According to Game Informer, reports are coming that suggest the latest PlayStation firmware update, 4.45, has been bricking users’ consoles. Some users are saying that their console is stuck on the welcome screen. Others are saying that their console won’t boot up at all. Still others say that the console fails to reboot after installing the update.
You can see several examples of users experiencing this problem on official PlayStation message boards. Many users are furious, because their warranties have expired at this point. Sony has not yet commented on the problem, nor have they provided a fix.
The 4.45 update allows you to turn off messages that note when you acquire a trophy. This is particularly important for people who play competitive games online, and who don’t want their console to hang for a split second when a trophy message is displayed. It is equally annoying when a trophy message covers up important parts of a game’s HUD.
Unfortunately, the new system update is required to play games online. So, you have to weigh the options here. Either you take a chance and update your system and stay offline until Sony provides a fix, or you take a chance on bricking your console for the sake of online play. Personally, my console has been just fine after installing the update, but your results may vary.
Source: GameInformer