The news supports previous reports on Sony's 3D PlayStation 3 strategy, suggesting that a firmware upgrade would introduce the capability to existing consoles. Not only does Sony plan on upgrading the console to support 3D, but release games in 3D as well in order to take advantage of the enhanced capabilities.

Of course, 3D games and 3D televisions would go hand-in-hand, so adding the capability to the PlayStation 3 would definitely help drive at least a few television sales.

Would you purchase a new television to support 3D gaming, or is Sony seeing things?

When asked about the feature, PlayStation Network product manager James Thorpe wrote "I wish I could just give you a date, I really do!! Trust me when I say that as soon as I hear from ‘up top' I will be shouting about it and making myself the most popular person on the blog."

"I hope, like you all do, that its sooner rather than later," Thorpe writes, adding a little wink and a smile.

Not a confirmation from Thorpe, but thankfully not a denial.

Last month, cross-game chat was mentioned in a quickly-deleted post by Naughty Dog developer who wrote that "the next PS3 firmware update is going to allow cross game chat."

Maybe the next-next update then?

PlayStation 3 Firmware (v3.10) Update Preview [PlayStation.blog Europe - thanks, Rick!]

Sony's Facebook integration is the coolest aspect of the forthcoming firmware. It lets users bind their PlayStation Network account to their Facebook account, automatically feeding their status updates with Trophy information, PlayStation Store purchases and specific in-game events that developers can include in PS3 games. We're guessing it's similar to what Naughty Dog attempted to do with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Twitter, letting players automatically boast of game winning moments or special accomplishments without having to type it all out.

Fortunately, all of these Facebook features are optional. It also appears the software will prompt users if they'd like to post these types of updates to their Facebook news feed at each occurrence.

The new photo browser makes better use of screen real estates, offering a grid of photo thumbnails for quick viewing instead of a long vertical list.

Finally, due to popular request...

A less visually offensive version of the PlayStation 3's Friends list—perhaps the most reviled change in firmware 3.00—is coming. Sony has listened to fan feedback, offering a more toned down look at who's online in the XMB.

PlayStation Network account holders will also be able to choose the color that best represents them, the final piece of the firmware update previously leaked. Not confirmed is this rumor of cross-game voice chat.

Baby steps, folks. Baby steps.

PlayStation 3 Firmware (v3.10) Update Preview [PlayStation.blog]

While the feature has been rumored to be in development for months, a post on the official PlayStation forums today may have inadvertently confirmed its imminent release. "Naughty Dog Dev" ReklissAbandon wrote in response to player requests for enemy spectating in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves that PlayStation 3 cross-game chat might make that request unfair.

"But I will suggest it anyway," ReklissAbandon wrote. "Not to mention that the next PS3 firmware update is going to allow cross game chat. So if players use that instead of in game communication then they would also be able to communicate enemies positions."

That post was quickly deleted, leading some posters to take that as further confirmation that cross-game voice chat was coming, but not yet ready to be announced.

Cross-game text chat was added to the PlayStation 3's firmware earlier this year with version 2.70. Cross-game voice chat was said to have been ready to go earlier, but falsely rumored to have been held back by one publisher in particular.

We contacted Sony Computer Entertainment to verify that slip of the keyboard, and received the following response: "As you know, we haven't made any announcements on upcoming firmware and don't comment on rumor or speculation."

Re: Elimination suggestion [PlayStation Forums - thanks, Edwin!]

John Kennedy filed his complaint against Sony Computer Entertainment America on Oct. 3 in, where else, federal court for the Northern District of California. That would be San Francisco.

The suit's complaint mentions two things: one, "that as a general rule, Sony ‘encourages' PS3 owners to install the latest version of system software, Sony required users to install the Firmware 3.0 update." Two: a Sony forum featured enough complaints about the Firmware causing console failures that Sony responded with a firmware FAQ.

At this point we put on our hushed baritone court-reporter fine-print voice: Class members demand declaratory relief, compensation and restitution for breach of implied warranty, negligence and unjust enrichment.

Firmware Update Borks PS3, Man Sues SCEA [Game Politics]

Tethering may be the most enticing new feature in the imminent PSP firmware update, offering an alternative method for connecting to the internet via a Bluetooth device. And since that's a Bluetooth feature, we're guessing that's for PSPgo owners only, as that device features built-in Bluetooth.

Slightly less enticing is new SensMe music categorization support, a proprietary Sony application that automatically categorizes whatever music PSP owners have transferred to the device. If you've ever wanted to listen to some tunes that are "Evening" flavored, SensMe has you covered.

Finally, PlayStation Network Ops director Eric Lempell says that a new PlayStation Store interface for the PSP's Media Go software will be supported in 6.10. It looks very iTunes-esque from our expert squinting.

Expect the newest firmware update to hit soon. Very soon.

PSP Firmware Update (v6.10) [PlayStation.blog]

Major Nelson confirmed the new firmware in a late-night post; also, for any of our friends who were up late and gaming and found the system update spit back a router error when connecting to Xbox Live, that has been totally resolved, tweets the Major.

