It's PlayStation Network update time, and this week's new batch of content is headlined by some Rocketmen heading to Uranus in an expansion pack, and two new Hot Shots Golf playable characters.

Rock Band, of course, gets its usual weekly track offerings, with two songs being reduced in price for a short time. Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore continues to show it's not going anywhere by adding an additional 21 songs, now available for download. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit has a demo (also available on Xbox LIVE), as well as the previously announced demo for Overlord: Raising Hell. A few wallpapers for echochrome, Overlord and Haze; as well as the trailer for the amazing looking Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm and the demo for the PSP's Secret Agent Clank finish off the week's high profile offerings.

Full list after the jump.

Those sitting on the floor, quietly hiding underneath their Metal Gear Solid cosplay boxes waiting for pre-order details on the most bad-ass of PlayStation 3 models....it's time to come out. Sony and Konami previously confirmed that the "super limited edition"  gunmetal grey Metal Gear Solid 4-emblazoned PS3 would be headed our way, but they have been scant on any purchasing details.

Today it was revealed that the SKU, which is clearly aimed at the most hardcore, non-PS3 owning customer, will only be available for purchase through the Konami website. The new bundle, which comes with the 40GB PS3, a DualShock 3 controller (both in the new color scheme), and the Limited Edition version of Metal Gear Solid 4 will retail for $599.99, and will ship "1-2 days" after the game's release on June 12th. Pre-orders begin on May 19th...so make sure that you emerge from your hiding spot, or deactivate your Octocam before then.

*Note: Contrary to some speculation, this bundle is unrelated to the already confirmed "standard" game/console bundle also arriving on MGS4's release day. 

Codemasters just shot me an email letting me know that the recently announced PlayStation 3 port of Overlord, titled Raising Hell, has a demo available on the PlayStation Network today. The "enhanced" version of the game includes the online co-op play and split-screen multiplayer that was patched into the initial Xbox 360 version, right on the Blu-ray Disc. As well, the extended development time has yielded improved graphics, an added on-screen mini-map for navigation, and a 7.1 Surround Sound audio system.

In the demo, players don the Overlord’s illustrious armour and embark on a session of serious destruction in the once tranquil area of the Mellow Hills. As the delightfully despotic Overlord, players are supported by the Minions, a raucous horde of impish creatures. The Minions are more than willing to act as instructed, no matter how unpleasant that may be for the unsuspecting populace and, most notably, the local wildlife.

Overlord: Raising Hell is scheduled to ship on June 20th. Full announcement after the jump.

Echochrome, Sony's trippy little puzzler title that's available for a surprisingly low price on the PlayStation Store, is getting its first content update today.  The company is releasing the first of the user created level packs as part of today's Store update.

The content pack includes 20 new levels, and are only playable until May 21st, when they'll be replaced with the next content pack.  The levels appear randomly in the game's freeform mode, and you'll have to have the difficulty set to 2 or 3 for them to appear.  And while we're pro-content, and pro-freebie, we're anti-time limit.  We still don't get why these levels are only being offered for a limited time.  Is network space at that much of a premium?

Via PlayStation Blog  

Sony dropped us all a line late last night saying that firmware v2.35 for the PlayStation 3 was intended to be released "soon"....which, coincidentally, meant "just a few minutes from now." The auto-update is now available for download - a relatively quick one at that - and is nothing more than a minor fix to "improve stability of some PS3 titles."

Sony responded to comments, saying that this update is in no way related to fixing the GTA IV problem that has plagued the PS3 version. As it stands, that's pretty much true. Oh, and before you ask...nope, no in-game XMB!

Last night, Sony and Konami held a snazzy shindig in Japan celebrating the completion of Metal Gear Solid 4's development. Hideo Kojima gave a lengthy, 40-minute gameplay demo including the game's intro cutscene. Afterwards, Hideo was  joined by Sony's Kaz Hirai to reveal the MGS4 TV spots, an ad for a new Japanese energy drink (promoted in-game by Snake), the Gunmetal MGS4-themed PS3, and the brand new "theatrical" trailer, complete with the talents of Mr. Hollywood Voiceover guy.

Be warned, though. The theatrical trailer does have loads of plot spoilers, so watch at your own risk. Hit the jump for the rest of the released footage.

Attention all Euro MGS fans! Are you excited for the upcoming release of MGS4? Do you not yet have the game pre-ordered, and are jealous of us Americans and our Metal Gear Saga Volume 2 DVD that we got? Here's your chance to one up everyone, as Sony has announced your own pre-sell program for those that plunk down the dough for a pre-order, and a variaition on the more extravagent SKU.

At the participating retailers, gamers who pre-order will receive the MGS V.2 DVD that recaps the series througn a collection of in-game media. As well, the EU Limited Edition has been confirmed to include not only the copy of the game and everything the U.S. version does (a behind-the-scenes Blu-ray Disc and a soundtrack CD), but it will also come with a six-inch Old Snake figurine - all for £79.99 RRP. You mean we get gypped on the action figure? Lame. At least I've got my Statue of Happiness replica to keep me company...

Full announcement after the jump. 

Although my excitement for Grand Theft Auto IV has yet to subside, I am having to share it as I work myself up into a tizzy awaiting my copy of Metal Gear Solid 4 to arrive. In just under a month, Metal Gear fans across the world will be playing through Snake's final adventure; and if the Official UK PlayStation Magazine's world exclusive review isn't enough of an indication, this really is Snake's final mission.

As you probably had guessed already, Kojima's end to the saga has received a perfect "10", ranking it in the upper echelons of gaming goodness. PSMUK cites what many hade come to expect: if you haven't played the series before, you're not likely going to have the slightly freakin' clue what is going on. But they do proclaim that: "Guns of the Patriots' overarching plot requires zero prior knowledge", apparently because it recaps the entire plotline as it wraps all the loose ends up. For good. I guess Hideo decided that more than just the hardcore need to buy this game, eh?

Some of the more interesting bits come in the descriptions of the new Metal Gear Gekkos, which are the new mechanical terrors that "are remarkably fast, smart, and agile" - even going so far as to scale buldings to get to you. As well, that April Fool's Day video showing Snake dressed as Altair? Yeah, that outfit actually is the game as one of many disguises. That should prove interesting. "As for Snake? It turns out his last stand really is his finest hour." Well, that does it. If I wasn't excited enough already, that pushed me over the top.