Sony: Home Beta to be public very soon

"We'll be opening up the Home Beta to the public very soon and hope to see you there"

Those are the words of Susan Panico, Senior Director of PlayStation Network commenting on the PSN and Home in the Official PlayStation Magazine.

Could we be seeing the open beta this month or next?

[sonarus]

Words like "soon" are all relative

[fenderputty]

but the word "very" before that "soon" implies that the wait will be shorter rather than longer. Maybe it's supposed to come with the patch this month.

[whoelse]

We can all hope!

[sonarus]

lol after that in shirt xmb crap sony pulled off at gdc, i am taking every bit of sony news with a grain of salt

[Omegasyde]

Home is still slated for Spring 2008 and spring ends in June.

Then again Warhawk and GTA4 are getting "home" environments this month....

[jwatt]

I think very soon is about 2 months right?

[fenderputty]

that way one will never be let down if something comes up. Still ... it's been a while and recent events and news points to Home coming soon.

I might be breaking my own rules here but, I just can't help but get excited. I've had a PS3 since launch and have watched the console fall into place. It's taken longer then I wanted but, it's still exciting me.

[gambare]

simultaneous launch with MGS4? maybe.

[mikeslemonade]

Very soon means 3 weeks espcially in this industry when people don't like releasing information unless it's accurate or ready. This will be an awesome month for the PS3. Dualshock 3, Home, Prologue, and GTA4!.

[MikeGdaGod]

i can't wait to see what you guys think of it.

[masterg]

I have said it would be before GTA4. I'm still hoping :)

[thereapersson]

You have to admit though, the sheer amount of people that are requesting that Sony include in-game XMB in the next firmware update is a little ridiculous. I mean, i'm sure that Sony knows that everyone and their mother would like to see in-game XMB, and I am also sure that they are diligently trying to get it to work out on the system, but it seems that it's just an internet crapflood of requests.

Hell, if I was working on something but people kept asking me to finish it, I would get a little peeved...

[Bleucrunch]

Exactly sonarus I would like to hear something along the lines of NEXT TUESDAY.

[LSDARBY]

Hate to jynx it but maybe the next store update (april 17th.

Sony did say that there would be an exciting update to open the new store.

[whoelse]

It could be just the MGO beta and other random stuff which would have been released this Thursday and the following one. But i hope you're right. That's damn to help PS3 sales for those PS2 owners going this-gen for some GTA goodness.

[yesah]

i doubt it, this way in the May issue of the Playstation magazine, so no April lol.

Ahh, but the wait is excruciating

[Hagaf22]

just because its the may issue doesn't mean everything takes place in may, think of when this interview took place, it was obviously atleast a week before the magazine what published, which means it could be any day now, i would go to guess when the store reopens. well just have to wait and see.....

[sonarus]

can someone provide the link where sony says this cus i never heard about that

[yesah]

true, but still the may issue isn't released yet to non-subscribers of the magazine. So when may rolls around and people get it, and the title of a article says "Home to be released soon?" when its out already wouldn't make sense.

[TheHater]

I heard this back on November, so I am just going to wait and see. I really need to test this out, I just look amazing.

[legendkilla]

october, november! i hope the open beta start's soon!

[cellypower]

Man I wish they would give a date.

[TheHater]

I agree dude. WE just need a date, and everyone will be happy.

[Adamalicious]

Unless they miss the date and then we'll all be pissed! :)

[btkadams]

ya we dont want another psp 2.00 update fiasco. they made a date and ended up being weeks late and everyone flipped. ever since then sony doesnt give dates for updates.

[Asurastrike]

I see Home, the PSN Store Reskinning, and MGS4 beta, all happening the same week.

[whoelse]

In my opinion, in a business point of view, there is no better time for all of the above.

[winlonghorn]

I think that is possible! They said it will all be worth the wait and that we will be blown away! Could it be? Who Knows, but it is soon! :)

[Interpol Agent]

Equal to 2 months.

[Jim Crowslaw]

Thatll be great, i have high hopes for Home

[CaptainHowdy]

Early May, probably a coupla days after GTA4

[Vip3r]

I wouldn't be surprised if its out this month seeing that GTA4 is out and there was stuff mentioned about it have support for Home, the store is getting an update with could have something to do with it and the Home integration with Warhawk in the lastest patch.

But knowing Sony...

