Home is outdated, says Microsoft exec

Microsoft bigwig Aaron Greenberg has questioned whether PlayStation Home isn't a bit outdated nowadays.

"What Home to me feels like is Second Life for hardcore gamers. It doesn't feel like it broadens the experience and invites people in," Greenberg told Kotaku.

"When they unveiled it, it seemed innovative. I think what's happened is now here we are a couple of years later and we feel beyond that.

"It feels like 2005 tech in 2008. I'm not sure that's what people want," he said.

Greenberg added that, at least in his mind, there is still a "huge gap" between the quality offered by Xbox Live to that of Home. He swatted away the possibility of an XBL subscription price cut by observing that many are "willing to pay for the premium experience".

Aaron Greenberg's criticism of PlayStation Home comes days after EA founder Trip Hawkins said the service was unsure of its target audience. He argued that following the Second Life route would take Home away from the mass market being captured so successfully by the likes of Nintendo and even Xbox Live Arcade.

The open beta for PlayStation Home kicks off today ahead of a full launch sometime next year. Game clients can be downloaded from the PlayStation Store, and the only charges involved are for micro-transactions when buying some new virtual clothes.