As was announced Monday, today saw the launch of the v2.40 firmware update for the PlayStation 3. The long-awaited update--previewed by GameSpot Hardware--adds the ability to access the console's XrossMediaBar (XMB) and use select features from it in-game. (Players can also access other XMB features directly, but will have to quit gameplay.) It also came alongside a slight tweak to the PlayStation Store, which adds list views and caches images, preventing the need to load previously viewed art assets each time one visits the store.
PS3 Firmware 2.40 Demo Eric Lempel shows off how trophies and the in-game XMB will work.
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The v2.40 update will also launch the long-awaited trophy system, the PS3's answer to Xbox 360 Achievements. Though every game for Microsoft's console bestows awards, only three already-released first-party PS3 games--PAIN, Warhawk, and Super Stardust HD--will get the feature this week in the form of patches.
