Some readers have made us aware that AT&T customers are having download issues when pulling down some types of content on Sony's PlayStation Network. From what we hear, the problems started a couple of weeks ago. It seems that videos and patches are near impossible to pull down, with downloads either slowing to a crawl or completely stopping. The issue is the same for wired and wireless connections, and over several different types of network configurations.
Several AT&T and PSN users on Gamefaq's boards and YouTube are having the same problem, with just about all of the cases we've found saying that they are using firmware version 3.56. As you can see in the video above, downloads work fine on games and demos, but some videos and patches won't pull down.
Are you using AT&T for your internet connection? If so, are you having similar troubles on PSN? Let us know in the comments below.
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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I've got AT&T DSL at home... The base service... and they don't offer any of the upgraded speeds in my area... It is painfully fucking slow at best. Haven't tried to pull any patches or video on the PS3 in the last couple weeks. I was planning on picking up MvC3 tonight... hope there's no patch out for it yet. :)
I always have problems downloading from the PSN. It is wretchedly slow. It has seemed to have been worse lately, but then I haven't really been using my PS3 a lot.
Back when I first got my PS3 I could not connect it to PSN via Comcast. It was only when I switched to AT&T that I was every really ever able enjoy the PSN.
Oh shit I was just thinking about this! Downloading patches for me goes pretty slow. Demos are okay I guess but downloading a 40mb patch took way longer like 10mins or so.
You mean I'm not the only one? I thought it was just a combination of wireless and my PS3 prioritizing things poorly. It wasn't so much of a problem; 20 MB patches taking 30 minutes. But I just bought Resistance 2 and it has a whopping 300 MB patch. Doing the math, if the speed per MB remains the same, it's going to take me 7.5 hours to download it!!
Glad I'm not alone, took almost 2 days to get DC Universe downloaded and updated, only to relies it wasn't for me...
ALSO Guan Ping gets his sword back :)
WOW i just experienced this last night! This is so annoying i want to download Qriocity but its telling me it will take 300 minutes! This only happens to me when i try to download patches. The internet browser, downloading demos, and playing online is fine. How the heck do i fix this?
I use both, I'm on the west coast, but I have not had problems so far. I was able to get the Killzone 3 Beta patch not long ago, and I've had no issues of course with demos (stacking) and games (costume quest) that I've grabbed in the last 2 weeks. I haven't tried videos.
I haven't noticed any problems other than having 1/2 of my advertised speed during the day (apparently this is a wide-spread issue). Downloads are fine though. I wish I could switch to Comcast. ATT's tech support is horrendous.
I have the fastest service ATT offers and I couldn't for the life of me join a Killzone 3 beta game last week. It's cleared up now but that shit sucked.
I've had numerous problems with AT&T over the course of my cable subscription. But since my father won't listen to reason, I'm stuck with the shit. I think it's just the service, but there could be some work around.
I went to download the newest PS3 firmware a couple of days ago (was going from 3.56a to 3.56b) and the first time I tried it the download was going slower than Episode 3's development.
Previously when updating firmware I am downloaded, installed and done in maybe 10 minutes. After 30 mins I had about 20% downloaded, so I figured screw this and cancelled it, since the only reason I'd turned the PS3 on was to watch Repo Men on Blu-Ray.
After the film was finished I tried to update the firmware again, this time I got normal speeds and was done in 10 minutes, same as usual.
I have AT&T 6Mbit DSL (no U-Verse out here in the middle of nowhere).
My PS3 downloads have always been vastly slower than my 360's. Never quite understood why but it's annoying as hell. No reason update downloads should take as long as they do, when on 360 it takes a few seconds or a minute.
Yeah, I understand people saying "It's just AT&T, they suck!" but the issue isn't overall speed, it's JUST game updates and Videos. I can still download games (I just got Back the the Future last night in moments) but if it is a video or patch, multi-hour affair with the chance of an error code and forcing me to restart the whole process.
I have AT&T U-Verse, their fiber optic connection, so I normally get super fast speeds, it isn't a DNS or needing to set a static IP or adjusting the MTU settings, anything like that. I have called Sony and AT&T and both of their troubleshooting suggestions have run out and they say to contact the other company to fix it.
also, thanks for posting this article, I really hope someone will read this or forward this to someone who can correct this issue. Especially with the new GT5 patch that's out, that'll take days...
also, thanks for posting this article, I really hope someone will read this or forward this to someone who can correct this issue. Especially with the new GT5 patch that's out, that'll take days...
