Sony has announced that the highly anticipated Home (Open Beta) has now been pushed back to Fall (September).
Now unless I am mistaken this means that the Beta will have been running as a closed Beta for over a year before it becomes and Open Beta. Which I then presume will take another 6 months.
That’s quite a hefty delay there… Full press release after the break
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that it will expand the Closed Beta testing for PLAYSTATION®Home in Summer 2008, inviting a further number of registrants from the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) users. Following completion of the Expanded Closed Beta test, the PLAYSTATION Home Open Beta service will commence in Fall 2008.
“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 and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “Our overarching objective is to provide users with new gaming experiences that are available only on PLAYSTATION Home. Spending more time on the development and on the Closed Beta testing reaffirms our commitment to bringing a quality service, maintaining the PlayStation® tradition.â€
The PLAYSTATION Home Open Beta service that will become available in Fall 2008 will be built around providing new and fun community gaming experiences, such as connecting PlayStation games with Home and providing places and items from the games.
Details of the Closed Beta testing features, registration for the test and the opening of the service will be announced as they become available.
Platform Nation » Playstation Home Not Open Till Fall of 08
Last Updated: April 22, 2008
RE: Gamer
April 22, 2008 at 12:07
MGSO fallout? Maybe they need the extra time to make sure the servers don’t bomb out the minute it becomes an open beta.
RE: Gamer’s last blog post..Kojima Jnr disappointed with Metal Gear Solid 4
Evilredzombie
April 22, 2008 at 12:10
I think they are covering all aspects… when this does lunch and i predict december it will be perfect and blow the rest out the water
Evilredzombie’s last blog post..Sony PS3 firmware 2.30
darthdad
April 22, 2008 at 12:51
Damn! I’m really looking forward to this.
j4nr1k
April 22, 2008 at 12:52
I predict a LAG fest of note.
Then a crash. Then a Japan only move for a few months.
This is the big league. Lets hope Sony is ready.
PaasHaas
April 22, 2008 at 12:55
If they launch this and it is not perfect… Gaming forums/blogs all over are going to be engulfed by a flaming $%^&storm.
Abe
April 22, 2008 at 14:00
All I want is ingame XMB!
kay
April 22, 2008 at 14:13
Gotta love marketing speak:
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that it will expand the Closed Beta testing…
Which really stands for:
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that it will delay the Open Beta launch…
Hehehe!
kay’s last blog post..Uncle Bob’s upcoming book: Clean Code
doobiwan
April 22, 2008 at 16:50
I reckon it’s the ultimate Sony ruse. Home doesn’t actually exist. All the screen shots we’ve seen are actually just CGi movies and home itself is a ploy to draw people who don’t have first lives onto teh PS3 . . . . 😉
Razmael
April 22, 2008 at 19:47
@ doobiwan:
Go back to your cube at Micro$oft! You’re not fooling anyone. 😆
JimBob
April 22, 2008 at 22:40
Sony announced Home far too early – I think it really is that simple. Perhaps they should even have targeted it for the PS4 rather than the PS3.
Personally, I don’t care all that much as long as they deliver the in-game messaging and custom soundtracks in ‘summer’ as promised.