*hopes*

[chaosatom333]

I was hoping it would come with GTAiv. I mean why not? It's not like blue-ray doesn't have space or anything.

[PSWe60]

The HOME beta trials were going to be April 18, can anyone confirm this?

[Harry190]

sorry.

[Crazyglues]

That's just in-time for the GT5P U.S. release on April 15. That would be really sweet if it's true.

[Fishy Fingers]

"very soon" can be taken in many different ways.

I'm waiting for a concrete date before I really let the excitement build. But I have heard some news from "friends" and i honestly don't believe we'll be waiting to long. 6 weeks max.

[IzKyD1331]

the ad behind GOW: COO said GOW lll will be here "soon" but its widely known that it wont be here until 2009, but im hoping the word "very" in the article wll make a difference

[undacovabrothe]

I do think that there will be an open beta sometime in May but not getting excited about an unofficial announcement. I see Sony wooping out home around Haze release date right before MGS4 and after GTA.

[Close_Second]

...why Home is going to be such a big deal?

Sorry, but it does not look like a game but only a mechanism for navigating to games or information about games, gamers or other digtal content.

If it were more like Sims where you could construct your own home and had to keep your virtual character (or family) happy then I could see the point. I know many people arie looking forward to home, I'm just one of those struggling to see its real worth from a "gamers" point of view.

I can see why Sony likes its potential as it will become a micro-transaction haven for selling pixels.

To those hitting "Disagree" can you please enlighten me as to why Home will be so good in your eyes. As I said earlier, I'm struggling to see its worth. I'm not saying it won't be popular but what makes it a must have?

[fenderputty]

I hate when people look at it like that. It's a chance for the PSN community to meet others in a 3D realm. You can randomly meet people on the PSN and see what games they like, share info etc etc. People can come to your home and stream media from your PS3. You can launch from home into a game. Each game is going to have trophies much like achievements. These are displayed in Home. There's going to be arcade like games. There's supposed to be a movie theater. Games like Warhawk will even support things like a war room where a clan can gather and see scale maps of the game and plan out formations and attacks. The possibilities with home are endless. Home is Sony's answer to a very competitive LIVE network. It's not a game but rather a three dimensional translation of the LIVE network.

BTW ... I did not disagree with you.

[-EvoAnubis-]

I didn't hit disagree, although I do not agree with what you've said.

The thing that makes Home exciting to me is because it pushes the social aspect of gaming. Right now, I can go onto my PS3 and have a chat with 5 of my friends, but I can't do much else while I'm doing that. With Home, I can be doing that same chat with those same five friends, but I can do it while we're all watching a movie on my HDD, or shooting some pool, or maybe going to the bowling alley, or listening to music.

When we're done with that, if we want to jump directly from there into a game of Warhawk, we can just go for it with Home's party system.

Or if I don't feel like doing any of that, I can just chill in the mall and play a game of chess with my friend in Greece, or plan strategies in Warhawk right there in Home, complete with a mini-map.

There is so much potential in this program that it boggles the mind. It wouldn't shock me if they ended up broadcasting their E3 press conference this year inside of Home.

[aiphanes]

Why? because key games have home integration...Warhawk, Resistance...even GTA4...and probably Metal Gear Solid 4 and HAZE...probably every game released after GTA4...

The beta will be an open beta...and the final version will come out in late summer or early fall...but HOME will be a work in progress...just like the PSN network. Home will be hot...and every other console maker will try to make something like home...but they will fail...sony has been working on home over over 3 to 4 years...even back in the PS2 days....they are just trying to get the right integration and excitement and stability before an open beta starts...even the current closed beta is nothing what the open beta is going to be like. You will see a stress test of the system...there are over 11 million PS3 systems...don't forget that...and HOME and the entire PSN network is free.

Its amazing that they are squeezing home down to at most 500megs...

[eagle21]

oh I love you Sony... :) PS3 fan since day 1, not day 360 or 720..lol

[Kaz Hirai]

My Sony Soldiers are so loyal; in fact King Kaz couldn't ask for a better fanbase! Far better than those back-stabbing PIGS!

MWAH-HA-HA-HA!!!

