PlayStation 3 Home online community pushed back to 2008

September 20, 2007 – Sony has revealed that it is delaying the launch of the Home online world service for its PlayStation 3 (PS3) games console to 2008, in order to ensure the quality of the finished product.

The virtual online world will enable users to socialise with other console owners and acquire and decorate their own virtual home, following the growing popularity of online communities such as Facebook and MySpace.  The Home service is reportedly intended by Sony to be a key aspect of its plans to win over customers from rivals Microsoft and Nintendo.

“This is going to be a worldwide service that needs to offer a wide range of functions required in Japan, in the US, in Europe and in Asia,” stated Kazuo Hirai, Chief Executive of Sony Computer Entertainment, during a speech at the Tokyo Game Show.  “We aim to launch this as something that can meet the expectations of people all over the world.”

Sony’s PS3 currently trails behind Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii.  Figures released by the NPD Group indicate that Nintendo sold 404,000 Wii consoles in the US in August of this year, while Microsoft sold 277,000 Xbox 360s and Sony sold 131,000 PS3s.