Sony's American PlayStation blog this week hints that Europeans could finally begin testing the PS3's soon.

A new post on the topic of Sony's oft-delayed persistent world social network 'thing', said that a continental test will begin "shortly".

"In Europe, SCEE is… beginning their expanded closed beta, directly targeting consumers who have been most active on PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store," explained executive Jack Buser, who should really be a gritty New York cop and if the boys down at city hall don't like it they can have my badge.

"SCEE will be in email contact with their audience very shortly."

Americans who want to test Home, meanwhile, will need to download a PlayStation Home theme pack for their console. This will have the effect of submitting a beta application for them.

"We will be using a variety of criteria including activity on the PlayStation Network to determine eligibility for the community. Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta."

By Luke Guttridge