Today is the day that Japanese users can finally gain access again to the Playstation Store features on the Playstation Network. However, Sony"s online console gaming service may also be getting a new user interface. According to a story at Register Hardware, Sony has been working on a redesign of the Playstation Network UI even as it has been recovering from the cyber attack that shut down the Playstation Network worldwide for several weeks earlier this year.
Some people have been critical of the current user interface for the Playstation Network, claiming it uses too much text in the UI. The story states that Sony"s upcoming redesign should improve that situation saying via unnamed sources that the new version has "an aesthetic layout with logically marked sections and rolodex lists." It"s also supposed to have an improved search feature. The Playstation Store"s downloadable movie section will also have more info on the films it has in its library. Finally the redesign might do away with the blue color scheme, replacing it with brighter colors on a black background. There"s no word on when this new redesign of the Playstation Network might go live.
If this story is true, Sony won"t be the only console company creating a new user interface. Microsoft announced last month at E3 2011 that it will launch a new UI for its Xbox 360 console later this fall that will better use its Kinect motion controller camera. It will also add support for Microsoft"s plans to add live TV channels to Xbox 360.