It’s called Version 1.3, but don’t let the mid-range number fool you — today’s PlayStation Home update has been marketed as a major improvement to the PlayStation Network’s avatar-populated hangout.

Since its public debut in December, Home has housed mainly public and developer spaces for the customizable avatars to meet each other and play mini-games or see special events, and not much else. (Though the machinima generator produces loads of fun.) Idle mingling has been Home’s main attraction.

Maybe that will change today. The new and improved Home has a product preview feature for shoppers — the better to see how clothes will look on avatars and furniture in private spaces, for example — and a selection of “consumables,” or limited-use items, to give avatars something to do with their hands other than make vague gestures. These two additions ought to make Home feel more … well, homey.

But the marquee addition is universal game launching, allowing PlayStation 3 owners to spin one of their favorites discs without leaving the comforts of Home. Not all titles support this feature at the moment, but those that do (”Resistance 2″ and “Far Cry 2″ are said to be a couple of them) will show up as icons hovering over each avatar that other avatars can see — the better for Home residents to make multiplayer matchups.

Players can add to their icon swarm simply by slipping a disc into the Blu-ray drive, or by purchasing games at the PlayStation Store. (It’s hoped however that this doesn’t make everyone look like their heads are bobbing through a cloud of insects.)

So, take a look at Home today and tell Game Guy what you think. Are the improvements worth having? Do they make your overall Home experience better? If not, why not?

And, of course, Game Guy is always interested in hearing what other things you think will make Home a sweeter place.