PlayStation Home

During the 2007 Game Developers Conference, Sony announced PlayStation Home, a virtual community-based service for the PlayStation Network. Home allows users to create a virtual avatar for their PlayStation 3 system.[136][137] Avatars will have their own apartment, known as a "HomeSpace", which can be decorated with items that users can either purchase or receive following various achievements attained from certain games.[136] In the future the service will expand, allowing players to choose from a wider variety of clothing, as well as pets.[137] Home is a Second Life-like experience that allows PlayStation Network users to interact in a virtual world,[138] and acts as a meeting place for users that want to play multiplayer games with others.[138]

A closed beta began in Europe from May 2007 and expanded to other territories soon after,[139] while an open beta was scheduled for availability in October 2007.[138] However, at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, Sony delayed the release of Home to "Spring 2008",[140] and again on April 21, 2008, this time until "Fall 2008".[141] SCEI President and Group CEO Kaz Hirai later stated that the launch was delayed for further testing and feedback evaluation to provide the best possible experience upon launch.[142] The open beta was released on December 11, 2008[143] and is accessible to all PlayStation Network users free of charge directly from the Xross Media Bar (XMB), without the need of a firmware update or PlayStation Store download.[137][138]