A massive update for the US in this week PlayStation Store update (as usual), while Europe received a average sized update. The US has received four new playable demos as well as a new downloadable game, while Europe has received two demos (which have been on the US store for some time now). Both stores have received a number of new downloadable content for games including the Warhawk Combo Booster pack for Europe and the Metal Gear Solid 4 database for the US. You can check out the full list of new items below.

European Additions:

• Playable Demos
  
  • Civilization Revolution
  • Dark Sector
• Game add-on Content
  • Warhawk Combo Booster Pack (£4.99)
  • Guitar Hero III (Coldplay Track Pack: Violet Hill, God Put A Smile Upon Your Face, Yellow) (£3.99)
  • Everybody’s Golf World Tour (Oceania Resort Course) (£2.99)
  • High Stakes Poker (3 new modes)
• Themes
  
  • High Velocity Bowling
  • Pain: Nigel
• Trailers and Videos:
  
  • GT Academy
  • Bad Company
  • Movement

US Additions:

• Playable demos
  
  • Fatal Inertia EX Trial
  • NCAA Football 09 Demo
  • Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3 Demo
  • Hail to the Chimp Demo
• Downloadable games
  
  • Fatal Inertia EX ($29.99)
• Game add-ons
  
  • Hot Shots Golf: Out Of Bounds Oceania Course ($4.99)
  • Metal Gear Solid 4 Database
  • The Incredible Hulk Downloadable Content
  • Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Coldplay Track Pack ($6.25)
  • Rock Band: Rock n Roll Dream – Crooked X ($0.99), Afterlife – Avenged Sevenfold ($1.99), Critical Acclaim – Avenged Sevenfold ($1.99), Hammerhead – The Offspring ($1.99)
• Game Trailers and Videos
  
  • Linger in Shadows
  • PAIN: Character Intro
  • Fatal Inertia EX Titan
  • Golden Axe: Beast Rider
  • Prince of Persia Debut Trailer
  • Hail to the Chimp Campaign Trail Madness Trailer
• Blu-ray Movie Trailers
  
  • Step Brothers
  • AST Dew Tour Theme
• Game Music
  
  • PAIN Theme Song

Firmware 2.36 for the PlayStation 3 is now available to download. According to Eric Lempel, Director of PSN Operations, the minor firmware update improves system stability when playing PlayStation format software titles. In addition to announcing Firmware 2.36, Lempel also confirmed that PS3 Firmware 2.40 will include XMB access in-game, as well as the "trophies" feature. A release date for Firmware 2.40 has not been set but we can expect a post on the PlayStation.Blog closer to the time. As for the other speculated features, nothing official was mentioned.

Official PlayStation.Blog Post by Eric Lempel:

"A new PLAYSTATION 3 firmware update (v2.36) will be launching soon, improving system stability when playing select PlayStation format software titles. We’re also happy to officially report that the 2.40 system software update for PS3 will include "XMB" access in-game. The update will also include "trophies," an exciting new feature that we’ll be providing more details on soon, as well as some other new enhancements. We’ve talked about some of this on the blog previously and know that many of you can’t wait to get your hands on these features. You can expect us to share all of the official details shortly."

Following the announcement of Firmware 4.00 earlier this week, the update is now available to download. According to the Japanese changelog, the new features to the PSP System Software include a new [Internet Search] icon under [Network] and ability to change playback speed of videos stored on the Memory Card. You can update your PSP using the network update feature from the settings menu. The full changelog is included below.

Firmware 4.00 Changelog:

• Network
  
  • [Internet Search] has been added as a feature. You can now perform an Internet search directly from the PSP Home Menu.
• Video
  • [Playback Speed (+)] and [Playback Speed (-)] have been added as options to the control panel. You can now change the playback speed of video content saved on Memory Stick Duo media.

According to Eric Lempel, Director of PSN Operations, firmware 4.00 for the PSP will be available soon, though no firm release date has been given. The main change to the PSP system software is the inclusion of Google Internet Search directly from the XMB. This new feature add a new icon to the XMB and replicates the Google Internet search experience, delivering the same search results that you’d get at www.google.com. Another new feature includes the ability to change the video playback speed.

The update adds the ability to change viewing speed during playback of videos stored on your Memory Stick PRO Duo, so you can speed through or slow down what you?re watching. To do this simply press the up or down directional buttons while playing a video. No other new feature have been reported so far but expect more details soon.

So far, Sony has not confirmed what will be included in PlayStation 3 Firmware 2.40 so any information related to this firmware update is just speculation and wishful thinking. Since our last post on Firmware 2.40 features, a number of new speculated features have surfaced, this includes almost complete access to the XMB while in-game. This means you will be able to play music while in the middle of a game, in addition to messaging buddies and changing various settings. See an updated list of speculated features below, as well as a video of in-game XMB taken from a debug PS3 machine.

