Following yesterday’s announcement, Firmware 2.10 for the PlayStation 3 is now available to download. Although the regional PlayStation Websites have not been updated yet, you can download the latest firmware using the PS3 Network Update feature. As mentioned in the earlier report, Firmware 2.10 adds DivX support to the PlayStation, but has a few restrictions, and a few other new features. You can check out the changelog below.

Changelog for Firmware 2.10:

• Settings:
  
  • You can change the tone of a voice that is input from an audio device such as a microphone. High and low-pitched tones can each be adjusted to five preset levels. You can vary the tone when using voice / video chat under Friends.
    
• Music:
  
  • You can now select [Type 3] as an option under Settings > [Music Settings] > [Bitmapping]. This bitmapping process was developed specifically for the PS3 system to enhance audio playback.
• Video:
  • DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played.
    • To enable VC-1 (WMV) playback, you must enable the WMV Playback option from the settings menu
    • Copyright protected DivX files and DivX 3.11 encoded files cannot be played
    • Files larger than 2GB cannot be played
      
  • Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported.
    • Picture-in-Picture (PIP) playback enabled. This feature depends on the disc.
      
  • [BD Data Utility] has been added.

Firmware 2.10 hits the PlayStation 3 tomorrow, adding some new features to the system including DivX support. As previously reported, DivX support is finally added to the PlayStation 3 and Blu-Ray Disc Profile v1.1 is now also supported in the new update. There are also a few other previously unmentioned additions including a Voice Changer feature. Check out the changelog below.

Changelog for Firmware 2.10:

• Voice Changer feature:
  
  • You can change the tone of a voice that is input from an audio device such as a microphone. High and low-pitched tones can each be adjusted to five preset levels. You can vary the tone when using voice / video chat under Friends.
    
• Music:
  
  • You can now select [Type 3] as an option under Settings > [Music Settings] > [Bitmapping]. This bitmapping process was developed specifically for the PS3 system to enhance audio playback.
• Video:
  • DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played.
    
  • Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported.
    
  • [BD Data Utility] has been added.

Look out for more information about the update tomorrow.

Some games are too young to own a credit card so options for purchasing games from the PlayStation Store is limited. Well, not so much anymore. In early 2008, PlayStation Network Cards will be available to purchase from retail stores in a number of denominations. The cards can be redeemed on the PS3 PlayStation Store and PlayStation Store for PC.

The exact denominations have not been revealed yet, but look out for more details when the cards are available. The PlayStation Network Cards should be coming to Europe soon, but a release date has not been revealed.

The PlayStation Store has been updated as scheduled this week. The Euro PSN Store has been given three new playable demos and two new full games, while the US has only received one new demo. The US store, however, has received a number of new game add-ons for High Velocity Bowling, NFS ProStreet and Rock Band. As usual, both stores have several new game videos and trailers for you to enjoy. You can check out the complete list of additions for both stores below.

Europe Additions:

• Playable Demos:
  • Conan
  • Burnout Paradise
  • NBA 2K8
• Full Games:
  • Piyotama (£3.40, AU$8.45)
  • High Stakes on the Vegas (£4.99, AU$12.95)
• Game Add-ons:
  • Guitar Hero III Foo Fighters & Velvet Revolver Track Packs (£3.99, AUD$9.95)
  • Folklore: Christmas Present (Free)
• Videos and Trailers:
  • High Velocity Bowling
  • Trailer High Stakes Poker Trailer
  • Piyotama Trailer
  • Ratchet and Clank Future: Insider Videos
  • Dark Mist Trailer
  • Kane and Lynch Trailers (3)
  • Assassin’s Creed Trailer

US Additions:

