp7657

    shut up randy chimp, you clearly don’t have a clue what this is about so don’t try and tell us that we’re imagining things.
    sony and playstation have got to be having a laugh. how could they make such a mess out of this update? do they not think perhaps to test it on a couple of different set ups before they release it to millions of us? this is a disgrace, they have shafted everyone with the 40gb playstation and an sdtv. the multimedia capabilities of the ps3 are one of the main reasons people chose to buy it and one of the key things that puts it above rival systems so it is totally unacceptable that they can let this happen. if i want to watch heroes or prison break on my SDtv then i should be able to!
    on top of all of that, they haven’t even bothered to respond to my email which has made me extremely angry. i mite write a letter! they better get this fixed soon.

    anyone got any updates on fixes for this ridiculous problem?

  • dp7657

    daylight, you too. maybe we will get an hdtv, when WE want to get an hdtv. we should not be forced to buy one through the incompetence of sony, rendering their ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM a simple games system for anyone without an hdtv at present. that is the point. we know our televisions are ancient, but it is OUR CHOICE, not sony’s, especially after a £400 price tag!

  • dp7657

    immy, lovely. i’m at work, making the most of my break.

  • twista522

    i had the same problem and i was just as angry as most of you guys but i discovered that it is definitely the type of tv set that you use it does not have to be an HD tv set as long as you have a relatively new tv set it will work fine i was using my old tv in the play room and thats the one that was playing my movies in black and white but when i connected my ps3 to the other tv set (ITS ALSO FIVE YRS OLD NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING HD ) all my old movies that i had on my hdd were back to nomal so just change yo tv set no need to buy a £400 tv believe me i hope this helps some of you guys because i know just what it feels like to be i that situstion

  • daniel pallace

    thanks twista. that’s interesting, I heard it was something to do with them forcing the videos to use 60hz settings instead of 50hz which would explain why some older tvs can’t cope. However, the point still reamains that this is a disgrace and sony should not force people to have to buy new products through their incompetancies. In fact, my current tv is a nice sony one which I have kep as it still works perfectly after 10 years and is in good condition, it’s a shame sony are letting themselves down with this, they will certainly be losing my loyalty if they don’t rectify this situation.

  • Hazbell

    The 2.50 system update is working fine on my PAL region PS3 all my vids are in colour and do not freeze or anything else, however i found out that after the update i cannot play Burnout Paradise. When i boot it up it says trophy data couldn’t be installed please try again so i try it again don’t work, reinstall the game don’t work, swap the disc 4 a new 1 don’t work! It was working fine before the update and my other games (GTA4, HAZE, Need for Speed Pro street, The Simpsons Game) work perfectly and they are not trophy combatible games. The update has corrupted the trophy data! what should i do?

  • dp7657

    The impressive response from Playstation:

    Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding PlayStation 3.

    I am sorry to hear of the difficulties that you have been experiencing with your PlayStation 3.

    Please call the PlayStation Careline on 08705 99 88 77 (National Rate), quoting your reference number: 1176814, where an advisor will be happy to guide you through a detailed troubleshooting procedure to identify the nature of the fault.

    Please have your PlayStation 3 to hand when you call, as we may need to capture some details from your unit.

    Our operating hours are 8am – 10pm Monday to Friday, 10am – 6pm Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

    UNBELIEVEABLE

  • RYUKIZEN

    if you press the ps button everything ElSe goes F****** BLACK&WHITE

  • http://-none- Will

    Yea, I agree with daniel pallace on this one. Whenever I used to play Black or metal slug 3, each of those games has an option to run on 50hz or 60hz . Before this update, 50hz worked fine on ps2, and ps3 on my old crappy tv. Life was good. If you tried to do 60hz on either game, or console, my tv would have a little retardation moment on screen, then display the images in black and white.

    Now, with the new firmware update, when I try to run a movie or video, my tv has EXACTELY THE SAME RETARDATION MOMENT, then runs in black and white.

    I think it is definately forcing you to run videos in 60hz mode.

  • marshal

    i got a few new blue rays for the ps3 today and tryed to play them and each one came up in blk and white and dum lines does anyone now dow to fix this crap

  • dp7657

    Yes Will, completely. Mine is exactly the same with the ” a little retardation moment on screen” it’s a kind of flicker and shake of the screen where it clearly tries to play something it can’t, thanks to the 2.50 firmware update. For Marshal, nobody has bothered to address the problem at all. The reason is that your TV may be too old (technologically primitive) to play in 60Hz settings. Modern TV’s and HDTV’s don’t experience the problem and apparently, Playstation don’t give a f**king s**t about us and haven’t done a single thing to help us out.

