PlayStation 3 Firmware Update v2.70 Gets Text Chat

Eric Lemple, director of PlayStation Network Operations, has finally revealed firmware v2.70 for the PlayStation 3 tonight. The most noticable feature in this update is Text Chat, allowing friends to speak via a little insant message box with up to fifteen online friends using an on-screen keyboard, wireless keypad, or other peripherals.

In addition to the text chat, some new enhancements have been made to the Friends list. You’ll now be able to sort them via their online status. You’ll be able to attach larger files to messages you send to your friends (increased from 1MB to 3MB).

There’s also some enhancements to the video service on the PlayStation Store. First off, video files you’ve purchased from the PlayStation Store can be backed up to an external storage device and then restored to PS3’s internal hard drive for playback – so you can clear up space on your hard drive and then restore the video anytime in the future. Videos you’ve purchased for PSP system can now be transferred to PS3 for playback.

Now, all these features sound great, but “text chat”? I mean, we couldn’tve gotten voice chat first? Check out a preview of the firmware below. The update is set to release “soon”.

PS3 Firmware (v2.70) Update [PlayStation.Blog]