Sony to finally open its PS3 online universe tomorrow

Today, Sony announced that its PlayStation 3 virtual world Home will be officially opened tomorrow, two years after it was initially announced. The free online service is the first console-based metaverse.

Creating a whole world for PlayStation 3 users is no small undertaking. First unveiled nearly two years ago, Sony's Home attempts to combine the online metaverse concept with the entertainment of console-based network gaming. Users create 3D avatars and home spaces where they can customize content, socialize, or play games.

After several delays, and the passing of E3 with no major announcements, the final rounds of the service's beta tests began in October. Home becomes available to all PS3 users as a free download from the PlayStation Store tomorrow, but will remain in beta, according to Sony.

The ultimate point behind creating the first virtual world for a console wasn't to compete with existing services like Second Life, or even to attract new users, according to SCEJ Vice President Junji Shoda. Like Microsoft's New Xbox Experience, Home is part of the gradual move toward a perpetually connected gaming environment for consoles.

Home opens on Thursday in Japan, Europe, and North America, and will be offered in eight languages with region-exclusive content and partners. In North America, for example, the service will launch with game-themed environments for Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and Far Cry 2 spaces where users can gather and share information about those games. With partners Activision, Disney Eidos, Electronic Arts, Lucas Arts, THQ, and Ubisoft, spaces for the Warhawk, Resistance, Guitar Hero and SOCOM series will be available. In Europe, video content from Hexus TV and Eurogamer will be available. Like other metaverses, not all content in Home will be free.