Sony: Expect bigger, better PSN around Spring 2010

by David Hinkle { Jun 26th 2009 at 10:45AM }

Sir Howard Stringer has big plans for PSN. He said as much last month, commenting that as long as PSN is tied solely to the PS3, the network would never be able to reach its full potential. It's set to reach for the stars in Spring 2010, apparently, as Kaz Hirai recently commented to CNN.

"It's now a matter of what all the services need to look like for each device, and coming up with a rollout plan," said Hirai. "It's like city planning here, and we can start small. We don't need to build New York City overnight." And the update isn't just cosmetic, as Sony is looking to create a much more open and easier to use service that will bridge all of Sony's devices. Among the proposed improvements are better displaying images from a camera on TV, watching and editing video, sharing content with friends, and storage.

Another interesting thing mentioned is the prospect of rewards for brand loyalists. Sony supporters with multiple Sony products could receive perks such as discounts and even premium services. It seems like a solid plan to us, but we'd suggest rewarding the people who play PlayStation Home first.

[Via Edge]

Tags: howard-stringer, psn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

SoulBlade @ Jun 26th 2009 10:48AM

I'm expecting God of War 3 in Spring 2010. Whatever else you give me will be a bonus.

FNG @ Jun 26th 2009 10:49AM

Stop talking.... Start doing...

sony boy @ Jun 26th 2009 12:53PM

That should be Sony's new motto.

Mo @ Jun 26th 2009 10:53AM

well, for now it looks like the motion controllers and a much more robust psn...

fuzzynyanko @ Jun 26th 2009 10:54AM

That's nice, but they really should look at the world outside SonyLand, and focus more on saving money than rolling out services for devices that may not really need it. PS3 and PSP? Sure. Camera? I can understand, though it should be more universal. Sony Bravia TV? Um...

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 26th 2009 11:03AM

Streaming Movies makes PERFECT Sense on a Bravia, and maybe even on Sony Ericsson phones

Kdiggy @ Jun 26th 2009 10:57AM

Got to love the uncalled for jab at Sony at the very end of the article. Joystick what ever happened to PS3Fanboy. com. I don't even use Home, but it seems your pretty biased.

cuteSAVAGE @ Jun 26th 2009 11:02AM

I read that as "Please bring these enhancements to PlayStation before the other devices. We'd appreciate the fan service." rather than "lulz... PS home is teh ghey. Soneh needz teh make up 4 it nao!"

bias is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Ignatius @ Jun 26th 2009 11:04AM

There's a little link underneath Joystiq's name on their page, click Playstation.

There is no more "Fanboy" websites.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 26th 2009 11:10AM

they are trying to get rid of fanboys....lol

OnToGloryReturns @ Jun 26th 2009 11:16AM

No, they're not. They just like to take shots when shots are due. Home is a bug dissapointment so far and they just had an article yesterday on it, hence the reference.

PSN really has a long way to go to catch up to Live. I really checked it out again when I replayed Uncharted and got the Uncharted 2 beta and while it's is much better it's still not up to snuff imo.

Live is so fully and seamlessly integrated into the 360 experience (even at the free Silver level) it really is the standard. For the PSN I want cross game chat and a party system for starters. And at least put a usb headset into the package.

j.howlett @ Jun 26th 2009 11:27AM

they only use home to troll

Kdiggy @ Jun 26th 2009 12:46PM

I'm not even a huge fan of Home myself, it just seemed out of place with the rest of the article is all.

Old_Snake @ Jun 26th 2009 10:58AM

Sounds interesting I guess. Can't help but feel that it'll end up being something that's not much use to me in the end, though. Except maybe the storage bit, that could be very helpful. I don't think I'm a brand loyalist or anything. I have a PS1, PS2 and PS3 but I'm pretty sure that's the only Sony products I currently own so I doubt I'd qualify for something like that

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 26th 2009 10:58AM

Come on Hinkle..."Play Home"??? smh

at any rate, like I have been saying, if they add ALL the stuff I am thinking they will they can EASILY outdo XBLM. The XBLM is just on 360, but if PSN is added onto TV's Sony VIAOs, Walkmens, etc they can really rack up. I'm down for that, and if they DO some type of "Loyalty" program that will finally to buy something Sony OTHER than PlayStation products

Jerk Face @ Jun 26th 2009 11:03AM

Games for Windows Live and Windows Live Messenger say hello. Just saying. Not the best features, but no different from a dumb ass Bravia XMB.