Xbox 360 System Update Rolling Out [Major Nelson via VG247]

Fortunately, sounds like Sony's listening to those complaints. Amidst the usual kvetching about cosmetic and functional changes—and the lack of additions that people have been demanding forever!!—comes word that, yes, Sony is taking negative feedback about firmware 3.0 seriously.

Mark Bowles, European brand manager for the PlayStation 3, offers the following update to concerned owners.

"OK, we hold our hands up about the lack of replies on this post but we have shared with you everything we can at the moment," Bowles writes. "As I said before the updates to firmware don't always suit everyones tastes, but on the flip side there are those that really like the changes – except maybe the friends list ;-) (which we are looking into based on your comments by the way)."

You might think that the winking emoticon means that Bowles and company aren't taking it seriously. But they are. And that's worth emoticonning about.

Firmware 3.00 Q&A [PlayStation.blog EU - thanks, Ryan!]

Like...enjoy having a few more XMB background colours to choose from! And sleep easy knowing that the console's security has been updated. And revel in the fact that "Network Update" has now been renamed to "System Update".

Sounds boring - and don't worry, it is - but then, it also beats seeing an upgrade that includes "Adds Glittery Sparkles To XMB".

PSP Firmware (v6.00) Update [PlayStation]

One alleged issue making the rounds is game related, with some users complaining of "freezing" copies of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, with the game reportedly locking up mid-play and requiring a restart of the system. Those reports don't appear to be widespread, but are popping up at the official PlayStation.com forums.

Another issue, again not widespread but making the rounds at Sony's official forums, is with the PlayStation 3's DualShock controller itself. Some customers are reporting that both first and third party gamepads have stopped working, by their estimate as of the most recent firmware update.

While noteworthy, it's not that uncommon for this sort of thing to pop up every time the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 get a system update—and it's not always related to said update. We've received only a handful of tips complaining of problems with Uncharted. And for the record, some of us at Kotaku have DualShock 3s that appear to be working just fine, thank you.

We reached out to Sony to get comment on the matter this morning, but haven't heard back yet about the status of these two items.

just got this today....freezing problems? [GameFAQs - thanks, Carlos!]
Serious crashing problems today? [PlayStation.com Forums]
Firmware 3.00 controller not working !! [PlayStation.com Forums - thanks, Joe!]

That's when fighting game Fate/Unlimited Codes releases for the PlayStation Portable, according to the official PlayStation.blog. That game's trailer promises that PSP owners can "play online with Ad Hoc mode." Fate/Unlimited Codes is one of the games that uses Ad Hoc Party for its online multiplayer in Japan, turning the PlayStation 3 into a multiplayer server for PSP games without an infrastructure mode built-in, so one might think it will do the same in America.

Sony Computer Entertainment recently trademarked Ad Hoc Party in the United States, a good indicator that it plans to introduce it to North American PS3 owners.

Granted, the trailer for Fate/Unlimited Codes may be out of date and we wouldn't leave it up to the publisher of that game, Capcom, to determine the launch date of a Sony product. We were told at E3 this year that Ad Hoc Party support in the West was "in the works," but weren't given a release window.

We've reached out to Sony to get confirmation or clarification on the release date of Ad Hoc Party, but did not hear back before publishing.

Thanks to Gambit07 for the heads up!

Sony have announced that PS3 firmware v2.76 will be released "soon" (which generally means in the next day or two), and that it will improve "the playback quality of some PS3 format software".

So there you go.

UPDATE - Boy, that was quick. It's now live. Better to get it now than be stuck downloading it next time you want to play something.

That guest access is limited to the PlayStation Store, designed for those fearful of joining the 17 million-strong PlayStation Network. Yes, you can now browse the PlayStation Store without an account! Hooray!

Potentially more exciting are new multimedia features, including support for DivX 3.11 encoding and a new Photo Gallery application. The Photo Gallery itself is a 100 MB download, according to PlayStation Network Operations director Eric Lempell, and will give PS3 owners new ways to sort, display and manage their pictures.

Video of the thing in action can be seen at the official U.S. PlayStation blog.

Upcoming PS3 Firmware (v2.60) Update [PlayStation.blog]

Huzzah! This means I can finally properly view PlayStation.com on my PS3! Does it make up for all of the time spent with an older, inferior version of Flash? No, but it will make you not mind remembering.

New info on the firmware updates for PS3 and PSP… [ThreeSpeech]

PS3 Firmware update (v2.43) [PlayStation.Blog]

UPDATE - Curious as to what, exactly, 2.43 was for? Sony have announced it's to get the Japanese PlayStation Store ready for the video download service.

Don't junk your PS3s yet, though, as Sony is also planning to introduce a new feature that will let you take your ad hoc-only PSP games online, simulating infrastructure mode by way of your PlayStation 3. That means select titles that were previously playable only locally will be playable with folks nationwide. Note that "select", because it looks like not every title will make the jump online via your PS3.

Sony Boosts PSP Networking Capabilities [IGN]