Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about PlayStation Home and Home Laboratory

General Questions

Home Laboratory is an open-source collective dedicated to preserving and reviving PlayStation Home. We've successfully restored PlayStation Home to an operational state using our own server software, allowing players to experience this unique virtual world once again.

No, Home Laboratory is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This is a community preservation project created by fans and enthusiasts of PlayStation Home. We operate independently to preserve this important piece of gaming history.

Our project has successfully restored a large portion of PlayStation Home spaces and content. Many popular areas like the Central Plaza, Mall, and game spaces are available. However, some limited-time event spaces or brand-specific content might not be fully restored yet. We're continually working to expand the available content through our preservation efforts.

There are several ways to contribute to Home Laboratory:
  • Donate your PlayStation Home cache files
  • Report bugs or issues you encounter
  • Contribute to our documentation efforts
  • Help develop new features or fix existing ones if you have programming skills
  • Spread the word about our project to former PlayStation Home users
Check out our Contact page to get in touch with us about contributing.

Technical Questions

Home Laboratory has developed open-source server software (MultiServer3) that replicates the network services used by PlayStation Home. Our implementation includes Horizon (which contains Medius, DME, and Muis services) and several custom APIs for handling user accounts, content delivery, and multiplayer interaction. The server software is designed to be compatible with both original PS3 consoles and the RPCS3 emulator.

We've created a suite of tools to develop and maintain PlayStation Home:
  • Nautilus Toolset - For unpacking and repacking PlayStation Home file formats
  • Content Preserver - For analyzing and archiving Home content
  • RTRC (Real-Time Remote Control) - A web-based tool for managing Home in real-time
  • Custom debugging and monitoring tools - For analyzing network traffic and behavior
Most of our tools are available on our GitHub repositories for community use and contribution.

Yes, our MultiServer3 software is open-source and available on GitHub. Technical users can set up their own private PlayStation Home servers. However, it requires some technical knowledge to configure properly. Check our GitHub repository for documentation on self-hosting, or join our Discord for community support.

PS3 Questions

To run PlayStation Home on a PS3, you'll need:
  • A PlayStation 3 console (any model)
  • Updated to firmware 4.92 HFW with HEN installed, or Evilnat 4.92 CFW
  • The PlayStation Home application (downloadable from the PSN category)
  • An internet connection
No DNS modifications or additional settings are needed with our latest updates.

Yes, you'll need a PS3 with either HEN (Homebrew ENabler) or CFW (Custom Firmware). We specifically recommend using firmware 4.92 HFW with the latest HEN or Evilnat 4.92 CFW, as these versions fully support the PlayStation Home icon on the XMB and provide the best compatibility with our server software.

No, with our latest updates, you don't need to modify DNS settings or use any network redirects. The PlayStation Home application will automatically connect to our servers once you've updated to the recommended firmware and have HEN or CFW installed. This makes the setup process much simpler than earlier versions of our project.

RPCS3 Emulator Questions

For a smooth PlayStation Home experience on RPCS3, we recommend:
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or better
  • RAM: 8GB minimum, 16GB recommended
  • GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti or AMD RX 570 or better with Vulkan support
  • Storage: At least 25GB free space
  • Operating System: Windows 10/11, Linux, or macOS with compatible hardware
PlayStation Home is relatively less demanding than many PS3 games, but having a decent CPU is important for emulation performance.

We provide a specialized RPCS3 package that's pre-configured for PlayStation Home:
  1. Download our RPCS3 package from our website
  2. Extract the contents to a location on your computer
  3. Run the RPCS3 executable
  4. Launch PlayStation Home from the game list
Our package includes all necessary firmware files, the PlayStation Home application, and optimal configuration settings. You don't need to configure anything manually.

Yes, you can use your existing RPCS3 installation with some manual configuration:
  1. Download the PlayStation Home PKG file from our website
  2. Install it in your RPCS3 using the "Install Packages" option
  3. Configure network settings to connect to our servers (see our detailed guide)
  4. Apply the recommended RPCS3 settings for PlayStation Home
While this is possible, we recommend using our pre-configured package for the simplest experience, especially for less technical users.

Preservation Questions

PlayStation Home was a groundbreaking social platform that pioneered many concepts now common in digital spaces. It represents an important chapter in gaming history, showcasing early implementations of virtual spaces, digital economies, and social gaming. Without preservation efforts, this unique piece of gaming culture would be lost forever when Sony discontinued the service. Our work ensures that future gamers and researchers can experience and study this important virtual world.

We've successfully preserved a substantial portion of PlayStation Home content. Our archive currently includes:
  • Most public spaces and core areas
  • Thousands of clothing items and accessories
  • Many personal space apartments and decorations
  • Numerous mini-games and interactive elements
  • A significant collection of promotional and game-specific spaces
However, PlayStation Home was constantly updated over its 7-year lifespan, and some limited-time events or rarely-accessed spaces may still be missing. This is why we continue to collect cache files from users who experienced PlayStation Home during its original run.

When users visited PlayStation Home spaces, their PS3 downloaded and stored the necessary files locally. These cache files contain valuable data including 3D models, textures, animations, scripts, and other assets needed to recreate these spaces. By collecting cache files from different users who visited different areas during different time periods, we can piece together a more complete picture of PlayStation Home throughout its existence, including limited-time spaces that might otherwise be lost forever.

While our primary goal is preservation of the original PlayStation Home content, we are developing the capability for creating new community-made content. Our development environment and tools allow for the creation of new spaces, items, and experiences that can integrate seamlessly with the preserved original content. This approach ensures that PlayStation Home can remain a living platform while still preserving its historical significance.

Still Have Questions?

We're here to help! Join our Discord community for real-time support or contact us directly.

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