The Home Beta has received a decently sized update which is its first since the beta was launched around two months ago.The update provides several graphical enhancements, mainly noticeable during bowling and pool. However, characters look better as well and have multiple new customization options, as well as a few new items for your HomeSpace.
Another new addition is that avatars can now run around Home after walking for a bit.
The Home Cinema has received several new trailers as well including the likes of Around the World and Reign Over Me. It also appears that new streaming methods have been implemented for videos in public spaces, as they play more smoothly the closer one stands to them.
Finally comes the most exciting feature of them all – the first true form of in-game XMB access. Anytime during and anywhere inside Home you can access your friends list (and therefore message people and read messages) by pressing select. Not everything that was promised made it to the update, including a chess game and new arcade machines we are sure most are satisfied by this newest update. Hopefully Home will continue to be improved over the coming months before its scheduled launch in October.