SCEA confirms: PlayStation Home launch coming this month in US

We know you aren't going to believe it 'til you see it, but SCEA has confirmed to our brethren at Joystiq that PlayStation Home will hit the US market before 2009 dawns. In the words of PS Home director Jack Buser: "We've been saying it will launch by the end of calendar year 2008, and that's getting very, very close." He continued by affirming that "launch is imminent," but stopped short of giving us a date to mark down in our calendars. Tick, tock.

[JayVe Posted Dec 9th 2008 8:18AM]

It was originally due for an open beta more than a year ago.

Home has been a colossal waste of time and resources that could have been put into developing GAMES.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2008 10:29AM]

JayVe = Fail..

Can you list the number of games that sony actually produces????

Huh??

Can you??

That's right you can't.

Sony produces the console...and console content... not games..
It has not been a waste of time...
Maybe ill managed...
But it has taken no time away from game development.

[mercurycougar871 Posted Dec 9th 2008 8:14AM]

it will be our christmas present from sony

[Drummrgy Posted Dec 10th 2008 12:45AM]

I got the beta. It's kinda cool. But I hope the final version is more expansive. And I hope they continue to make good use of the many opportunities that something like this affords.

[onlineatron Posted Dec 9th 2008 3:46PM]

I'm in the beta and I have to admit I wasn't impressed at first. But when I thought about it I realised it could be pretty awesome.

Meeting up with friends chatting and then launching into a game seems fun. Then if trophies get implemented as currency or physical (virtual) objects to decorate your space with that would be awesome.

If Sony whole-heartedly supports Home then I can see it being an incredible application. If they forget about it and fail to listen to what the PUBLIC want then Home to will fail.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2008 1:05PM]

You are all missing the point. What Sony is trying to do is get the PS3 beyond just another console where kids shout explicatives at eachother while playing the latest shooter, and towards an all around entertainment system. I'm in the beta, and I've seen people sitting around and chatting about their kids, or just played a relaxed game of pool with some dude from Chicago. It's the kind of thing I could see an older crowd getting into. You can set up a club and have meetings, with your own clubhouse. Have far flung family? Meet them in Home, and catch up. It's about creating a broader appeal for game systems, and unleashing the social potential that consoles have been lacking. You don't have to shoot everyone you meet online on a console.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2008 2:54PM]

Dave that was awesome. its so true. one can actually converse and appreciate the hard work Sony has put into developing Home. Im in the Beta myself and i have loads of fun playing around, relaxing while on some down-time when im not playing any other game. I wouldn't treat it as a full-fledged game, just a social-interaction experience. And there's so much yet to see.

[RupanIII Posted Dec 9th 2008 11:18AM]

Okay, someone start biatching about how this one hasn't been pre-tested enough.
I dare ya!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2008 11:30AM]

well said Dave Chappelle. and Well said again Lowen SoDium.
M$ is all about the moolah and thats all they care about. they may have a "larger" arcarde library. but whats the point if over 85% of those games suck, or no one plays them.
M$= FAIL x2

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2008 1:47PM]

I'm still surprised that Home is only this far in development, after all the waiting for the PS3 to begin with.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2008 2:56PM]

Dave that was awesome. its so true. one can actually converse and
appreciate the hard work Sony has put into developing Home. Im in the
Beta myself and i have loads of fun playing around, relaxing while on
some down-time when im not playing any other game. I wouldn't treat
it as a full-fledged game, just a social-interaction experience. And
there's so much yet to see.

[Covarr Posted Dec 9th 2008 3:17PM]

I was accepted into the closed beta nearly two weeks ago, and I didn't notice that I had the email until last night. :(

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 9th 2008 4:29PM]

I got a Beta code for Home without even applying or downloading Qore episodes etc. like some people have been doing and then whining about not getting a code... I just wonder how they decide exactly... time spent online? People who have registered hardware/software...?

Anyways I dont see how this thing can be released in a full version any time soon, it's a bit buggy still and there is very little to do. There is a mall but all the "stores" are empty, the living space you are given has basically 4 items in it and the movie theatre just plays ads for curent games. I see alot of potential but how can they open all the stores, give you thousands of decorating items for your apartment and open new areas without testing all of that stuff first.

Maybe they are testing all of this internally, not as part of the Beta... oh well, I'll wait and see!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 11th 2008 11:15PM]

I just got the beta code also, out of the dark abyss. I hadn't touched my ps3 in 7 months. Power on.