For what it’s worth, I predict that the Hamster head will stay. I suspect what happened was that someone in Sony did a database search on “older items that aren’t selling very well” and didn’t run the results by someone knowledgeable in Home’s user-created culture. Everybody loves the Hamsters, and you can’t have Hamsters without their iconic head. What this episode has taught us is how dependent we are on virtual content in our creations. It’s humbling, and a bit scary.

Homelings lost their white Kimono Skirt (the main marker for officers) when Irem went under. The Pharaoh Skirt, an item used by many male Commanders, is on the current chopping block. We don’t see Echochrome leaving any time soon, but if it does, we will adapt. What really defines the Homeling look is the all-white color scheme, sci-fi accessories and the avatar modifications — no hair, invisible eyebrows and distorted, alien features. As long as these modifications are possible, we can be recognizably Homeling.

And if they aren’t? What if some future dystopic version of Home made us all choose perfectly proportioned human faces? Then we would still have our core “idea”, respect for all in Home, and our sense of fun. Homelings are eternal. Or at least very persistent.