Sony have just popped a press release in our inbox to confirm that Firmware version 2.40 will be released on Wednesday.

Here it is in full.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced new online gaming functionality for PLAYSTATION 3, which will become available on July 2, 2008 with the 2.40 enhancement, an automatic firmware upgrade that delivers several of the features most requested by gamers. Combined with PLAYSTATION Network’s unique service of free online gaming, the enhancement makes PS3 an even more attractive platform of choice for the online gamer.

Firstly, the 2.40 enhancement allows XMB (XrossMediaBar) access in-game. This means that you can access the PS3 menu at any time while playing most games, simply by tapping the PlayStation button on your controller. With 2.40, you can check if any of your friends are online (thanks to their own user profile), read and send messages, change some settings for games, all without having to quit the game you are playing. While you can’t pause an online multiplayer game involving other people, you can rejoin play at any time when you’ve finished browsing. Along with these enhanced communications features, the Friends list capacity will double to 100 Friends.

2.40 also delivers trophies to recognise players’ achievements in the online arena. Other competitive activities recognise winners with trophies  so why not gaming on PS3? Many online games will have gold, silver and bronze trophies with platinum available for those who snag all three all displayed on the XMB for everyone to see.

Super Stardust HD, a PLAYSTATION Network-exclusive released last year, will be the first game to leverage the Trophies system and will offer a variety of trophies. The following first-party games are also slated to offer Trophy support:

· BUZZ! Quiz TV

· LittleBigPlanet

· MotorStorm Pacific Rift

· NBA 09 - PS3

· PAIN

· PixelJunk Eden

· Resistance 2

· SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation

· Warhawk