  • marshal

    dp7657 i have a hd 50inch tv and it works fine i found out that ps3 are relasing a update in 2 weeks time but it still might have the black and white problem with films you have watched in black and white

  • isaac

    man you guys are so full of it aye i have an older tv the ps3 is set at 50hz and i have no probs with any of my movies or games by the way mine is one of the first 60gb and im from nz

  • Jrubu

    Yeah.. this is definitely a problem that’s got to do with forcing the 60Hz.. I’ve got 2 old PAL SD TVs at home: and the only one capable of playing the videos in color is the one that’s also NTSC compatible! (btw it’s the same prob I’ve noticed – even when everything was ok- when I try play some Demos from the US store,. The demo just tries to force a different rate, and turns BW aswell. Funny enough, all the demos that turn BW on my PAL only TV.. are from Electronic Arts) — having said that.. I don’t give a SH*T about the demos or EA (as I’m downloading something not for my Region).. But SONY: no excuse!! If this is some sort of Marketing strategy to lead us to buy new TVs.. — It’s not working!!

  • Addnan

    This is because it is trying to turn to NTSC, I know this because when I used normal Scart for my LCD tv and played a movie on the top right corner it said NTSC, but then when I leave the movie it says PAL

  • http://none tomtomtom

    i have this black and white problem too but mine is with my game far cry 2 i just got, i have a regular tv and its connected via my freeview box scart and then into the tv, the ps3 menu works fine but when i go onto a game the screen flickers and the game in b&w

  • Jim Close

    I FIXED IT
    seeing this doesnt affect the HDTV but does the SDTV, was easy once i thought it thru

    goto video settings and scroll all the way to the bottom and change the 50Hz setting from auto to 50Hz. funny enough tho, once i changed it back to automatic, it was colour still..
    email me if this does/doesnt work for u, or need help to do it.

    jim.close@gmail.com

  • robmh

    Apparently a patch is coming out soon to fix some of these problems.

    Also, why the hell are so many people posting just to say that their ps3 is fine? Who would look on the article trying to find that out?

  • dp7657

    lol.
    yep, not sure how “soon” tho.

  • DH2005

    Has anyone else had problems with .VOB playback locking-up? Like, when you rip a DVD and you dump the main .VOB onto the PS3′s HDD, and play it back…

    I’ve been getting an intermitent fault with my ripped movies – the video freezes, the audio carries on for five or ten seconds, then the screen goes black and the audio stops completely.

    It’s easy enough to restart the playback, but it’s a pain in the arse. When it happens (which is probably once in every four or five movies that I watch…), it usually happens three or four times during the same sitting, which really messes up the movie.

    I’m posting this here because I’ve only owned a PS3 for a week or two – so I don’t know whether this is a 2.5 issue, or simply a PS3 issue. But if anyone knows what’s causing this, and whether there’s anything I can do about it, I’d be really grateful.

    … if it matters, the movies I’m watching are ripped from Region 1 (NTSC) DVDs, and I’m playing the .VOBs back on a European (PAL) PS3…

    Thanks.

  • Sin

    Lo guys, any news on this so far? I’m using an SD TV too, same problem.

    Not really that annoyed by it, not everything works flawlessly, but yeah, Sony should’ve tested it on several different setups as suggested by a previous poster. An HD TV has been on my list for some time now, but I shouldn’t have to break the bank and get one just because of a fault like this, and neither should anybody else. Although, that said, I think Sony will be courteous and try to fix the issue. I doubt it’d be a big problem, and they really don’t want to piss off all their customers who still have SD TVs.

    Just stay put, I guess. At least it isn’t affecting games, right?

  • ace

    I have problem with my PS3 40GB.It is not openning.When putting to switch on first red indicator is coming then it is turning to green and then stopping.Could not solve the peoblem.Please give me advice what I can do.It is not loading the program…Thanks in advance..

  • dp7657

    Yep, I agree with you sin, However, it would have been nice if they let us know about this. Like I said before, not a mention on their website, leaving us in the dark really isn’t the way to treat loyal customers. Otherwise, its fine and yeah, still good for games, far superior to its competitors.

  • Mitman18

    Keith said: my 80gb is fine but my brothers 60gb is in black and white tried to find out what the problem was instead found out is was not just him sucks to be you guys

    i think its sucks to be you, because your brother secretly exchanged your ps3 systems and you didnt even notice

  • Mitman18

    plus.. if your not expereancing this problem because you have a 60 Gb stop telling us,.. we get it

  • DMT999

    Just to support what some of the other guys are saying… I agree that the problem is on TVs that can’t play 60Hz/NTSC. If you’ve got a vid file that tries to play in 60Hz it now does that – regardless of whether your TV can cope or not.

    I do have some AVIs that still play in colour – presumably they’re set to 50Hz in the encoding(?) so it doesn’t try to use 60Hz.

    Ironically I only upgraded to 2.5 as I had a forlorn hope that it would mean all BluRays could be played in 50Hz too. Which it doesn’t. Very annoying as the only BluRay I have is Casino Royale which I want to watch before going to see Quantum of Solace. Doh! (And yes I know the start is in black & white, ta!) I was really unhappy/surprised at not being able to watch downscaled BluRays but forgave Sony when they put out the DIVX/XVID support a few patches ago.

