Sony HUB service to face-off with Xbox Live?

Next Generation is reporting that according to "well-placed industry sources" they have word that Sony is indeed planning an Xbox Live competitor, and maybe a little bit more. The story is that Sony will be dubbing the subscription service "HUB" and that it will serve PSP users along with PS3 owners. Supposedly Howard Stringer also wants "all media content to be available for distribution over PlayStation HUB" which jives with what we were hearing from that PlayStation Magazine article about a service "like the iTunes Music Store." Next Gen claims that Sony will be announcing HUB within the next few weeks, and as a side note mention rumblings of a September 16 launch date in Japan for the PS3, followed by September 21 launch in the US. Hope Sony fills us in soon though, 'cause we're sure how many more PS3 leaks we can take.

[Jason @ Feb 15th 2006 3:22PM]

Sony Has No Chance With "hub" in beating xbox live!!

[n8 @ Feb 15th 2006 3:25PM]

I thought that Engadget had found the PS article to be "...a little disparate, unlikely, and even downright dubious."

The article is looking plausible to me. Add-on hard-drive and TV Tuner certainly shouldn't be relied on until they're actually available (given Sony's history) but otherwise all we're really talking about here is an on-line store and some location-free TV and network features in the PS3 itself. I'm still expecting the hard-drive to be included, actually, and that the tuner will be the add-on.

[DinnyoonLerdj @ Feb 15th 2006 3:38PM]

This is most probably a lie (re: release date), but im so excited anyway.

As for the HUB......
I'm simply amazed that Sony will take on M$ in the online world, but Sony plot their risks well. This will be the cruncher, and if Sony get it right, it'll be a 1 horse race.

[Bryan @ Feb 15th 2006 3:57PM]

If the PS3 is out before Xmas this year I will be suprised, as for HUB, M$ already has a pretty system in place with Live so Sony is gonna have to pull one out of the bag of tricks to beat it

[Kamalot @ Feb 15th 2006 3:59PM]

Sony likes to pick their fights on all fronts.

PS3 - Battle against DVD / HD-DVD / Standalong Bluray players / Microsoft Xbox / Nintendo Revolution / Tivo / Media Center PCs

PSP - Battle against MP3 players / portable DVD players / portable video players / Nintendo DS / Nintendo GameBoy / GamePark / Apple iPod / Treo (wireless web browsing / RSS news reader / email) / GPS devices

PSHub - Battle against iTunes, Rhapsody, Netflicks, Napster, PlaysForSure / Microsoft Xbox Live / Skype

Why on earth would they pick a fight on so many fronts AND ask you to shell out more to get a hard drive to use most of these features? Does Sony HONESTLY think their machine will do even half of what they claim in a compotent, friendly fashion?

Based on my experience with Sony software; SonicStage, Connect, Root Kit, Everquest, Sony has proven to me that they don't know a good piece of software from a steaming turd. I shudder to think of that the HUB will feel like.

Did Sony not read The Art of War?

[Spartacus @ Feb 15th 2006 4:00PM]

Engadget:
"Hope Sony fills us in soon though, 'cause we're *[NOT?]* sure how many more PS3 leaks we can take."

I think that's what you meant...

[Otto @ Feb 15th 2006 4:01PM]

I'm dying to watch how badly Sony bungles *this* new project.

TOP SECRET SONY PLAN

Step 1) Launch PS3
Step 2) Launch HUB
Step 3) Aim gun at foot...

[Virtuous @ Feb 15th 2006 4:04PM]

This certainly sounds plausible. Online PSP support would rock.

[James @ Feb 15th 2006 4:22PM]

I just think Microsoft have some kind of patents related to online gaming. They are just waiting for Sony to do their "Online HUB" before they sue the crap out of them.

[John Doe @ Feb 15th 2006 4:46PM]

Wait a minute....screw the Sony news....Next Generation is back!??! Hot damn!! When the heck did this happen?!

Oh as for hub....another subscription? Not in this lifetime. I'm already being slammed with monthly charges from BlockBuster Online, Direct TV, cell phone, cable modem, etc. I don't need to add to it.

[GanzHimself @ Feb 15th 2006 5:08PM]

I sure as hell hope that Sony doesn't have the same shortage problem that Microsoft had for the 360... I mean, that thing is going to be in HUGE demand, and i know that I will for sure be dropping everything for a few days to stand in line for one... Or two... Or three... Depending on if I can get my hands on some to sell on eBay. Something tells me that they will be really hard to come by though until November, right before Black Friday, then there will be an "unexpected" shipment of them to the stores. I just hope that all the reports about it not even being close to done are false... Because I don't know how much longer I can hold out.

