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Sony Computer Entertainment has today announced that its highly anticipated PlayStation Home Beta service will become available for all PS3 users around the world on December 11, 2008.
“PlayStation Home is truly a promising network community service on the PlayStation platform, made possible with the powerful combination of PS3’s overwhelming computational power and PlayStation Network that covers many countries around the globe,” said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCE. “We are committed to providing PS3 users with exciting gaming experiences with PlayStation Home and together with our partners and users, expand the new world of interactive entertainment as we move forward.”
PlayStation Home will be available as a free download (when the service is available, PlayStation Home icon will appear after booting/ re-booting the PS3 system) and will launch directly from the PlayStation Home icon on the PSN column of XMB.
Sony states that users will be able to experience “basic features and services… free of charge” although beyond avatar customisation it’s not yet clear which features and services will carry a price tag.
Home will also evolve with additional features including dedicated game spaces, special events and exclusive themed items designed to further enrich the entertainment experience on the PS3. This will begin with a themed Far Cry 2 space and will be followed by spaces for Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Warhawk, Motorstorm and SOCOM following very soon.
“We are very excited to be bringing PlayStation Home to Europe and the PAL territories, offering users an interactive, social, gaming experience,” said Daniel Hill, Home Service Manager, SCEE. “PlayStation Home is unique to anything else in the gaming world and by partnering with both global and regional gaming and non-gaming brands, we are able to offer exciting and entertaining content that will enhance the PlayStation experience.”
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today also announced the first partnerships with lifestyle brands for the Open Beta. Fashion leader Diesel, contemporary furniture designers Ligne Roset, energy drink Red Bull, film studio Paramount Pictures and video content providers Hexus TV and Eurogamer are the first on board. Diesel is offering the latest men’s and women’s designer avatar clothing, with items ranging from free of charge to €1.50.
Are you excited by Home? Let us know in the comments section below.
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