Sony Computer Entertainment Japan has confirmed that the direct PSP store will officially launch on October 15, alongside the release of a new system software update: firmware 5.0. The update adds an XMB icon that allows users to access the PlayStation Store straight from their PSP.

Following the launch of the 5.0 firmware, Sony will begin offering select UMD based titles as digital downloads on the same day as their retail release date. A list of confirmed titles can be found below, along with release dates:

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Square Enix has sent word that its forthcoming Xbox 360 RPG Star Ocean: The Last Hope will hit North America on March 3, 2009, two weeks after the previously announced Japanese release date of February 19.

A prequel to the original Star Ocean, The Last Hope takes place in the year S.D. 10 following the devastating aftermath of World War III. The trademark real-time battle system we’ve all grown to love makes a welcome return in this installment, complete with a newly added Rush gauge, which when filled allows players to attack foes in a preemptive fashion or unleash a special ability.

A selection of new screens can be found past the break!

Star Ocean: The Last Hope Screenshots

The fine folks over at Media Molecule have teamed up with Konami and Square Enix to create a pair of Sackboys based on the unforgettable characters of Old Snake from Metal Gear Solid 4 and Sephiroth of Final Fantasy fame. As you can see in the above screencap, they look adorable! Details are forthcoming on how these two mascots will be given out to LBP fans.

Update: SCEJ just confirmed that PSP firmware 5.0 is scheduled to hit next week.

German site Elhabib is reporting that a “very reliable source” has told them that a new PlayStation 3 firmware update is due out by next week — 2.50. Additionally, the same source informed them that firmware 5.0 for PSP will drop during the same week and as previously speculated, will bring direct access to the currently PC-only PSP Store.

Firmware 2.5 coming out next week does seem likely, especially when you consider that Sony is releasing its official PS3 Bluetooth headset next week, which likely needs a new firmware for certain functions. That and PSP firmware is usually released around the same time as PS3 updates.

PS3 FW 2.50 noch in diesem Monat [Elhabib]

Former S.T.A.R.S. agent Albert Wesker makes his startling return in this brand-new Resident Evil 5 trailer Capcom sent over today, to celebrate the opening of 2008’s Tokyo Game Show.

Resident Evil is slated for a March 13, 2009 debut on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. That day can’t come soon enough!

Microsoft’s New Xbox Experience, the fully revamped dashboard featuring avatars, along with all new themes and an intuitive interface, will launch worldwide on November 19, as previously rumored. Xbox Live boss John Shappert announced the launch date to over 5,000 folks in attendance at this year’s Tokyo Game Show.

Additionally, Bungie’s new game — Halo 3: Recon — was unveiled during Shappert’s speech. Slated for a fall 2009 release, Recon is a prequel that extends the Halo 3 universe with hours of new campaign excursions and multiplayer gameplay. With a greater emphasis being placed on stealth-based gameplay this time around, players assume the role of a UNSC recon soldier and experience the tension-filled events leading up to Master Chief’s return to New Mombasa.

Sony has announced that beginning this week, it will offer a selection of Premium Themes each month on the PlayStation Store. The first round of themes hit the store tomorrow, offering “special backgrounds, XMB icons” and even sounds in certain cases. Pricing is modest, ranging from $0.99 to $1.99.

Fret not — Sony will continue offering free themes each week, in addition to the premium batch. Question is, are you interested in purchasing themes? From taking a quick glance at the sample themes posted over at the official PlayStation blog, I plan on sticking with the freebies and in many cases even more visually appealing user-created themes.

New Premium Theme Options on PlayStation Store [PS Blog]

Blu-ray on Xbox 360: it’s a rumor that just won’t die, no matter what. According to a report from technology news site X-bit Labs, Toshiba has been contracted by Microsoft to produce external Blu-ray disc drives for the Xbox 360.

While the exact specs of the drive are unknown at this point, expect it to fall between the range of $100-150 dollars, assuming this report is factually accurate. That’s around the price the now-defunct HD-DVD add-on peripheral initially launched at.

Maintaining its stance on rumors, Microsoft could neither confirm nor deny the report, simply issuing a “no comment.”

My take: Blu-ray will arrive on 360 eventually. Microsoft needs to appeal to the growing market of folks that want to watch movies in high-definition on their console and with HD-DVD long gone, introducing a Blu-ray player is the only way they’ll be able to do so.

Microsoft Preps External Blu-Ray Disc Optical Drive for Xbox 360 [X-bit Labs]

Ubisoft Shanghai creative director Michael de Plater has revealed that the decision to release Tom Clancy’s voice-driven RTS EndWar on PC at a later date was made largely due to the threat of zero-day piracy that looms over the platform.

To be honest, if PC wasn’t pirated to hell and back, there’d probably be a PC version coming out the same day as the other two.

In further elaborating on the matter, Plater noted that releasing the PC edition on the same day would effectively “cannibalize” sales of the console versions, simply because when given the opportunity, less scrupulous individuals will choose to pirate.

That said, it’s a shame PC gamers will have to wait, but at least Ubisoft is continuing to support the platform. We can’t say the same for others.

Ubisoft creative director: “Piracy’s basically killing PC” [VG247]

Target retailers across North America will offer a special edition version of Ubisoft’s forthcoming action sports title Shaun White Snowboarding this Winter. Slated to hit PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii, the SE features additional content over the standard retail version, including an entire mountain environment created specifically for the store, plus additional scenes and characters.

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