The US PlayStation blog, in announcing an new Home PS3 theme heralding an expanded Home Beta program, has also explained how European PS3 owners will be selected for the program.

The US blog explains, "In Europe, SCEE is also beginning their expanded closed beta, directly targeting consumers who have been most active on PLAYSTATION Network and PLAYSTATION Store. SCEE will be in email contact with their PSN audience very shortly."

Meanwhile, PSN members in North America will be enticed into the expanded Home Beta with a new downloadable theme. Says the blog, "Later today, the PLAYSTATION Store will be updated with a PlayStation Home theme. By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community.

We will be using a variety of criteria including activity on the PLAYSTATION Network to determine eligibility for the Beta community. Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta."

It's strange for the US blog to announce how Europe is going to operate, so we have contacted SCEE in order to get an official statement regarding the expanded Home Beta for us EuroTrash.

In fact, a SCEE representative has returned our query, telling SPOnG, "I'm afraid we're not making any further comment on this at the moment."

In short, however, American users will be selected having first downloaded a theme - thus showing their interest in PSN and PlayStation Store - while Europeans (and ANZACs) will be selected without the need/pleasure of an additional theme.

In the meantime, why not check out what a SPOnG regular has to say about their experience in the Home Beta over in our dedicated Forum thread.