TGS: PlayStation Home delayed
Next spring, says Hirai.
PlayStation Home, PS3's online social networking "thing", will not release this year as planned, Sony Computer Entertainment president Kaz Hirai has confirmed in his Tokyo Game Show keynote this morning.
Unlike E3, where the application was shown up and running, Hirai merely showed the Home logo on the Makuhari Messe stage and said that the service had been pushed back to "truly meet the needs and feedback of the users." Home was originally scheduled for a "Fall" launch this year, as announced by SCEE dev boss Phil Harrison at GDC this March.
During a Q&A session after his speech, Hirai said the delay wasn't down to technical problems, but was because Sony wants Home to be a worldwide service and to have functionality suitable for people in different regions.
He thinks it can be satisfactory to all kinds of users when it launches, he said, adding, "We want to make sure we have a full range of services."
PlayStation Home is an avatar-based, MMO-style networking application for PS3 users, allowing console owners to have their own virtual spaces, trophy cabinets for their game achievements, and so on. Players will be able to access features like downloadable content and play games with friends through Home.
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