Locked in a three-way battle with Microsoft Corp and Nintendo Co Ltd in the video game industry, Sony Corp announced its big bet on Wednesday - its plan of a global commercial launch of its “Home” 3D virtual online community service for PlayStation 3 users on December 11.

The Thursday launch is Sony’s latest move to drive demand for its struggling game console, aimed at giving users a place to interact with other PS 3 users. “Home” layers an entire virtual world and social network on top of the games for the PS 3.

The “Home” experience - resembling Linden Lab’s ‘Second Life’ virtual world - is meant to draw all sorts of new users together into the world of the PS 3. The users can create online characters or avatars, as well as chat with other visitors, play games and customize their own sites in the virtual world.

One of the free services allows a user to join a multiplayer game with friends by just moving near them inside “Home” and launching a group game.

Jack Buser, director of Home for the US game division, said while “Home” could have been many things, Sony decided to focus the content around playing games and the culture around them. He added the price is free for PS 3 owners.

“Home” is, in fact, the flagship piece of the PlayStation Network, which already has 15 million members from the PS 3 and PlayStation Portable fan base. “Home” will let players collect trophies, decorate virtual rooms, and hang out in game-related bars, such as one for the games Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, and Far Cry 2.