[Sir Ken Kutaragi 4]

We should all meet up in HOME!!! ;-D
That would be funny!;)
+There will be no PIGS(T.M King Kaz) ;) there to!!! ;-D

(T.M = Trade Mark) ;)

[Phil Harrison Mklll]

I'll be there:)

[Hentai]

Emperor kutaragi,Emperor hirai, former Lord Harrison, i'll be there too. :)

[Meus Renaissance]

I'm sorry to burst the bubble but it's been "soon" for over a year now. It'll come when it comes. I'm not holding my breath. A late Spring Beta is the best we can hope for.

[fenderputty]

it's never been a "very soon"

;)

[J@D]

Hmmm,, interesting thanks for the link'

[Mikelarry]

soon is very soon hhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 2 months,years millenium??

[TwissT]

I hope this "soon" is a short amount of time. Anyway I hope the beta comes with the trophy system, because I love collecting stuff. And truth be told, I am sorta an achievement whore with my friends 360...

[E-DOGG]

Atlease, we are hearing from Sony and i take it "soon" to be this month or next i hope. We waited this long...lol

[EZCheez]

I've been doing that for about half a year now. Remember the October 10 release?

And besides, if it's going to be released to the public as a whole, why bother continuing to call it a beta? Everyone other than Sony will just consider it the release.

[americanGTA]

home beta please

[Corrupt]

until the new store is live.

[Salta_nelas]

Soon for Sony means like 2 months.

Wipeou HD "soon"-> 2 or 3 months waiting.

IN game XMB "soon"-> still waiting...

Home we are waiting since November.

And to the poster on top of me, there are no store updates until April 17th due to store changing.

[aiphanes]

Why come people can not be patient...sony has to do this right....its all gonna go down by end of summer..

People wanted the PSN store as a built in app and to look pretty work work fast...sony did it..(or we shall see in two weeks)
People want home...sony will release it in open beta form real soon
People wanted divx\xvid...sony delivered
People want in game xmb...sony will deliver
People want support for DTS-HD Master Audio...sony will deliver this soon.
People wanted the PS3 to upscale PS2\PS1 and DVDs to 1080p...sony delivered..

Sony will deliver what we want..because sony cares...they put their heart and soul into the PS3...they do not want it to fail.

Microsoft will realize this on the next xbox...but hopefully by then microsoft and sony will collaborate on one console.

[Rusted]

this site will explode with PS3 sweetness (yes, more), it could be dangerous...

[eddierivera]

You wonder why we are excited? How bout you answer me a question first. Why do you xbox users praise the gamer score and achievment system? All those points amount to nothing, so please, explain.

My answer to your idiotic question, as to why we are so excited. Well for one its a virtual world where we can hang out with our friends. Not just voice chat, but to actually chill in the same room, watch movies, bowl, play pool, and pretty much just f*ck around in any way shape and form that we please. It might not make sense to you xbots, ( considering you guys buy anything and everything regardless if its good or not and claim all xbox games to be the best in the world), but Home gives us more than the 360 could ever offer, including trophies, which is technically better than an achievement point.

Want more? Well lets see, since I only have one bubble I'll keep this short and to the point. Okay, not only can we hang out, but we can show off pictures of our loved ones in picture frames, share and stream movies in our living rooms, have pimped out themes from exclusive ps3 games and including games that are on the 360 like furniture items, shirts, and stuff that would be just so cool to show off to your friends. And did I mention,, its all FREE!

As for me, I will buy the tightest pad so me and my Clan can hang out in. It wont be an apartment, it will be a house with 2 stories, and hopefully have a pet, like a dinosaur or something, one that is rad as heck. I dont know, I think all the things above are worth wanting home as bad as we do. Poor xbots, all you guys have is in game chat and text,, Guess what,, we will too,, real soon,, so why do you guys still just own a 360? Why do you pay 350+ dollars for something that always breaks and doesnt even come with a high def player. Only 20 gigs of ram, and not to mention having to pay for a service that doesnt doesnt even run sometimes. I heard it was down again,, thank god I stuck it out with sony.

[Blackcanary]

Bubbles for you dude Bubbles.

[ScottEFresh]

Excited for it!

[Varsarus]

How many times have I heard this exact same news now? Honestly, it's getting annoying.

[diablo103]

is definently going to be anounced at E3 08

[bootsielon]

More like advertised. The Open Home Beta will probably the almost final version, and the official version will probably be available by then. But still, it's pointless to announce when it becomes "official", since it'll probably be simply a firmware update to clear any bugs, and again, that's just a name, since nothing guarantees that the official version won't have any bugs. Even more, it's bound to keep growing and getting new features... so, kinda pointless to announce a new label.

