There have been a number of emails doing the rounds inviting PS3 owners to participate in a new closed beta for PlayStation Home.

Those opting to test it are of course under an NDA, but it does show that Sony clearly have been working behind the scenes on bigger things for the service.

On Monday Jack Buser, director of PlayStation Home for North America, confirmed that a lot is planned for the online service with “an incredible number of new surprises ahead”.

Sony’s online virtual universe launched in December 2008, and a lot of new content has arrived since, but feature-wise not a lot has changed.

We recommend reading our top five wishlist from one of our special Homeruns here.