GDC: Sony announces PS3 Home

Sony has announced official details of PS3 Home, a customisable, networked community for PlayStation 3.

Phil Harrison unveiled the service in his GDC 2007 keynote, as a free download from the PlayStation Store.

It will let you create and customise a character from a wide range of body types, skin tones, ages, clothes and accessories. It's similar to Nintendo's Mii avatars, but apparently with much more choice and depth.

This virtual "you" will interact with other PS3 users' characters using text, voice and video chat - as well as being able to create and join online games.

You'll also get a customisable living space, which will display hard drive content like photos as pictures on walls, or play MP3 music through your digital Hi-Fi. In addition to this, you'll be able to store achievements rewarded from games you've played; hording 3D trophies in your Hall of Fame to show to other Home users when they visit your gaff.

Something to take Gamerscore envy to a whole new level, then.

It's still in the early stages at the moment, but Harrison hinted at the possibility of developers and publishers creating spaces for Home users to explore, as well as non-game companies.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like we'll see the service until Autumn, with closed beta testing expected to take place from next month.

You can find all of the news from Phil Harrison's speech on our frontpage, or you can head over to our gallery to see the latest screenshots from PS3 Home.