Sony expands PlayStation Network horizons

Is Sony eyeing a multi-platform future for its PlayStation Network and, by default, the PlayStation 3 itself? Maybe so...

Sony CEO Howard Stringer is the man with the message, telling Nikkei Electronics:

“We developed brand new, absolutely incredible technology for the PlayStation 3, but the cost was high. We've adopted a slightly different approach now, and are evolving the PS3 into a platform for web services.”

"Next we will be expanding the PlayStation Network to hardware other than the PS3, because the number of PS3 units sold puts a limit on the scale of the network possible."

Well, gosh, we’re intrigued. But what does all this mean for gamers? In the short term probably not much – Stringer reckons to have the support of a large number of Sony employees but the idea seems to be little more than talk at the moment. Longer term, it looks like we’ll be accessing the PlayStation Network from devices other than the PlayStation 3. And here’s the real rub – presumably these other devices will need PlayStation 3 technology onboard in order to make use of the PlayStation Network services?

In other words have we just witnessed the first step on the road towards the much-discussed single console future?

Time will tell on that one, although we rather like having a choice of consoles for the time being. Healthy competition in the games market drives invention, after all. Then again, most of the AAA videogame titles already appear on all formats so the games publishers would probably welcome the idea of a single console platform with open arms. But is it what you want? Let’s hear your thoughts.