Even out of the box, the PS3 is a good Blu-ray DVD player, and it’s going to get better. According to an interview with PS3 A/V developers, the console will receive an update in the future adding 1080p/24 support for films (translating to a crisper, more realistic playback) and, most importantly, the ability to play standard DVD movies at 1080p HD resolution. The update will also add better software SACD support and user-selectable internal YCrCb image processing.

Gamers can look forward to quite a few titles at the PS3 launch next month. According to Sony’s official announcement, the following games will be available during the console’s “launch window”:

• Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
  
• Call of Duty 3
  
• EA Sports Fight Night Round 3
  
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
  
• F.E.A.R.
  
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines
  
• Genji: Days of the Blade
  
• Madden NFL 07
  
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
  
• Mobile Suit Gundam: CROSSFIRE
  
• NBA 2K7
  
• NBA 07
  
• Need For Speed Carbon
  
• NHL 2K7
  
• RIDGE RACER 7
  
• Resistance: Fall of Man
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog
  
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
  
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas
  
• Tony Hawk’s Project 8
  
• Untold Legends Dark Kingdom

The above-listed, and all PS3 games, will retail for $60. The company also noted that the first shipment of PS3 units in North America will include a Blu-ray copy of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, which won’t be available for purchase separately until December 12.

Sony also announced an official HDMI cable ($50) and listed the prices for the Sixaxis controller ($50), the Blu-ray remote control ($25) and the Memory Card adapter for PS1/PS2 memory cards ($15).

An announcement on Sony Computer Entertainment’s Japanese site reveals the official name of the PS3 controller: Sixaxis. The company has officially dropped the DualShock name that has been used since the original PlayStation, with the new name referring to the controller’s six axes of motion control supported through sensors. Sixaxis will retail for 5000 yen (approx. $45 US).

Sony also officially revealed the memory card reader for the PS3; this will allow players to transfer their save games from the PS2 to the new console. It will retail for 1500 yen (approx. $15 US). The company also showed off the PS3 Blu-ray remote, which basically looks like the PS2’s DVD remote in design. The remote will retail for 3600 yen (approx. $30 US).

No prices for other territories were disclosed.