This does not make any sense to me. What was the Sony executives thinking? For the Xbox there is Live, which is a central hub for all online gaming. With Sony and their PS3, each game or game company will have their own “micro service” you may or may not have to register for to get on and play against your friends.
Suicide. If reports are true, then Sony is entering the next-generation battle without a central online gaming service. What? Why? Who—
According to OPM (via GamesFirst), online gaming on the PlayStation 3 will be left to the discretion of individual publishers—just like on the PS2. While some may argue that this gives publishers greater freedom to design a unique online experience, it also makes it difficult for Sony to control the quality of that experience. And from a gamer’s standpoint, it’s a real pain in the neck, since each publisher will require its own user account (and possibly fees).
source: Joystiq