Sony Computer Entertainment America announced it's expanding the closed beta for its Home environment on PlayStation 3. Users who download a new Home theme just released on the PlayStation Network automatically apply to join the test community.

Eligibility, Sony says on its PlayStation blog, will be determined by "a variety of criteria," including how active users have been on the PlayStation Network. Users already accepted into the earlier beta are pre-qualified.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is also expanding its closed beta, and will target the PlayStation Network and Store's most active users directly via email, the company says.

"We’re really excited about this milestone and want our most loyal fans to be a part of the evolution of PlayStation Home," writes Home director Jack Buser.

[The preceding article by Leigh Alexander originally appeared on Worlds in Motion sister site Gamasutra.]