Sony announced today that it will start PlayStation Home Open Beta Service within this calendar year. PlayStation Home is a 3D on-line user community service for the PS3. Through the closed beta test conducted since late August this year, the company has offered users to test different areas in PlayStation Home, to enjoy communication, and to try games and events such as Namco Museum BETA from Namco Bandai Games Inc., echochrome and Destroy All Heros www from SCE. While the company continues to update and elaborate features and service based on various feedback obtained through the closed beta test, it will start the final stage of a large-scale closed beta test between late October and early November, to prepare for the Open Beta Service.
In addition to the already available game titles, PlayStation Home will offer new and exciting experience in collaboration with titles from first party and third party developers and publishers, such as BIOHAZARD 5 and STREET FIGHTER IV from Capcom Co. Ltd., and SIREN: Blood Curse, Hot Shot Golf 5, TrashBOX, Mainichi Issho, dress, and Derby Time Online from SCE. Additionally, users’ gaming experience will be further enhanced by communicating with other players in game lounges and experiencing “Home Rewards” system, where users will be able to obtain special items usable within PlayStation Home, depending on the level of their game play.
In Japan, 24 third party developers and publishers* have decided to join the Japanese version of PlayStation Home. Further details will be announced on PlayStation Home Official Site (for Japan) as they become available.
Taking the opportunity of showcasing PlayStation Home at Tokyo Game Show 2008 starting on October 9, the actual SCEJ booth in real-life will be replicated within the currently running closed beta. In this virtually replicated booth, users will be able to watch promotion videos of various game titles and obtain exclusive items only available in this virtual area.
* – Publishers include:
- ACQUIRE Corp.
- ACTIVISION Ltd.
- AQ INTERACTIVE INC.
- ATLUS CO.,LTD.
- Capcom Co., Ltd.
- D3 PUBLISHER Inc.
- ELECTRONIC ARTS K.K.
- GAME REPUBLIC INC.
- Genki Co.,Ltd.
- GungHo Online Entertainment, Inc.
- HUDSON SOFT CO.,LTD.
- IREM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INC.
- KOEI Co.,Ltd.
- Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
- NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.
- NIPPON ICHI SOFTWARE INC.
- PAON CORPORATION
- Q Entertainment Inc.
- SEGA CORPORATION
- SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION
- Spike Co.,Ltd.
- TECMO,LTD.
- UBI SOFT KK
- Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd.