Here are some links to more people with problems on the official playstation boards (I couldn't share them last night when I sent the tip because their site was down)
Updates in firmware are always painfully slow and worthless to me. I HATE how they are required for online gaming. Sony service sux and At&t is notorious for bad service. I am gonna switch to pc gaming pretty soon cept EA has login problems, ex. BC2
That sucks. No wonder people were complaining so often about the download speed. Hope this will be fixed soon.
Pro-tip:
You can always ownload the Firmware directly from the Playstation website and copy it to a thumbstick. Hope this helps a bit until they resolve the issue.
Well, Sony responded to me email, but, again, it does not look like they are reading it thoroughly. I clearly say it is slow downloads with updates and videos and NOT game content or online play. Anyway, this is what they said:
Hello Darren,
I apologize for the inconvenience you are experiencing with downloading certain games that may have less size than others that may download quickly. Basically the speed is determined by the connection and the size and def of the content. If you believe that the content you are trying to download should be faster, I suggest contact your router company or Internet Service Provider to help boost up your speed for wifi. Again I apologize for the inconvenience.
I also want to add regarding what Takeshi said about downloading it from the site to a thumb drive. I am currently on there website trying to get the patch and install via thumb drive
it will take me 2 days! to get it that way
Having same issues as aforementioned posts. My dlc/full game purchases download just as fast as they ever have. My game patches display download times in excess of 1500 to 2000 minutes. I attempted the dns primary 8.8.8.8 secondary 8.8.4.4 but the setup fails during the test segment. I have ATT and my system is hardwired to the modem. Any updates on the cause and possible solution. Will a switch to Comcast help or is this problem a Playstation issue.
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Contest:
8:40 AM on 02.18.2011 | 
Back when I first got my PS3 I could not connect it to PSN via Comcast. It was only when I switched to AT&T that I was every really ever able enjoy the PSN.
ALSO Guan Ping gets his sword back :)
I've got a first gen 60gig with 2 aftermarket 500gig Harddrives witth sata split.
If u need to update home it may do a force restart or hang.
Good news though ... It hasn't affected anything else just "home", I just downloaded back to the future at awesome speeds.
Previously when updating firmware I am downloaded, installed and done in maybe 10 minutes. After 30 mins I had about 20% downloaded, so I figured screw this and cancelled it, since the only reason I'd turned the PS3 on was to watch Repo Men on Blu-Ray.
After the film was finished I tried to update the firmware again, this time I got normal speeds and was done in 10 minutes, same as usual.
I have AT&T 6Mbit DSL (no U-Verse out here in the middle of nowhere).
I have AT&T U-Verse, their fiber optic connection, so I normally get super fast speeds, it isn't a DNS or needing to set a static IP or adjusting the MTU settings, anything like that. I have called Sony and AT&T and both of their troubleshooting suggestions have run out and they say to contact the other company to fix it.
Here are some links to more people with problems on the official playstation boards (I couldn't share them last night when I sent the tip because their site was down)
http://community.us.playstation.com/thread/3405917?start=15&tstart=0
http://community.us.playstation.com/thread/3408284
They are absolutely spying on you (AT&T) and it slows the connection.
You've violated the eula.
no more net neutrality.
they decide to halt or trickle your access.
My ps3 no longer plays downloaded destructoid content mp4 from youtube, or on usb.
It is almost impossible to access www without Eula violation. if you read it. attach a usb keyboard and that is a ban violation.
Pro-tip:
You can always ownload the Firmware directly from the Playstation website and copy it to a thumbstick. Hope this helps a bit until they resolve the issue.
Hello Darren,
I apologize for the inconvenience you are experiencing with downloading certain games that may have less size than others that may download quickly. Basically the speed is determined by the connection and the size and def of the content. If you believe that the content you are trying to download should be faster, I suggest contact your router company or Internet Service Provider to help boost up your speed for wifi. Again I apologize for the inconvenience.
Federal level, so it will be every ISP. AT&T may seem more pronounced because they are acting first on the change in law.
15000 minuts to down load 301mb?!!!!!!!
that is insane!
it will take me 2 days! to get it that way
Primary: 8.8.8.8
secondary: 8.8.4.4
i have uverse and ps3 and was having slow download speeds when I moved, even though I had experienced fine gameplay before I changed routers.
found the answer here:
http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/950873-dc-universe-online/58097050
can somebody tell me where can I download youtube videos?