On their PlayStation Blog, Sony made mention that the talked-about 3.50 software for PS3 systems will be going live before long. Could this possibly be part of the reason for the PSN downtime today? This update will add support for Blu-ray 3D disc playback, as well as the other things listed below. This update seems to be available now.

  • Facebook Integration: Developers will be able to create PS3 games that have more interaction with Facebook. Once compatible PS3 titles are available, PS3 users can choose to access public information on Facebook - including user name, profile, uploaded photos and friends lists - to enhance their gameplay experience.
  • Grief Reporting Function: Users can send claim reports directly from the XMB for any inappropriate messages they receive from other PlayStation Network users. This feature is accessible from the option menu of the messages list in the FRIENDS category.

For more information, check out Sony's PS3 system update site. Oh, and don't cry while the PSN is offline, there's always Xbox Live! Oh, wait...