Open beta for Home delayed until fall, closed beta expands in the summer

Sony is delaying the launch of Home, their PlayStation 3 contained virtual world, worldwide until this fall. In light of the delay, Sony will allow additional users to register for the closed beta this summer. First announced at GDC 2007, Sony’s online community was supposed to be ready last fall. If testing on Home is done in the summer we will be getting it a year late.

While the delay might be disappointing it’s in Sony’s best interest to make this launch a hit rather than shove a product out the door riddled with bugs. On the downside the hype for Home may have died down. Is anyone excited about watching movie trailers in virtual theaters, making an(other?) avatar, decorating an apartment or collecting trophies anymore when the Metal Gear Online beta is coming?

Images courtesy of Sony.