(Note: Exact changelist text varied across community summaries because official patch notes for some minor updates were brief.)
Update 1.09 is widely considered the final "major" stability patch for the PS3 version of Uncharted 2. Released well after the game's prime, this update was designed to ensure the game remained playable on modern PS3 firmware and to squash lingering bugs that affected the multiplayer experience.
While earlier updates (like 1.05 and 1.06) focused heavily on balancing gameplay, tweaking the FAL-SS, and adjusting the "Situation Awareness" booster, Update 1.09 was primarily a maintenance patch. Its purpose was to polish the backend connectivity, ensuring that players could still connect to matches without crashing.
If you are booting up Uncharted 2: Among Thieves on your PlayStation 3 today—whether it’s a 2009 launch disc or a PS3 Slim—the console will automatically prompt you to download Update 1.09. However, because PSN architecture has evolved, you may need to follow these steps precisely.
The most celebrated fix targeted the ability to shoot through solid cover. Naughty Dog recoded collision detection during the “cover transition” animation, ensuring that bullets would register against the environment rather than passing through. This single change restored map integrity—especially on tight corridors like “The Temple” and “The Village”—forcing players to rely on flanking and grenades rather than glitches.
The Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Update 1.09 was a pivotal title update released by Naughty Dog on July 28, 2010. While it is a legacy patch for the original PlayStation 3 version of the game, it remains a critical download for players using original hardware or emulators like RPCS3 to ensure game stability and access to late-stage multiplayer features. Key Changes in Update 1.09 uncharted 2 update 1.09 download
This update primarily focused on balancing the multiplayer experience and fixing prominent community-reported exploits.
Removal of the "Super Throw": In the Plunder game mode, players had discovered a way to throw the treasure artifact with "superhuman vigor." Update 1.09 fixed this, returning the throwing distance to its intended mechanical range.
Multiplayer Economy Tweaks: To encourage play in the "Elimination" mode, Naughty Dog increased the cash awarded per kill to $750.
Dynamic Reward Control: The patch enabled a backend system that allowed Naughty Dog to alter cash rewards for individual medals and playlists on the fly without requiring a full title update.
Voice Support for Skins: The update modified the multiplayer skin system to allow for unique character voices to be included with future DLC skin packs. Naughty Dog, known for its post-launch support, faced
Exploit Fixes: General gameplay mechanics were refined to prevent players from using various "airwalk" or geometry-based exploits to leave the map boundaries. How to Download Uncharted 2 Update 1.09
Depending on your platform, the method for acquiring this patch varies: Download Method PlayStation 3 Automatic via PSN
If your PS3 is connected to the internet, launching the game will trigger a prompt to download and install the update. RPCS3 (Emulator) Manual PKG Install
Users often need the 1.09 patch files (in .pkg format) to improve performance and fix graphical artifacts like "bloom" issues. PS4 (The Nathan Drake Collection)
The remastered version on PS4 and PS5 includes all balance changes and patches from the original trilogy by default. Legacy and Current Status known for its post-launch support
It is important to note that Sony officially shut down the multiplayer servers for the PS3 versions of Uncharted 2, Uncharted 3, and The Last of Us in September 2019. While Update 1.09 is still required for the "Game of the Year" edition content and general stability, official matchmaking is no longer available on original hardware.
For those looking to relive the multiplayer experience, community-driven projects like Uncharted Reloaded are currently in development to revive these modes through modding and custom servers.
By the spring of 2010, Uncharted 2 multiplayer had cultivated a dedicated fanbase. The game’s unique blend of third-person shooting, climbing mechanics, and “medal kickback” perks (e.g., the devastating “RPG-7” or “Speed Boost”) created a high-skill, high-reward ecosystem. Yet, cracks were beginning to show. Players reported several persistent issues:
Naughty Dog, known for its post-launch support, faced a choice: develop new DLC or fix the foundation. With Update 1.09, they chose the latter—a decision that would extend the game’s competitive lifespan well into 2011.