The PlayStation Network is currently undergoing a scheduled round of maintenance, but when the service springs back to life you’ll be able to download a new firmware update for your PlayStation 3 to upgrade the system to version 3.60.

What’s new in the update? Well other than a few mystery features that are yet to be announced, what has been revealed is that PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to take advantage of a new feature called ‘Online Storage for Game Saves.’ What does it do? It’s pretty self-explanatory, but here goes:

Basically, you’ll be able to save your PlayStation 3 game progress online so that you’re able to access that save file from any PS3, anywhere in the world. PS Plus subscribers will be given 150MB to play with, for a total of up to 1000 PS3 game saves. All you need to do is log into the PlayStation Network with your own PSN ID and, voila, your save files will be available to you!

According to a post on the US PlayStation Blog, “most PS3 titles will be compatible with online storage for game saves, and moving forward, all new titles will have the capability to offer the storage option.”

Here are some instructions for PS Plus members (this time from the European PlayStation Blog) on how to backup your current ‘offline’ save games using Online Storage for Game Saves:

“… simply highlight the game save you want to store in the [Saved Data Utility (PS3)], press the triangle button to bring up the options, select “copy” and then select “Online Storage” as the destination. In turn, you can access your Online Storage list via [Saved Data Utility (PS3)] when signed into PlayStation Network on a friend’s PS3 and download your stored game saves to carry on your game from where you left off.

“If the developer has chosen to implement copy protection on their game saves, you can still copy those files to Online Storage but there will be a 24 hour period, after each save, before you can then download them on any PS3.

“If your PlayStation Plus subscription expires then you will no longer be able to access Online Storage until you renew your subscription. However, any game saves stored will be kept for six months and you will be able to access them as before when you renew the subscription, as long as you do so within that six month period.” Source:

Source: European PlayStation Store and US PlayStation Store