This is what PlayStation Home titles look like these days

PlayStation Home really has come a long way since it launched back in 2008. What originally started life as an overhyped chatroom has blossomed into a social gaming network, and that transition is emphasised by today’s trio of new announcements.

Starting today, Sony is plotting the release of three new exclusives in PlayStation's premium virtual world. It all begins with the launch of Cutthroats: Battle for Black Powder Cove, which is available now for US users. The free-to-play title sees “six teams of up to four players each take to the high seas, blasting each other’s boats to smithereens in an ongoing sequence of seafaring skirmishes to increase XP and unlock exclusive content”.

It’ll be followed by the promising No Man’s Land in spring. Developed by VEEMEE – and pitched as the “most ambitious” title to hit Home yet – the post-apocalyptic title promises a freemium third-person multiplayer experience for up to eight players. We’ve embedded a trailer below.

Finally, at some point in the summer, PlayStation Home will get its first online role-playing game. Entitled Mercia, the high-fantasy title will see you exploring a fantastical world where “adventure lies around every corner”.

All three titles are a far cry from the bowling alleys and pool tables we recall from PlayStation Home’s early days. We always thought the service showed potential as a social gaming platform, and it’s great to see Sony steering the virtual world in that direction.

For more information on all three of these new announcements make sure you refer to the PlayStation Blog. Will the release of these games be enough to get you to step back into your avatar’s shoes and return to the world of PlayStation Home?

[source blog.us.playstation.com]