The PlayStation.Blog, that wonderful little Web site that gathers positive Sony news stories each week (but will one day screw up and post a negative one -- we're watching!) has let its readers know that PS3 firmware v2.42 is ready to install for Japanese customers. It's only compulsory for Japanese PS3 fans, but if you really want it, you can have it.

Hi, everyone, I wanted to give you a heads up about PS3 firmware update (v2.43). Unlike previous updates, firmware v2.43 is specific to the Japan region, and only PS3 users there will be required to install the update. PS3 users in all other regions will not be prompted to download v2.43. However, if you manually initiate a firmware update by clicking on “System Update” under the XMB’s Settings icon, the v2.43 update will be available, regardless of where you are located.

Users outside of Japan do not need to perform this update if your PS3 system software is on version v2.41 or later. However if you do perform the update, it will not cause any issues with your system or add any new functionality.

Quick, go get it! You don't want Japan hogging all the effectively useless firmware fun, do you? They're getting something you don't have, it's the principle of the thing!

So, what does the firmware update do, exactly? Nothing that benefits the gamer, but we have it on good authority that it actually allows Jack Tretton to see OUT of the PlayStation Eye peripheral, giving him a window into Japanese homes and the ability to look at what they're doing.

And he sees them all playing Wii.

And this makes Jack Tretton angry.