14 DAY TRIAL // Video game publisher and hardware developer Sony has announced that it will be launching the 4.00 version of the firmware for its PlayStation 3 home gaming console this week, mainly in order to prepare it for the imminent launch of the PlayStation Vita handheld.
The official PlayStation Blog says that the PS3 needs the new firmware in order to become a content management device that can then distribute information, both games and other media, to the Vita.
The 4.00 firmware will allow owners of the two devices to move games, music, photos and videos between them and even get the save games from the Vita internal memory and move it to the bigger PS3 hard drive.
A number of updates for the Vita can also be downloaded using the network abilities of the PlayStation 3.
The 4.00 firmware update will also allow those who are subscribing to the PlayStation Plus service to enable and disable the automatic update feature for game patches, system software, recommended games and videos and Trophy synchronization.
There are also new networking elements that allow players to filter messages and friend requests in order to keep their friends lists neatly organized.
Sony says that more information about the 4.00 firmware update, which is mandatory, will be offered after it is launched.
The company is not saying exactly when it arrives but it would make sense to deliver it before the weekend in order to give PS3 users a chance to update their systems before the busiest two days of gaming.
The PlayStation Vita will be launched on December 17 in Japan and the launch dates for Europe and the United States are set for February 2012.
The device is not region locked, which means players can get one from Japan and use it with their home console bought in their native country.