Andre Yoskowitz
29 Jun 2010 2:08
Sony America has announced that they will be launching the PlayStation 3 firmware update v3.40 "soon," and the update will bring Facebook integration and the launch of the PlayStation Plus premium PSN service.
PlayStation Plus was announced at E3 and will give users access to new applications and features that standard free PSN users will not have.
Plus is free for the first 90 days, and then users can purchase a three-month package for $18 USD or a full-year package for $50 USD.
For the fee, a user will be able to gain full access to certain PS3 downloadable content and PSN titles, such as the PSone archives and Minis, and be able to play them for as long as the PlayStation Plus membership is valid. Some games will only be playable for a certain amount of time on a trial basis before needing to be purchased.
An extra feature that PlayStation Plus provides is the ability to schedule the PS3 console to switch on and automatically retrieve demos, patches or updates at certain times.
Additionally, says Gamasutra, PSP firmware v6.30 will add the service to the aging handheld.
As for Facebook integration, gamers can integrate their PSN accounts with their FB profiles allowing for easier access to checking online statuses and send PSN invites.