Updated feature list:

• Access XMB in-game (including messaging, videos, music, photos, settings, network menu)
• 2D trophies from the XMB (supported titles only)
• Video coding and groundwork for the Movie Store
• Video/Image capture support (take videos and screenshots of gameplay)
• Time and Date on XMB (like PSP)
• PSN Store search feature
• Multiple PSN logins for multiplayer games

Most of these feature are speculation only so don’t get your hopes up until there is an official announcement from Sony, usually on the PlayStation Blog. The release date for Firmware 2.40 has not been set yet, though it is rumored to arrive towards the end of June or beginning of July.

In-game XMB Preview:

This week’s PlayStation Store update is now live. Europe and the US have both received the Enemy Territory Quake Wars playable demo, but Europe has also received another new playable demo. Both stores have new add-on content and new downloadable games. The US store has received a much bigger update than Europe this week with many more videos and trailers. This week’s update also includes new XMB themes and wallpaper for both stores. Check out the complete list below.

European Additions:

• Playable Demos
  
  • Enemy Territory Quake Wars
  • Monster Madness: Grave Danger
• Downloadable Games
  
  • Ape Quest Full Game (£6.99)
• Game Add-on Content
  
  • Guitar Hero – Isle of Wight Track Pack (£3.99)
• Video
  
  • Haze Korn Interview #1
  • Haze Korn Interview #2
• Wallpapers
  
  • PixelJunk Monsters Bee Wallpaper
• Themes
  
  • PixelJunk Monsters Rainbow Theme

US Additions:

• Playable Demos
  • Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars Demo
• Downloadable Games
  • Syphon Filter 3 ($5.99)
• Game Add-on Content
  • Army of Two: Veteran Map Pack presented by Pontiac
  • Guitar Hero III: Isle of Wight Festival Track Pack ($6.25)
  • Rock Band
    
    • "Girls Who Play Guitars" – Maximo Park ($1.99)
    • "Bullets & Guns" – Them Terribles ($0.99)
    • "Moving to Seattle" – The Material ($0.99)
    • "A Clean Shot" – The Myriad ($0.99)
    • MTV2 Pack 01 ($2.99)
• Game Videos
  • GameTrailers TV – Resistance 2 Teaser
  • Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots "Theatrical" Trailer
  • Kung Fu Panda Launch Trailer
  • Fatal Inertia EX Phoenix Trailer
  • FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution Leader’s Quotes Trailer
  • Hail to the Chimp: Inshellitron
• Movie and Blu-ray Trailers
  • Hancock Trailer 2
• PS3 Themes
  • Metal Gear Solid 4 Theme
• PS3 Wallpaper
  • PixelJunk Monsters Soundtrack Wallpaper

Sony have just announced a limited edition Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII bundle for European release. The bundle will include the game and special engraved silver PSP. The bundle will be available on the 20th of June, priced at 189.99 Euros. The game has already been available in the US and Japan for several months now, you can check our our coverage of the game in XTREME PSP Magazine i033.

Official Press Release:

London, 10th June 2008: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced the release of the CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII, PSP bundle, available on 20th June 2008, priced at 189.99 Euros. The chain of events which set the epic adventure of FINAL FANTASY into motion is revealed this summer with the release of CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- a prequel to FINAL FANTASY VII, the biggest selling FINAL FANTASY of all time. The eagerly-anticipated game will be available for the European market, in a special PSP (PlayStationPortable) bundle coinciding with the game?s release and will include a limited edition, CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- engraved silver PSP and a copy of the game.

As one of the greatest franchises in gaming history, the arrival of CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- on PSP makes this the perfect time for all RPG fans and adventure gamers to pick up the handheld system. A must-have title, the only way to complete this chapter in FINAL FANTASY history is on PSP and this bundle offers the opportunity for gamers to take another step into one of the best loved game worlds in history. CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- also makes the most of the power of PSP, with stunning graphics and CG cut-scenes, state-of-the-art voice acting and widescreen presentation.

Developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- ups the action from previous FINAL FANTASY titles with an all-new dynamic battle system with real-time action, while retaining the immersive storytelling expected from a game with such heritage.

Now it is your chance to discover the events leading up to the destruction of the metropolis of Midgar and the downfall of the ruthless Shinra Corporation. Following the story of young Shinra solider Zack Fair, CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- revisits a classic world populated by celebrated characters including the heroic Cloud Strife, tragic Aerith Gainsborough and the villainous Sephiroth.

Return to this unforgettable tale once more with the special PSP and CRISIS CORE -FINAL FANTASY VII- bundle, on 20th June 2008.