[Ryan @ Feb 15th 2006 5:12PM]

Sony= Hardware
MS= Software

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you need software to make hardware work? And aren't the hardware specs pretty friggin close? (3.2 PPC, 512 RAM, 500ish mhz GPU)

Then again the Piss2 and Dreamcast were closer in hardware than Sony led on and look what happened to Sega.
Xbox LIVE rules!!!!1! fanboy stylez

[Brizal @ Feb 15th 2006 5:40PM]

Uhhh... Sony Connect?

[ThatBozGuy @ Feb 15th 2006 6:15PM]

Um.... has anyone else noticed that this KILLS THE SPRING RELEASE DATE that had been bolstered up all of this time.

Spring in Japan, fall in USA meant rollout buildup of units for USA Christmas and early adopters.

Now world wide rollout within a week of each other almost guarantees shortages in the supply chain.

[Jake @ Feb 15th 2006 6:57PM]

Nothing about a launch in two territories "guarantees" a shortage. Sony could make 2 million PS3's for launch and be absolutely fine. IBM has already said there won't be any problems with the Cell processor, and NVIDIA shouldn't have any problems rolling out the RSX, which is very similar to the 7800. If they start soon, or already have started production, there will be a good number of consoles available. I see this launch being much like the PS2 launch, where it was still difficult to find one the first three weeks or so, but after that it became much easier. It shouldn't be anything like that of the 360, which has had some unfortunate hiccups in the production process.

I personally loved the PSP launch, where they over-produced and I was able to walk into my local Wal-Mart a few days after and pick one up without a problem. I don't guess there's any chance of that this September...

[Kamalot @ Feb 15th 2006 7:01PM]

For all the people complaining about launch shortages, remember the PS2 fiasco? There wasn't anything worth playing on the PS2 for a year after launch.

I suggest waiting until a great game comes out for the PS3 before picking one up. You know the extra features aren't going to be very good on their own, and not better than a dedicated device.

[ScottE @ Feb 15th 2006 7:44PM]

Step 1: Launch HUB
Step 2:
Step 3: PROFIT!

[Jamesology @ Feb 15th 2006 9:31PM]

to #12

Sony does make Hardware and Sony also has the biggest 3rd party support. Look at PSP, Sony didnt make any games and still going pretty strong. Heck even Coca Cola supported PSP Wipeout; even Volkswagen supported PSP with Ipod with their special edition Jetta. Several Hotels supported PSP by letting customers rent them out. Hardware does need software but from Sony's history it doesn't seem like they will have problems with finding sponsors.

Stop insulting Sony just b/c you can't afford it. Point the finger at your own parents for being poor. Gadgets are gadgets don't matter what label is on it; if it has buttons, love it!

[B1gC72 @ Feb 15th 2006 10:15PM]

now im a Playstation Fanboy til i die and im getting pretty excited about this whole thing. its nice to have some kind of possible release date, its like a single ray of hope that i wont wait til im old and gray for this thing. and the HUB service sounds semi-promising. even being a fanboy i know that you have to take Sony's hype with a grain of salt. there is no way that Sony will "kill" Xbox Live. it has too much of a fanbase already, i mean it does have 2 generations of success behind it vs. Sony's........PlayOnLine lol. it's nice to set the bar high i guess...boy i hope they pull it off.....

[ScottE @ Feb 16th 2006 12:01AM]

"Point the finger at your own parents for being poor"

Wow, just wow....some people have better things to spend 4-6 hundred dollars on than a PlayStation 3. I just still cannot wrap my mind around the ignorance of that statement.

[James @ Feb 16th 2006 2:23AM]

#11.

Isn't Sony trying to make the PS3 an even more bloated PSX (the one in Japan and NOT the first Playstation sold here)? Look at the success (or rather) failure of the PSX in Japan. High cost = failure.

[LennyMan @ Feb 16th 2006 8:20AM]

The 'HUB' already exists (well sorta...) - I use Xlink Kai for my kid's XBOX (as I am not prepared to pay for 'Live') and that already has support for PSP's and any other device that uses 'link system' style multi-player connectivity. Seriously, the technology is already written - its just infrastructure and marketing we are talking about here, and lets face it, Sony will have to provide a 'Silver' level for free on the PS3 (as M$ has with the 360) in order to compete.

