PS3 System Update Adds 3D Blu-Ray, Griefing Help, Facebook Features

Sony today released a new firmware update for its PlayStation 3 system, adding support for 3D Blu-ray movie playback as well as additional in-game Facebook integration and online abuse reporting abilities. As Sony announced last week at the Tokyo Game Show, today's release of firmware update 3.50 allows PS3 owners with 3D televisions and an HDMI connection to play movies released in the 3D Blu-ray format. A Screen Digest report predicts only ten such 3D Blu-ray titles will be available this holiday season, with many obtainable only through bundles with other 3D Blu-ray players and TVs. The latest firmware update also builds on the Facebook features Sony introduced to the PS3 last November by letting specially-coded games access public information like user names, profiles, photos and friends lists directly from Facebook. Finally, the new firmware includes a "Grief Reporting Function" that lets users report inappropriate messages to Sony directly from the XrossMediaBar.