• Playable Demos:
  • Burnout Paradise Demo (free)
• Game Add-ons:
  • High Velocity Bowling Bowler 1 ($0.99)
  • High Velocity Bowling Bowler 2 ($0.99)
  • Rock Band:
    • “I Fought the Law” – The Clash ($1.99)
    • “Rockaway Beach” – The Ramones ($1.99)
    • “Ever Fallen in Love” – Buzzcocks ($1.99)
    • Rock Band Punk Pack 1 ($5.49)
  • Need for Speed ProStreet:
    • Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 ($2.49)
    • Pagini Zonda F ($2.99)
    • Nissan GT-R (R35) ($2.99)
    • Muscle Car Bundle ($4.99)
    • Tuner Car Bundle ($4.99)
    • Sport Car Bundle ($4.99)
    • Ultimate Performance Bundle ($9.99)
• Game Videos:
  • GT Awards at SEMA Video
  • Burnout “Stunt Run” Trailer
  • Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground
  • Ratchet BTS – Art
• Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers:
  • Cloverfield Trailer
  • Untraceable Trailer

The latest MotorStorm patch is now available to download and includes a number of new features and bug fixes. Among the changes include reversed tracks and 2D vehicle select. The vehicle selections lets you have either the traditional 3D select screen or a 2D grid of the vehicles to choose from, which seems to speed up the selection process somewhat.

The update can be downloaded by booting up the game and accepting the update message. Depending on your download speed, the update could take several minutes to download.

SCEE have announced that the Warhawk expansion pack, Operation Omega Dawn, will be available to purchase from the PlayStation Store on Thursday, 20th December 2007 for £3.99 or $7.99. The expansion pack comes with a new aircraft, a new map and five new layout modifications to the existing maps for the game. You can check out our previous coverage of the expansion pack here and here.

As usual, we post a full list of new items to the PlayStation every week so look out for other new things on the weekly update. We’re still waiting on more information regarding the Warhawk v1.2 patch, so look out for that too.

Midway has announced that Stranglehold will be getting new downloadable map packs for both the PS3 and XBox 360 version of the game. However, a release date for the add-on content has not been revealed. The map pack will contain ten new multiplayer maps ranging from the Kowloon Market to Wong s Estate Grounds to the Rooftops of Chicago. Gamers will also get 21 all-new multiplayer character skins to run around in.

The game’s Xbox 360 version will also get ten new achievements worth 250 points. The map pack will be available to purchase from the PlayStation Network and XBox Live once it goes live. Check back for more details soon.

The PlayStation Store update for this week is complete with numerous new items to download. Europe has received a new playable demo and new game add-ons for MotorStorm and Folklore. Europe was also lucky enough to receive 8 new XMB themes to customize the PS3 with. For the US, the TimeShift Multiplayer demo is now available to download, and High Velocity Bowling is now available to purchase. There are also a number of game add-ons, themes and trailers available from the US store. Check out the full list below.

Euro Update:

• Playable Demos:
  • Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
• Game Add-ons
  • MotorStorm Domino & Adventure
  • Folklore: The Origin of Belgae Pack
• Themes:
  • Mesmerise
  • Tori Emaki
  • Heavenly Sword
  • Motorstorm
  • Snakeball
  • Lemmings
  • Killzone 2
  • SingStar
• Trailers:
  • Metal Gear Online (TGS 2007)
  • Metal Gear Solid 4
  • Blazing Angels 2

US Update:

• Playable Demos:
  • Timeshift multiplayer demo
• Full Games:
  • High Velocity Bowling
  • Wild Arms (PS1)
• Game Add-ons:
  • Folklore: Ellen Pack 1
  • Folklore: Keats Pack 1
  • Folklore: Bundle of Pack 1 + 2
  • PAIN: Character Skin – Santa
  • PAIN: Character Skin – Cookie
  • Rock Band: Black Sabbath Pack 1
• Trailers:
  • Battlefield: Bad Company – "Frostbite"
  • Battlefield: Bad Company – "Frostbite" 2
  • GTA IV – Trailer 3 – "Move Up, ladies"
  • Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (TGS 2007)
  • Uncharted – "Environments"
• Themes:
  • Ratchet & Clank Future theme
  • Uncharted theme