PS3 firmware 3.0 is shaping to be quite the update. In fact, it’s so massive that PSN director Eric Lempel says it’ll be the last significant round of additions to hit the PS3 for the remainder of 2009.

You know, I wouldn’t say that or sure just yet because we are working on some things,” said PlayStation Network operations director Eric Lempel in a phone interview following Sony’s GamesCom announcements. “But this is a big and significant update, so you would be correct to assume that [it's the last major update for 2009].

Now, it’s very plausible that we’ll see other minor system software updates after and even before 3.0 drops, but as far as experience-changing enhancements go, 3.0 is it. For this year, at least. With the feature set it boasts, we certainly aren’t complaining. The inclusion of software-based backwards compatibility would make it extra special, but only time (TGS?) will tell us if that happens.

Read more: PSP Firmware 5.03 Incoming, PS3 Firmware 2.42 Goes Live, PS3 Firmware 2.01 Coming Soon, PS3 Firmware 2.76 Out Now, PlayStation Store for PC Reopens, Media Manager 3.0 Software Released