As Sony continues to build the hype for its potentially revolutionary PS3 online social network Home, Sony’s Peter Edward has told an audience at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival that anyone caught abusing fellow users online could face the prospect of their machines being banned from accessing any of Sony’s online features.

Edward went as far as to say that: “If you really, really misbehave you can have your console disconnected at a machine level, so you would actually have to move house and buy a new PS3 before you could get online again,” according to GamesIndustry.

However, Sony’s intention is to allow as much of the Home community to moderate itself as much as possible by granting players the ability to block communications and networking with any undesirable users.

The platform holder also added that it does not intend to act as a virtual police force and is not working toward offering a ‘sanitised service’ – with brands such as Marlboro, Durex and Bacardi featuring in the presentation.

“A large proportion of our demographic is over 18 so we will make a point of catering to that demographic,” Edward added. “We certainly don't want to dumb everything down to the lowest common denominator.”