Sony has announced that firmware update v.2.20 for the PlayStation 3 will bring with it "Blu-ray Disc (BD) Profile 2.0". Translation – it will enable PS3s to run interactive features on Blu-ray movies.

The update is due 'in late March'.

Sony brings two specific features of Profile 2.0 (henceforth to be known as BD-Live) to our attention. The first is downloadable content, which will include: “bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more.”

The second is interactive, movie-based games. These will be playable by two players locally or online.

Also mentioned is the fact that the update will enhance PS3 and PSP inter-connectivity, allowing owners of both platforms to copy music and photo playlists from the home console to the handheld. We are also told that Remote Play will be extended to enable the use of the PSP as a remote control for music on the PS3.

The update is scheduled for late March, while movies with BD-Live features will be going on sale from next month.

So, does this mean that the Blu-ray camp isn't just resting on its laurels following the downfall of HD-DVD. Clearly it feels there's work to be done in getting non-HD converters to make the upgrade. That said, the only downloadable content being offered that hasn't been getting squeezed onto plain old DVDs in their boxed copies for years is the ringtones. SPOnG also feels obliged to point out that HD-DVD offered online, interactive features last summer.

In addition to all the above, Sony also tells us that the following features will be included in the update:



What the update doesn't bring, however, is in-game messaging.