Sony are expected to release its firmware update in June that will enable the PS3 to run 3D games. The timing is set to coincide with the launch of Sony’s first range of 3D tvs, with the first being released in Japan on June 10 with plans to distribute to the rest of the world at about the same time.

Sony see success in the 3D market as key to dominating the flat tv market. A large proportion of early adopters to the 3D market are expected to be gamers, so Sony with the PlayStation platform, has an advantage on its competitors Samsung and LG.

You know those firmware updates which seem like they never do anything? Well apparently they bring about astonishingly good benefits for developers. Indeed, recent updates managed to cut down the operating system’s memory footprint enough to free up 70MB of RAM for developers to use.

The PS3 is fitted with 512MB of RAM so if our maths are correct, that is a whopping 13.67% that Sony has freed up for developers to play with.

It’s always nice to be given the option, but, truth be told, we’re not entirely sure why the recent PlayStation 3 firmware update (3.15) wasn’t obligatory.

Either way, you can’t escape 3.15 anymore as it’s now mandatory.

Firmware 3.15 is now available to download.

It seems like only yesterday when we were updating to firmware 3.10 (well, for some of us, it actually was) but it looks like Sony have more *ahem* wares for us with James Thorpe popping up on the official EU blog with news of a 3.15 system update.

First things first: it’s optional.

Second things second: it adds the following to your PS3.

Has your PS3 ever frozen randomly? Sony wants to know about it. Thanks to firmware 3.10, Sony now allows users to send an error report after an improper shutdown.

So the latest PlayStation 3 firmware launched today entitled 3.10 and so we thought we would tell you what we think.

The biggest new addition in this firmware is Facebook integration. We’ll be honest straight away and say that it isn’t that much of a major deal.

We’ve already documented what’s in the new 3.10 firmware update.

Better Photo Album layout, a repentant re-look at the butchery Sony performed on your Friends list back in 3.00 and, oh you know, that stalker tool everyone seems so attached to.

But when is it all going to happen we hear you ask.

It was confirmed a while ago that Facebook would indeed be making its way into the XMB via the next firmware update and now we have the video to prove it.

The preview given by the folks over on the PlayStation.Blog showcases some of the things you can do with Facebook from your PS3 as well as some tweaks to your photo album and more importantly, your friends list.

We held off until someone (somewhere) gave the knowing nod, and it looks like a source close to Sony has finally buckled and told Eurogamer that, yes indeedy, Facebook is coming to the PS3.

The users of the PlayStation Network have voiced their opinion and Sony has replied. Based on the feedback from Firmware 3.0, Sony has decided to put a Q&A up on the European PlayStation Blog.

What Firmware 3.0 functionality would you like to see made optional?

Late last week the US Playstation Blog reported that SCEA is aware of the issues with Firmware 3.0.

Anybody experience any of these first-hand?

Thanks to the official launch of the PS3 Slim across the world PlayStation 3 owners can now get their hands on Firmware 3.0.

So what does the latest upgrade offer and, most importantly of all, do the battery meter and clock still clash on screen?

We are nearing the release of the long awaited and somewhat fabled Firmware 3.0 for the PlayStation 3. How do we know we’re close to see it? Not only it was just announced at GamesCom, but the US PlayStation.Blog released a video update on how the new firmware is coming along with a slightly new look.

Promising to be “a completely new system”, it appears that the PS3 is about to get its very own “New Experience.”

Highlights of the new firmware release include the oft-mooted Reputation System where gamers can evaluate the prowess of other players as well as a “Grief Reporting” mechanism.

The US PlayStation Blog have announced that we are getting a wonderful new update for our favourite feature-hungry black box.

Not only that, but it will be rummaging in the fridge, lounging on the sofa and generally making itself at home from tomorrow onwards!

With only a fractional increment in the version number, don’t expect the fresh 2.76 PS3 Firmware update to do a hell of lot in terms of new features or radical improvements.

In other words, for those of you holding out for cross game chat and other similar wonderments; we’re afraid you’re going to have to wait (for E3 no doubt).

Firmware updates have become an integral part of the PlayStation 3 experience, with new ones coming in every three months on average.

So what do we think of the latest firmware (2.70) and the new additions it brings to the system?

Prescience aside, we’re just glad to see 2.70 finally raising its murky head from the Sea of Speculation so the wild predictions about its content can stop.

Fans of chat, sorting, huge attachments and media backup should prepare for a giddy frenzy. The rest of you, and we’re thinking this is the majority, look away now. There’s nothing to see here.

The Koalition have contacted Sony about that whole PS3 playing PS2 games through software emulation rumour. And they got a response.