PlayStation 3 gamers have not had a smooth ride with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but Bethesda is giving the user base much-needed attention; it has released the 1.7 update for PlayStation 3. The 1.7 update mainly features bug fixes; it also includes the 1.6 update.

Along with bug fixes, 1.7 improves Kinect shouts for Xbox 360 players. Obviously it does not apply to the PlayStation 3, using the PlayStation Move technology.

1.6 is a major update in its own right, notably introducing mounted combat.

Mounted combat is a result of Bethesda's Game Jam, which allowed developers to create new features. The Skyrim Game Jam spawned a range of ideas, perhaps for future DLC packs. Notably, these include a giant mudcrab and Assassin's Vision, the latter for seeing important objects in the dark. Mounted combat, magic/range kill cameras, and the Vampire Lord are features introduced into Skyrim via the Game Jam.

Ideas from the Game Jam were released in the recent Dawnguard downloadable content (DLC) pack, featuring the Vampire Lord. Dawnguard received strong critical praise on its initial release for Xbox 360 and later arrival for PC. It focuses on the Vampire Lord story arc, but players have the option to become a werewolf if bloodsucking is not an attractive idea. Players who want to download Dawnguard on PlayStation 3 are required to have update 1.6 installed to use the DLC.

The 1.6 update also includes a host of bug fixes, detailed in full on the Bethesda blog.

The 1.7 update arrived for PC last week, while the Xbox 360 should be getting it alongside the PlayStation 3. The 1.6 update arrived earlier in May for Xbox 360.

However, the 1.7 update is North American only. The 1.7 update for Europe is still in certification, according to Vice President Peter Hines at Bethesda. He said via Twitter that the update will show as 1.06 on PlayStation 3, despite rolling two updates together.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is now available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.