Sony has confirmed that the latest firmware update for PS3, 1.6, will be made available alongside the arrival of the PS3 this Friday.

Eurogamer reports that the update will not be pre-loaded onto the machines that are already making their way to retail, and will require an online download to access.

Firmware 1.6 includes a number of new features such as increased PS2 backwards compatibility, keyboard support, web browser updates and the ability for gamers to download digital content in the background whilst using PS3’s other features.

It also adds some additional PSP features, the most important of which is the ability for gamers to connect their handheld to their console over a wi-fi console rather than directly machine to machine, are also included.

Meanwhile, Times Online reports that PS3 will hit the four million sales mark within its first year of release in Europe. As anticipation contiunues to build for the launch on Friday, it seems there are plenty more consoles to come after the 220,000 earmaked for UK day one – it is expected that 1.5 million will be sold in the UK alone in the twelve months following the launch.

"The lack of shortage is supply driven; what Sony shipped will sell," added Screen Digest analyst Nick Parker.