Several rumors have been circling the Internet this week with regards to the PlayStation Home Open Beta, so we thought we would share them with you. According to a countdown on an unknown website, the PlayStation Home Open Beta is scheduled tobegin on March 20th 2008, which is also a Thursday (the day when the PlayStation Network Store is updated with new content). Also, a somewhat reliable Japanese news source has revealed that the Home Open Beta will begin on March 24th in Japan.

Jonnyram, as he is known on the Neogaf Forums, says in carefully chosen words "Home open beta starts 24 March in Japan. Sorry if old." Both these statements are currently rumors, and we await official word from Sony regarding this matter. Just as a warning, don’t get your hopes up!

The DualShock 3 release date for the US has finally been revealed. If you haven’t already imported one from Japan, look out for the new controller in stores from April 15th 2008, just prior to the Gran Turismo 5: Prologue release. The controller will be released in Europe around the same time but there has been no official word from Sony. The controller will be priced at US$54.99.

According to reports on the Internet and sources at Destination PlayStation, the PlayStation Store is finally getting a graphical user interface makeover. The store makeover is planned to arrive alongside Gran Turismo 5 Prologue on April 15. The revamp of the PlayStation Store is said to give it a look more in tune with the SingStore (pictured below) which is already accessible from the PlayStation 3 version of SingStar. The exact details of the change has not been revealed but it is said that navigation would change to a series of icons running along the bottom of the interface. We don’t have official confirmation on this one yet, so consider it rumor for now.

PlayStation Home nears completion as another update is rolled out. Recent reports suggest that there will be a big update next week, which will take the beta to 0.8.3 and will include many improvements. Improvements to the UI and graphics engine mean that Home will look much prettier and be more functional from here on out. You will be able to check who’s online from your friends list as well as who is in Home right now. A bubble machine has been made available to all beta testers, to test the new "Home Items" system. Video streaming is now made possible too, so you don’t have to wait for a video to download completely before watching it.

The Marketplace will also be opened to test the clothes and furniture which can be purchased there. This should also give us a hint of how Home’s economy will play out. Look out for more details on the improvements next week, when the update is complete.

It comes as no surprise this week, as once again the European PlayStation store is updated with little new content compared to the US store. Europeans can enjoy a new playable demo (which was already available from the US store for a few weeks now), or some of the new videos, wallpapers and a new theme. The US have also received a new playable demo as well as a new PSOne title and more Rock Band add-on content. Also included in the US update are several new videos and trailers, and a new XMB theme.

European Update:

• Playable Demos
• Lost Planet
• Video and Trailers
• Conflict: Denied Ops Launch Trailer
• Conflict: Denied Ops Diary 3: Co-Operative Gameplay
• Assassin s Creed Dev Diary: Altair
• Wallpapers
• Devil May Cry 4 Wallpapers (7)
• Themes
• Sports

US Update:

• Playable Demos
  • PixelJunk Monsters Demo
• PS one Classics for PS3 / PSP
  
  • Jet Moto 3 ($5.99)
• Add-on Game Content
  • Rock Band
    • Why Do You Love Me – Garbage. ($1.99)
    • Sex Type Thing – Stone Temple Pilots ($1.99)
    • El Scorcho – Weezer ($1.99)
• Videos and Trailers
  • MLB 08 The Show Stolen Base Video
  • MLB 08 The Show Replay Vault Tutorial
  • MLB 08 The Show Pitcher/Batter Analysis Tutorial
  • Conflict: Denied Ops Overview Dev Diary 4
  • Bionic Commando: Rearmed Trailer
  • We Own The Night Blu-ray Disc Trailer
  • Kung Fu Panda Teaser Trailer
• PS3 Themes
  • Lair: Asylian Theme

It comes as no suprise that Universal Studios are switching to Blu-Ray, following Toshiba’s announcement. Universal will be discontinuing HD DVD production by this March and will launch all new titles, and catalogue titles, in the Blu-Ray format. Universal Studios Home Entertainment’s president Craig Kornblau has released a statement indicating that it will be launching new and catalog titles on the Blu-Ray format.