  • DMT999

    Thought I’d give Sony a ring too. They confirmed that they do know about it and the next patch will fix it. The only thing they couldn’t do is say when that patch would come out. But the rep said it was likely to be in a couple of weeks.

    So good news that it will be fixed, and it sounds like, although not imminent, it will be sooner rather than later.

  • Sin

    I have a 60gb version, too. Same problem. It isn’t anything to do with that. It’s the fact my TV was, at one point, used by Winston Churchill and doesn’t support 60hz.

  • smeg1

    A new update to address the “issues” with 2.50 isn’t far away.

  • Mike32130

    Sony suck for not having this sorted out yet, I know for a fact it’s to do with the output signal switching to an NTSC output … why they have decided to change how the PS3 works with different video formats is a mystery to me, maybe there is a benefit to some people. Not me though.

  • JonnieC

    Firmware 2.52 is live. Not sure if it fixs the problem. Downloading…………………..

  • JonnieC

    FIXED…..Thanks SONY…….just don’t let it happen again or I’ll cut your nuts off

  • cozmo 27

    Sony Playstation 3 sux mines black and white after updating Its a poor show from Sony whose products are usually reliable, For the money spent only a few months ago I expect better come on Sony dont let the millions lose the faith.

  • shaded

    the new update was just the ticket :) hope it works for all you other shmucks

  • Unyon

    2.52 fixed the issue for me too. The shared TV downstairs can handle NTSC formats, but now I can move my PS3 back where it belongs :)

  • Gowow20

    I have a 60 gb Ps3 and I also have problems after downloading 2.50 Firmware …
    My movies are in black and white. Also, Gt4 is in black and white, but that is the only game in black and white though.
    I think it is the download’s fault and Tv’s fault as many people mensioned.
    If it is the Download which many people claim it is, then Sony, PLEASE fix this!! thx :)

  • dp7657

    finally. all hail 2.52

  • Jason

    I have a 40GB ps3 and all of a sudden my movies and tv shoes play in black and white.. after reading this.. maybe it was the update!! my ps3 was fine before and i loved it!!! this is really disappointed and something eles that really annoys me is the games coming out!! (both for the xbox360 and PS3) THERE ALL ******* ONE PLAYER!! WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THAT!! TRUELY DISAPPOINTED!!!

  • dp7657

    how late are you. that was a problem 3 weeks ago. just download the new update, 2.52 and eveything should be fine!

  • Gowow20

    Thank you PS3 I think, Im downloading it now and it will probably work, I trust u and everyone else says it works, so thanks!! :)

  • Gowow20

    I still cant figure out why My GTA IV is black and white though! It is so annoying! Some one, help :S What should I do to fix this problem?
    I have a 60 gb ps3 with update 2.52 … I got black and white after the 2.50 download… plz help!

  • Jason

    Gowow20..
    I have a 40GB version and i have no problems.. this probably wont be no help if its only that one game but you might want to reset your video setting… if you turn your ps3 off (so its on stand-by) then hold down the on buttin to hear the first beep and keep your finger on it for about another 10-15 secounds to hear secound beep!!! hope it helps!!! let us know.

  • ammar

    i am still having this problem!i use 2.52!with a 40 gig version!please help me?

  • tom

    i have never had any problems except cod4 occasionally freezing

    i have 60gb launch version

  • zervel

    have the same prob-.- worked fine b4 update but now I get the same result as when i tried to launch bluray in my old tv(black&white bull) Pray for fixes people

  • josh

    I HAD MY PS3 WORKING FINE, I WENT AND UNPLUGED THE ETHERNET CABLE 4 A WHILE TO SPEED UP MY COMP DOWNLOADS CAME BACK AND PLUGGED IT BACK IN AND NOW EVERYTHING IS IN BLACK AND WHITE!!
    IT CHANGED JUST AS I PLUGGED IT BACK IN, SO I CHANGED THE AV CABLES TO THE OTHER INPUT AND IT WORKED FINE…NOW IVE DONE IT AGAIN AND RUN OUT OF AV PORTS CAN SOME ONE PLEASE HELP ME!!!

    ITS NOT THE TV, ITS THE FUCKING SYSTEM!, AGAIN…IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO FIX THIS??

  • Christop

    Got the new 2.50 update when I bought Tomb Raider Underworld and ever since that it plays every mpeg4 movie and also DVDs in f%ckin B&W. JUNK, Sony you better be well on the way with fixing this problem or you’re gonna lose a lot of respect and business

  • Addnan

    Christop, It was fixed 2 months ago

  • Christoph

    Woops yeah realized that after doin some more reading…….sorry Sony

  • Dunebug

    Got the 60gb launch model, 2.52/2.53 update and still have the b&w problem, running on fairly old tv, but going to try force 50hz and see if that helps. sony giving us such a mission…. unacceptable!!!!

  • Cityauburn

    my new out the box is in black and white what do i do