Jerk Face @ Jun 26th 2009 11:04AM

Also: the Zune stuff that's being added to XBL soon. Not trying to start the flames, just saying that Sony is playing catch up, at best. At this stage of the game, there's no way they're going to beat out what Microsoft is offering; the best they can hope for is something competitive.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 26th 2009 11:04AM

you can buy movies on Windows Live Marketplace???

Jerk Face @ Jun 26th 2009 11:09AM

On Zune Marketplace, yes. Which they are upgrading to replace the current video stuff on XBLM, which will be in 1080p HD streaming along with the launch of the Zune HD. Pretty bad ass stuff.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Jun 26th 2009 11:13AM

Yea Zune Marketplace WILL HAVE it, just Like Sony TVs WILL have it. Thing is, WHICH one has a BETTER chance of being big OUTSIDE the US?? I mean the Zune is Still not international like the iPod, and with Sony having their hands in so many studios and music companies they can get those offering global a lot faster than MS.

DEEZNUTZ @ Jun 26th 2009 11:00AM

Yeah, and expect an even bigger and better XBL by then too. Right now, Sony is still the ugly girl at the prom putting on more makeup in the bathroom. I don't hate Sony, but I just don't see it coming out of third place this gen. THey should have concentrated more on their online capabilities prior to launching. Well at least they are better than the Wii's horrendous online.

Jack_Jackington @ Jun 26th 2009 11:16AM

ugly girl at prom = hottest chic at reunion

Mr Khan @ Jun 26th 2009 12:36PM

This seems to be an idea that i've heard before, that PSN would be a joke if Nintendo WiFi Connection didn't exist, but with Nintendo's efforts, PSN looks perfectly adequate

Viglin @ Jun 26th 2009 11:02AM

I wish it was only 8 people on HOME..then l wouldnt have to cue up for Bowling,Pool,Poker and Cart Racing.

And bring on the improvements to PSN, cause E# was lacking them.

ill trooper @ Jun 26th 2009 11:19AM

Seriously, that's the magic of a virtual world, or it should be: It should scale to the needs of the moment.

There should always be enough bowling alleys for people. There should be an arcade machine through the next door if you want to play one. WHY should you have to wait in line at cart racing?

Get it together Sony.

umm....hello??? @ Jun 26th 2009 2:00PM

seriously. I might've logged into home for more than 2-3 times if I could've gone bowling or something, but fuck sony's home.

I do like the XMB though. no need to change that part of their service.

Heavytoka @ Jun 26th 2009 11:07AM

Any Improvements are welcome!

Felipe @ Jun 26th 2009 11:09AM

When i hear of the Gundam Battle Assault series arriving for the PSN for PSP, call me. I will make do with my 3 games for now (Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII, and Ratchet and Clank [the one that came in the PSP-3000 bundle])....and the one i have on pre-order (Final Fantasy: Dissidia)

atx1980 @ Jun 26th 2009 11:13AM

its probably something stupid like. "home is out of beta"

Jack Tretton @ Jun 26th 2009 11:14AM

Twelve months ago Home was touted as a key component of a bigger and better PSN. I guess Sony has biggerer and betterer plans in mind?

Howard Stringer and Steve Ballmer ought to get together for a milkshake.

Julian @ Jun 26th 2009 11:20AM

Yes, let's start making sense. After 2 billion missteps, maybe we can figure it out and keep our dissatisfied customers happy.

Jerses @ Jun 26th 2009 11:24AM

I thought 2008 was the year of the ps3 and then 2009... now its 2010? WOW!! every year is the year of the playstation... tip, change that slogan..its not working anymore.

Jack_Jackington @ Jun 26th 2009 11:33AM

TIP- your opinion matters to nobody

jus kiddin

yeah they do need to change that. i, as a sony fanboy, am tired of hearing that crap

digiboi @ Jun 26th 2009 11:30AM

The problem with Home is that it just gets in the way. It is a proprietary system that overlays a ton of graphics for doing very simple things. I can play a s**t minigame on a computer that is much better than any minigame on home. I can download trailers off the internet (on my ps3 for that matter) much faster than getting in home.
There are better ways to communicate with people (facebook, twitter, etc) than a clunky rip off of Second Life.

