Sony confirmed today that its avatar-driven virtual world PlayStation Home would be shutting its doors in North America on March 31, 2015. PlayStation Home, launched in 2008, was often compared to the PC online world Second Life, and was introduced as a major online social initiative for the PlayStation brand. Home was meant to connect not only players with players, but also connect players with video game and non-video game brands. It hosted a number of free-to-play games and other content. A statement from PlayStation reads:
Due to a shifting landscape, PlayStation Home will cease publishing new content on November 12, 2014. Gamers in the U.S. and Canada will be able to download content until December 3, 2014. As a token of our tremendous gratitude to the community, we will also be releasing a series of free content prior to the platform's closure on March 31, 2015.
Home is also slated to shut down in Asian and European territories in March next year.
