Sony’s magic number seems to be “70,” at least according to the numbers shared by Susan Panico, head of Sony’s PlayStation Network in North America. At a press event at the Game Developers Conference, Panico informed the press audience that the PSN has drawn in 70 million users and more, 70 percent of whom log in every week. On the gaming platform side alone, the PlayStation Home virtual world has reached 19 million users with an average session length of 70 minutes. In 2010 alone, Home has added 3 million users, according to Panico.
PSN represents a critical component to Sony’s online strategy, which combines online games, movies, and TV shows, as well as exclusive content. There are currently 948 games available through PSN, as well as 4,000 pieces of additional game content. About 31,000 movies and TV shows are offered via download, which doesn’t include the vast libraries of content available through partners, like Netflix and Hulu.
Yet, Sony still has work to do in better integrating its movie, television, and movie labels to offer a more cohesive, complete experience for PSN users. Panico concedes that while Home has started life as a lobby to chat with, and meet, friends in a virtual space, it’s not evolved into a “theme park where users can play a wide range of games.”
Microsoft is not resting on its laurels either; it already has a base of 30 million gamers and numerous content exclusives and partnerships for Xbox Live.
[Source: VentureBeat]