As for the Zune - its a piece of crap so long as it relies on the Zune software exclusively for synching. There is no way it will succeed as long as it won't work with Media Player, iTunes or appear as a standard hard drive. Its like it was designed by IBM in the '80s

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Jun 26th 2009 12:20PM

The benefit of Home however, is reverse our tendency as a community to not talk. That's partly the result of Sony not bundling headsets. Home is the social outlet for that section of the PSN community.

While there is plenty to poke fun at, they have made money off the venture already. Over time it may well pay off more than XBL's chat rooms and avatars. I'm not saying it will lift Sony out of 3rd place, but it may well ensure that tweens and the like stay within the PSN.

And tying the ecosystem together is simply borrowing a page from Apple. While Sony doesn't have the trendy cool going for them, overall their product range is well regarded (Bravia in particular). Assuming they don't take the "10 year" plan building this up, they may well have a shot at establishing that ecosystem. Like or hate the XMB, it's a simple interface and adaptable to a wide range of hardware.

Shimrra @ Jun 26th 2009 11:31AM

LOL you know the 360 fanboys all want to say something.

Steven @ Jun 26th 2009 11:40AM

PlayStation Network is already great, and in my opinion, just as good as XBL. All i want is in-game private chat. I never even used half of the software functions on Xbox Live/360, yet it was missing the most important things: use of third party hardware.

Meteor Freak @ Jun 26th 2009 11:43AM

"but we'd suggest rewarding the eight people who play PlayStation Home first. Talk about loyalty!"

wow... is a snide remark a mandatory thing after ever bit of PS3 news.... kinda getting old guys... grow up...

Gun Barrier @ Jun 26th 2009 12:11PM

lol, You added to what they said. You made that remark more snide than it was.

Ashitaka @ Jun 26th 2009 12:58PM

OR apparently they edited it.

Now I don't know what to think.

Emyrs @ Jun 26th 2009 12:07PM

cause thats the face of a gamer.

goddamn corporate bs.. gamers want.. wait for it... GAMES!
not "cross development for branded products"

people out there with sony tvs, camcorders and cameras arnt going to give one sh1t about psn.

Audible Fury @ Jun 26th 2009 12:14PM

I am sure they can add cross platform chat, hell the Xbox360 just got that like 2 updates ago.

I would give the edge for 360 online but it should be that way since they make a bajillion off yearly contracts.

I like the PSN store better and find the XMB easier to navigate, I also like how the PSP is set up the same way, I liked MS 360 before the manditory update and avatars. But the party system and cross game chat is very handy and better.

So if they can make it work across multiple devices more power to them, I just hope they implement useful feature.

godsentdeath @ Jun 26th 2009 12:36PM

I think we will continue to see the PSN improve even after this update. I read on CNN that they are using the PSN as the template for linking all of their devises together. It is only logical for them to try to add more features to the PSN as a beta test for the overall network.

Mr Khan @ Jun 26th 2009 12:39PM

Mayhap this has to do with this?

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2009/06/26/rumor-ps3-firmware-3-0-a-completely-new-system/

A big ol' changeover to rival NXE, or something

el serpiente @ Jun 26th 2009 12:50PM

I hope it's not like nxe. The xmb is nice and lean without cruft. It will be nice if they knock off some of the bullet points like voice chat, etc. but I really don't want them messing with the xmb.

Ashitaka @ Jun 26th 2009 1:02PM

If there ever was a "big ol' changeover", it would be on the NXE's side. The XMB is just perfect as it is now. The only two things missing are cross game chat and mkv support.

sony boy @ Jun 26th 2009 12:52PM

when sony has a LOT more games than it already has on psn, they should include a search bar.

Ashitaka @ Jun 26th 2009 1:07PM

Wow, I had never thought about that, but I've always felt the need of something like it. And since every Playstation Store seems to differ from country to country, a search function would at least makes things more standard and easier to find. A search bar surely would be handy, I second it!