Sony America has announced that the much delayed PlayStation Home online social service will in fact launch before the end of the year, although as a beta and not a final release.
There was no specific date set or how many beta users will be allowed to test out Home but it appears that the service will come as part of a new firmware upgrade.
At the beginning of the year, Sony promised Home would be available by the fall, after promising before that it would be ready by the spring.
Electronista explains that Home “will allow users from around the world to interact with each other and set up uniquely furnished apartments, virtual stores that can earn them virtual credits and play casual games. Users will be able to spend real money in the virtual world as well by shopping for games and products. Home also promises to double as an online interface for Sony’s TV and movie offerings.”
Result for: virtual world
Sony Computer Entertainment said this morning that the oft-delayed PlayStation Home community online service was to be delayed again, marking the third official delay since the service was announced.
The service was initially announced in July 2007 and promised to “provide users with the ability to create their own avatars and participate in a real-time virtual world,” something like the popular Second Life community. At that announcement, Sony said it would be available in the fall of 2007 but then delayed it until spring of this year.
With the latest delay however comes the ability for more users to join a closed beta test. The full public beta will hit in “fall” of this year barring any other delays.
“We understand that we are asking PS3 and prospective PS3 users to wait a bit longer, but we have come to the conclusion that we need more time to refine the service to ensure a more focused gaming entertainment experience than what it is today,” said Kazuo Hirai, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, in a statement.
