2008 was a much simpler time for the games industry:HaloandCall of Dutywere leading the industry in innovation and blockbuster storytelling,Dark Soulswas but a glimmer in Hidetaka Miyazaki’s eye, and Sony was rolling out itsSecond LifeclonePlayStation Home. The casual, free-to-play MMO, which wasincluded on every PlayStation 3, allowed players to visit virtual spaces, cultivate various living spaces, and, of course, spend real-world currency on all manner of cosmetic items.
PlayStation Homenever saw a sequel on the PS4 or PS5, and it was definitively axed in 2014. Today, most gamers are probably glad that Sony shifted its resources to the stellar first-party games that helped it establish market dominance in the mid-2010s; it would be quite a sad world if audiences gotPlayStation Home 2instead ofBloodborne,God of War, andHorizon Zero Dawn. Even so, theSecond Lifeknockoff always exuded a janky, quaint charm, and the more nostalgic members of the gaming community might be itching for its reprisal.
Reviving PlayStation Home for the PlayStation 6 Might Just Make Sense
It may not have been the most polished or feature-rich game of its time, butPlayStation Homefeels eerily similar to the so-called metaverseendeavors of today. Crafting a fully integrated social simulation, wherein users can play, shop, and talk with each other, is a major goal of many leading tech companies right now, for better or worse, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sony follow suit.
These attempted metaverses almost always strive to leverage brand recognition to lure consumers onto their platform. After all, showing someone something they like, whether that be a movie, TV show, or celebrity, is arguably the most efficient way to win them over. This is whyFortniteis constantly churning out crossover skinsand events, and why users can visit a virtual Wendy’s in Meta’sHorizon Worlds.
PlayStation Homehas all these key ingredients. The vast and diverse catalog of video games, both historic and contemporary, under the Sony umbrella would easily entice millions of users, bringing them onto the free platform and nudging them to spend real currency on branded content. For users, a newPlayStation Homedesigned with the goals of the metaverse in mind could be a novel way to engage with the IP they care about in a virtual, social space.
Bringing backPlayStation Homecould also helpSony revive the faltering PSVR headset, as VR is often touted as something of a force multiplier for metaverses.
Sony Could Bring Back PlayStation Home On the PS6, but Maybe It Shouldn’t
“Metaverse” is one of many terms, like “blockchain” or “crypto,” that can either inspire or terrify depending on who hears them. For businesspeople looking to maximize profit and grow tech empires, the metaverse is undeniably appealing. Why pass up an opportunity to create a curated environment for one’s customers? Why allow food, clothing, and entertainment companies to make money independently, when they can be integrated into a proprietary ecosystem, allowing for greater profit generation? Why limit ads to billboards and screens when they can be beamed into users' heads?
But most people don’t fall into this aforementioned demographic. Most people simply want to be entertained—to engage in low-stakes escapism—when they turn on their gaming consoles. The fact is, metaverses exist to generate profit, and any enjoyment had on the part of its participants is just a means to this end.PlayStation Homecould come backas a wholesome walk down memory lane, with minimal or no microtransactions and other predatory features, but sadly, that seems extremely unlikely.
PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home was a PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Network social gaming platform where players could interact with each other in a customizable space. This unique PlayStation experience from 2008 allowed players to create their own avatars to interact with others using PlayStation Home.
