Rumours and conjecture. The web was flying with them yesterday about purported news of a Sony online service that rivals Xbox Live. This is a veritable feast of stuff, so let’s dig in, shall we?

First I have to mention the PSP thing. There was the news that the online service would integrate both the PSP and the PS3 on the same online service. Which… is nothing new. I’ve had it in my PS3 FAQ for months. Literally! Months.

So what else? Hmmmm… Let’s see. Here are the quotes from the PSM magazine:

“President of Sony has made it clear that his company has an amibitious new online strategy.”

“Cast aside any doubts and start gazing toward skyward, because thats where Sony is aiming with plans that go far beyond simple leaderboards and matchmaking.”

“Sony has just delivered the final development hardware to U.S. game developers. We can confirm that developers have already begun meetings with Sony’s support teams to make sure their games are compatible with the yet unnamed Online Service.”

“Its very real, one source tells us. They (Sony) are dead serious about it. They’ve declared a full on assault on the latest version of Xbox Live!”

“The online service is being designed to also work with the PSP and its games. Think one, BIG Playstation network!”

The first sentence says nothing. The second sentence mentions leaderboards and matchmaking. Leaderboards is new to me, but matchmaking isn’t. I also had that in my FAQ. The third sentence and fourth, while interesting from a hardware front, really says nothing new about the online service. Speaking of which, let’s get this straight. We’ve always known (see my FAQ) that Sony was working on an online service. Why is everyone going so nuts that it’s being “confirmed” (I’d hardly credit this reliable until I see it)? I just don’t get it. But anyway. Fifth sentence says “it’s very real”. Okay, sure. But nothing new. “Full on assault on Xbox Live” tells me nothing except that they know they’re behind. Which, again, was in my FAQ. And at the end it says that PSP and PS3 thing, which I’ve already covered.

So. What have we learned here folks? Read my FAQ, that’s what! This is all old news (except for the leaderboards). And guess what else? None of it is substantiated. Even though I mention it in my FAQ, if you follow the link reference I put in there, you’ll see that it’s not exactly from the horse’s mouth. And this article isn’t either.

So take a big breath, calm down, and repeat after me: “Whatever Sony’s online plans are, online will be fun.” Even if the online system is exactly like the PS2’s (which I doubt), you’ll still have a blast playing against your friends online. (I won’t, but that’s a different story! 🙂 )

PlayStation Forums – Playstation Live …er life.
the Inquirer – PS3 and PSP online together