[bootsielon]

Yes!

[Blackcanary]

Dude your wooooohooooooo!!! just says it all i am so pumped up for Home to meet new people. Now i just need to join a clan in warhark lol. With Warhark having that Home thing in the new patch they did that only means we are so much more closer to the Home Open Beta than we thought this is a very good year for a gamer so much to look forward to. (^O^)

[Zhuk]

Home will undoubtedly prove to be yet another Sony gimmick that fails to live up to its promises disappointing gamers everywhere with more Sony lies while Xbox LIVE and the Xbox 360 continue to provide the greatest online gaming service in human history with countless AAA titles and award winning features.

Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE is the future today, while Sony continues to lie to its consumers with any old gimmick they can find to keep them happy and ignorant of how inferior their platform truly is

[JVIDICAN]

dang, ur back so soon =(
and i was just starting to enjoy the site without your fanboy rants

[Varsarus]

Sorry friend, but Microsoft has lied just as much as Sony has. Sure you remember that Peter Moore said you'll never reach 1080p games at 60fps, which Sony proved that clown wrong with their NBA launch title. Why you think they brought out 360 consoles with hdmi ports in?

[DarkSniper]

At no charge, Sony Computer Entertainment is providing each and every PLAYSTATION® 3 owner a lucrative chance to experience the giant progressional leap in online interactivity. Home features a 3D open space that gives limitless opportunities for true online entertainment and social interaction.

Home will be the undeniable plateau that competing online services will attempt to match. Day by day and month by month, Xbox Live cancellations will skyrocket to record setting figures as each disgruntled Microslave will be converted immersed in an unique and rich online experience with Playstation Home and PLAYSTATION® 3.

Your life, your network, your HOME. Only on PLAYSTATION® 3.

$niper

[Dmack79]

lol kid. if by countless AAA games you mean 2 then your right. How about we talk more of the PS3's unstoppable killer-app titles. Home will SURPASS that crap online service you call live!

GET DOMINATED! PS3 FTW!

[HungPHAT]

I am ready home and the new Playstation Store things are starting to heat up for Sony . finally !!

[LONEWOLF231]

Cant wait!!!

[E-DOGG]

i cant wait either!!! msg 4 beta, gta 4, and home!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChrisGTR1]

given sonys track record.. i wouldnt count on home coming out anywhere within the next 4 months...

i still remember jack tretton saying in the sanfrancisco chronicle that home open beta was coming out "Q1 2008" obviously it got delayed as Q1 is already over.

[E-DOGG]

u never know

[supremacy]

you know, if sony where to....say include a code for the open HOME beta in the PS3 version of GTA4, than that right there would just kind of put a dent into Microsoft's plans, i mean think about this for a second there's a lot of people aiking for home that they would buy the Ps3 version of GTA4 just so they can get in the beta in the same way many bought crackdown for the Halo 3 beta. just a simple thought.

also metal gear solid 4 pre-order are currently spreading like wild fire, not only because of the game itself and the hype surrounding it, but because they have included a beta for MGO as well as a few extras.

i mean sony could do this in the future to promote and help push other games or products as well. im serious sony should consider doing something like this.

[budbundystyles]

Sony needs to be forbidden from using the word "soon", for all of eternity!

[E-DOGG]

nice idea....maybe with other games

[Blasphemy]

I'm tired of hearig about Home just give it to me already!

[FourtyPoundSteak]

Hopefully someone can answer this for me...

I have been keeping up with home since the last E3 and was wondering if you would have to sign up for the beta or will it be kinda like a free download?

[Bolts]

...the return of Chirst, open beta! I wonder if it'll beat Home to market?

[E-DOGG]

lol

[ben806]

soon plz

[blade206]

i think it's when the new store comes out let's see

[DethWish]

I'm thinking at the same time as the new store launches.

[TheExecutive]

well i think if the open beta comes out this month HOME will be released in July along with a LBP open beta. Usually open betas come out around 2 months before release.

[VanDamme]

I'ma start a gang up called the 'Home Boyz'

Let me know if you want to join. Hard hitting mother f*ckers only.

[socsca]

So? BORING, get a real life people, its more fun, and people look cooler.

[LightningPS3]

Just get this motherf*cker out already.

[TheMART]

I think I've heard it before... It comes soon, it really does!

Oh no it doesn't, its delayed! That's just Sony there