Tech site Engadget has run a story today describing how renown PS3 hacker “StreetskaterFU” (we’re sure he’s an upstanding member of the community) has made a claim on a popular PS3 hacking site* to have cracked the Home beta client; spilling the riches of Sony’s mythical upcoming online social gaming hub to all asunder.

Apart from the obvious questions this raises regarding the security of Sony’s code, Engadget also posits that the alleged breach may proffer new avenues of infiltration as modders look for the proverbial PS3 philosopher’s stone.  Such control would allow them to install home-brew apps but also purloin games; a fate stable-mate the PSP has historically been plagued with.

With Sony now displaying images of Home in the user registration process we can only assume (again?) that the release of the perpetually delayed service is imminent but how might the above claims affect any impending launch plans?  Would Sony delay it again to patch its security holes or could it be too late? Is the cat out of the bag and the PS3 about to receive some serious haxz0rs?

*Not linked here but (if you’re so inclined) you can locate it quite easily.