Update #2: And the firmware is live! Check Network Update to download, or this direct link.

Update: In a PS Blog post, PlayStation Network director Eric Lempel has confirmed that firmware 2.80 for PS3 is indeed on its way. Changelog? Nothing to get excited about, this one simply improves the “playback quality of some PLAYSTATION 3 format software.”

We’ve just been informed by a well-placed source that PS3 firmware 2.80 is due out “soon.”

For what it’s worth, a debug version of said firmware appeared on the Sony press site earlier this afternoon. However, the supplied download link is not working as of writing, meaning it was likely made public inadvertently.

No word yet on what new features or functionality the update will introduce, if any. It’ll be a relatively minor version bump from 2.76, so we’re not expecting much, honestly. Stay tuned.

Follow this author on Twitter.