( CNN ) -- Electronics giant Sony launched its eagerly anticipated social-networking site Thursday for PlayStation 3 users . A gamer plays Sony 's PlayStation 3 . PlayStation Home , which can be downloaded free of charge , will allow PS3 gamers to interact , communicate and share gaming experiences through their own personal `` avatars , '' or three-dimensional virtual representations of themselves . Users will be able to chat to each other in Home Square -- a kind of PlayStation clubhouse -- before heading over to the bowling alley to bowl , play pool or use the gaming arcade . They will also be able to access music and video . Users will eventually be able to customize their avatars and virtual apartments with the latest virtual clothing from designers such as Diesel and furniture maker Ligne Roset . Sony also plans to introduce Red Bull Island , where users can jump into the cockpit of a Red Bull Air Race plane and compete against other Home users . `` The idea behind Home is to create a virtual space for PS3 owners to meet up , talk and play games - the easiest way to think of it is as a hybrid of Facebook , Second Life and the prettiest game lobby ever , '' Tim Clark , editor in chief at Official PlayStation Magazine UK , told the BBC . All you need to download Home is a PlayStation Network account and access to PlayStation Store . Providing you have the latest system software update installed , the Home icon will appear under PlayStation Network on the PS3 Home Menu ( XMB ) . `` PlayStation Home is truly a promising network community service on the PlayStation platform , made possible with a combination of the power of PS3 and the PlayStation Network that covers many countries around the globe , '' said Kazuo Hirai , President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment on the company 's Web site .
PlayStation Home can be downloaded free of charge by PS3 users . Users communicate , share gaming experiences through their own avatars . Designed along the lines of 3-D Second Life virtual world .