[Chris @ Feb 16th 2006 9:27AM]

LOL you really thing microsoft is sitting idle while all this is happen there the king of flash updates, dont be suprised if a week or so after the announcement any "wow features" are all taken away by a dashboard upgrade for the 360....

Also SOMETHINGS BOTHERING ME about the ps3, its something i have with my sony laptop and also have seen with the brava tv's sony are a bunch of scandelous a*ses i mean come on, they put counter limits on there laptop batteries and also were exposed as having put one in the hours of there tv to stop them both from performing, ya they got caught on the tv publicly because they set the time too short that it was too obvious.

I'll just laugh when you find out that the ps3 has a 5000 hr life span and then the internal clock stops it from booting LOL

[Chris @ Feb 16th 2006 9:31AM]

Also thers 1 other thing, not to forget. Remember Microsoft has a better track record of not over selling there console on what it can do, Sony on the other stand has a horrible track record, as i recall i dont remember seeing toystory rendered live on the ps2.

And there have already been reports that most of the upcoming games for the ps3 are not ready for release any time soon and the ones that are no where near what was supposed to be possible (killzone video) while on the other hand we have Ghost Recon 3, that was recently reviewed as being pretty da*n close to the original produced video that was released.

Just my 2 cents

[Jim @ Feb 16th 2006 1:35PM]

Finally Sony is coughing up some info. While I am very excited about this new HUB service I am kind of worried that they are trying to do to much to fast. If they have the service and it works great, then I will be happier then a bus load of retards going to the Chucky Cheese. But I am really worried that they are trying to top Xbox live all in one version. I really think that their business model should be to get a solid gaming product on the market, the slowly but surely over time increase the services offered. Sony has such a large customer base and a very loyal customer base that they do not need to worry about this being a failure unless they screw this up and release the worst online service in history. If they simply made a good online gaming service that was rock solid, they would have allot of support a huge customer base. Then over time they can add services that will make it more of a direct competitor with XBL. Online support for the PSP is so cool I am really excited about that.

The other thing I have to say is a pleasant surprise is that Sony is not going to make those of us in the USA wait six months like they have in the past. I know that the Japanese have allot of national pride, but come on making your second biggest customer wait six months is kind of a slap in the face.

#3: I do not think so. Even if this is a really great online system, I think Sony has fallen way behind, and they have a long catch up process ahead of them. Just like Microsoft is still way behind Sony in hardware. I think they have a long way to go before they will be able to take over a large portion of the hardware market even if they do everything right. One console generation or one software service does not build a complete empire.

#5: I am really surpised at this also it seems like they are trying to conquer the world in one swoop. I am really praying that this HUB online service does really well. I do not want Microsoft to be the only online service available because they will let their service go right down the toilet.

#8: No kidding! PSP is such an awesome hand held, the only thing that is missing is a better online.

#9: No there is no patent on online gaming, since it is all TCP IP connection and unlike Al Gore, Microsoft did not invent the internet.

#20: Come one we all have hobbies that are expensive. A friend of mine plays golf allot, he will drop $500 on a driver, another friend I hunt with will buy a new shotgun every two years or so and spend $800 to $1100 at a time. Hobbies cost money, and disposable income is something that video games are cashing in on. Back in the day when I was a teenager, I had to make the choice between Sega and NES. Now I am grown up and if I want to buy both Xbox 360 and PS3 I am going to. Gamers are not the teenagers and early 20s that they were in the past. Your right that I probably do have better things to spend my money on but when it comes down to it, this is my hobby and love to play video games and I will pay the money.

[Andy @ Feb 16th 2006 1:44PM]

"all media content to be available for distribution over PlayStation HUB"

this sounds like it might work better than anything microsoft could do simply because of the fact that sony owns several movie studios, record labels, etc.

Sony is going for more than online gaming with the hub, and honestly, in terms of online gaming, what more would you need than matchmaking, leaderboards, etc. It is everything that XB Live already offers, so if sony manages to get the gaming part right, alongside with the strong potential of the media part, the HUB just might actually be a Live "Killer."

the only thing about the media content that worries me is the fear of it being riddled with drm. the only way any kind of drm sony puts on their media would have to be unobtrusive... i cant help but think of the rootkit fiasco...

[Craig @ Feb 16th 2006 8:02PM]

Oh, please tell me they HUB isn't completly replacing CONNECT??? Oh, please tell me...

[beny @ Apr 28th 2006 8:13AM]

please send repair playstation 2 &3 book in my mail