"While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray. The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear.

Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate."

The remaining companies still backing HD DVD are expected to switch to Blu-Ray in the coming weeks.

Toshiba has announced that it will stop making its high definition DVDs, ending the battle with rival format Blu-Ray. Following a review of its business, Toshiba said it would stop production of HD DVD players and recorders. Toshiba president Atsutoshi Nishida said "We made a quick decision, judging that there is no way of winning the competition." Toshiba said the tipping point came last month when Warner Bros’ followed a number of other film studios in deciding to release its movies only in the Blu-Ray format.

Is it expected that PS3 sales will rise following the announcement by Toshiba. Also, it is speculated that Microsoft may release a Blu-Ray Drive for the XBox 360. In the UK, DSGI, which owns the Currys chain, said it would stop selling HD DVD players after Toshiba’s announcement. Last week, Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, announced it would sell high-definition discs only in the Blu-ray format at its 4,000 US stores.

Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks studios signed up to produce movies in HD DVD, but Toshiba’s withdrawal is expected to significantly reduce the number of films available in the format.

It has been reported by several sources that Toshiba may be giving up its support for the HD DVD format, and conceding to Blu-Ray. A report from Reuters reveals that the company will indeed be giving up the format and draw and early close to the high-definition DVD war. Toshiba is reported to lose tens of billions of yen (or hundreds of millions of dollars) when they eventually drop the format. In addition, they will lose their production line of HD DVD players, recorders, and other devices that support the format.

Reuters’ source continues on to say that Toshiba is planning the final stages of dropping the HD DVD format. On NHK, Japanese TV, a reporter for the channel has made the announcement that Toshiba will halt production of HD-DVD players and conceding a loss to the Blu-ray group. He said that Toshiba will be making the formal announcement within a few days.

With Blu-ray commanding the lead over HD-DVD worldwide, the choice was beyond obvious. It’s estimated that Blu-ray commands 90% of the high-definition market, and with over 10 million PlayStation 3s out there, it’s certainly a big boost for the format. Additionally, with retailers and studio support dropping left, right and center, HD-DVD had no ground to stand on anymore. Toshiba will continue to liquidate HD-DVD stock, but production has already officially ended.

Many games already support PlayStation Home, including Warhawk once the new patch becomes available to download. We all know that Home is scheduled to be released sometime this spring, but the release date could be earlier than first anticipated. According to a "insider", PlayStation Home will be available "very very soon". Sony already seems to be prepping an update to include in-game XMB access so Home could be part of that. But at this stage, this is considered a rumor until we official word from Sony.

According to the "insider":

"A game must be able to integrate into Home, a game must support ‘Accomplishments’. Right there, two important things, the PS3 system for achievements is called ‘Accomplishments’, and Home is coming out VERY VERY VERY Soon."

Dylan Jobe, Game Director of Warhawk, has announced the new, and free, update for Warhawk – the v1.3 Patch! The patch has five key additions that add a ton of value to the game. The additions include two new weapons, PlayStation Home Integration and other new options (see below). The two new weapons are the Mechanic’s Field Wrench and Bio-Field Generator, information on both can be found below.

Key Additions:

• Mechanic’s field wrench
• Bio-field generator
• HOME game launching
• New VOIP options
• New paint schemes & insignias

Mechanic’s Field Wrench:

As you might expect, this piece of equipment is used to repair vehicles. Once you get the pickup, you swing it just like the combat blade. Then, just walk up to, or onto an allied vehicle and “whack” it with the wrench. It repairs wicked fast so it’s very effectively during combat. On the offensive side, not only is it still a one-hit-kill against troops, but it can be used to damage enemy vehicles as well!

Bio-Field Generator:

To use a Bio-Field, grab the pick up and throw it down like a proximity mine. It sticks to walls, ceilings, anything…including vehicles. Then, if any ally stands within its bio-reactive field, his health will quickly regen. Alternatively, and this is where some neat tactics emerge, if an enemy walks into the bio-field (yes, bio-fields are color coded), they’ll take damage.