Sony will introduce Trophies to PS3 games and XrossMediaBar (XMB) access in-game in a later software update, v2.40.

Updating your system on PS3 is a familiar routine; we’re all used to sitting around twiddling our thumbs while the download bar edges along at snail pace. Not good if you’ve only 30mins or so to have a quick session on GTA or whatever. Anyway, thanks for listening. We’re feeling much better about this now.

Today Sony has announced that it’ll introduce some major new features when system software version 2.40 arrives, we guess, sometime soon. Version 2.40 heralds the arrival of the almost fabled Trophies system – in-game secrets to unlock that reward players with a cute little icon to store… somewhere, and show to all your friends. Originally the Trophy idea was linked to Home on PS3, the Second Life styled online virtual world still undergoing tests. In PlayStation Home you’d get to display Trophies as ornaments for your virtual living space. A neat idea, you have to admit.

Another ‘at long last’ function arriving with v2.40 is in-game XrossMediaBar (XMB) access, meaning that you don’t need to quit out of Metal Gear Solid IV to check if your mates are online. Hopefully you’ll also be able to message them, perhaps invite them to a game? Man, this sort of thing has been possible with Xbox LIVE since the time of the dinosaurs, but it’s good to see it finally arrive for PS3.

Before you start jumping up and down and punching the air, we’ve at least one more software update to endure beforehand. Firmware v2.36 makes your PS3 behave while playing PlayStation One games. Fantastic!

Okay, we’re off to squeeze in some valuable gameplay time before the update strikes again.