September PS3 Launch, Online Service

Next Generation (which has generally been fairly reliable regarding information of this nature) has a report indicating that the PlayStation 3 may be launching in September of this year. They also have information about the Sony online console service that has been rumoured for the last few weeks. Apparently called HUB, they theorize details about that aspect of the console will be made available in the next few weeks. From the article: "PlayStation HUB is being described to developers as a 'subscriber service' suggesting a monthly charge. We understand the service is being created by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, although this is unconfirmed. Sony boss Howard Stringer is pushing for all media content to be available for distribution over PlayStation HUB, such as music and movies, thus opening up a powerful iTunes-like distribution network for Sony."

Comments

It will be Interesting

[DarkNemesis618]

It will be interesting to see how this service does compared to the new XBOX Live available for the XBOX 360 users. XBOX Live over the past couple years has become the standard for online console gaming with in my opinion great service and the ability to download content for live-enabled games.

The online console era is the new thing for consoles and is now definitely here to stay as it looks like both XBOX 360 and PS3 both are going to be media centers in one form or another. I think HUB is going to have some catching up to do to match the growing success of XBOX Live.

A proprietary HUB

[EggyToast]

Movies and music... that only work on your Sony device. We are already familiar with the tiff Sony had with Apple regarding iTunes in Australia, and we know how loathe they are to open up their own formats.

So you can potentially buy movies and music, and apparently the thing also plays video games (which we haven't heard much about). The Xbox360 lets you plug your iPod in at least (and apparently does a pretty good job of handling it). Yet Sony wants people to not only pay a monthly fee, but also use their service to buy movies and music electronically, encumbered and weighed down with DRM, and which will almost assuredly work only with Sony devices.

"But it'll have Blu-Ray!" Yeah, big deal.

Money

[Karem Lore]

Anybody who doesn't think that Sony will try and milk PS3 to the maximum is sorely deluded. The playstation is the name carrying the company at the moment and they need to maximise their profits.

Karem

Re:Yet another monthly fee.

[masamax]

Well, to be fair, Xbox Live, and whatever this HUB service ends up being, will offer more than just your standard online experience. Sony did make gaming free for the PS2, but XBox Live was far superior because it meant universal access. Whether you are playing NHL or Halo, xbox live allows you to still keep track of your xbox friends, as well as a stable network on which to play, not to mention media content availible through the service.

The fact is, anyone who has played PS2 online knows how varied the experience can be. Really, from my experience, only the Sony and EA games ever did it well, and that's merely because they are huge companies. These services allow even a small developer to gaurentee a stable and fun online experience because they can put the responsibility on Sony or MS.