In a press release this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced that the closed beta testing for PlayStation Home will be extended, allowing new registrants to join the online community. Following the expansion, the PlayStation Home Open Beta will commence 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.
Details of the Closed Beta testing features, registration for the test
and the opening of the service will be announced as they become
available.
This is the second time PlayStation Home has been delayed since it was first announced over a year ago. The original Open Beta was originally scheduled to start in Fall 2007 but was delayed to Spring 2008. Today’s announcement pushed Home further back to Fall 2008. Those waiting for PlayStation Home will definitely be disappointed.
Kaz Hirai:
"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. 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."