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Viacom says Xfire is PS3-bound

[UPDATE] Media giant is working on a version of its recently acquired PC utility for the new console--but Sony now claims the service will be limited to a single SOE game.

When Sony first talked about the PlayStation Network Platform in March, it described a suite of communication features that included messaging, voice and video chat, matchmaking, ranking, and friends lists. Now, it appears that some of those functionalities will be handled by a PlayStation 3-specific version of the PC gaming utility Xfire--although it appears to be for only a single game.

Xfire was acquired by Viacom in April, and currently boasts more than 5 million registered users. Last month, a Viacom conference call reporting the company's second-quarter earnings included a brief mention of the service--and Sony's next platform.

"Importantly, Xfire just signed a deal with Sony to create a version of their platform for the new PS3, which will now enable Xfire to extend its reach further into the huge console gaming market," the company's then-president and CEO Tom Freston said in a transcript. Freston was removed from his position by the company's board of directors earlier this month.

While Xfire is primarily an in-game instant messaging program, it also offers some Xbox Live-like features, such as friends lists and chat options. However, the earnings call did not specify how many of these would be integrated into a PS3 version of Xfire, or how large a role Xfire might play in the system's PlayStation Network Platform.

[UPDATE] The plot thickened late on Tuesday, when Sony Computer Entertainment America gave 1up this statement. "We can confirm that Sony Online Entertainment is in talks with Viacom and Xfire for a single, specific PS3 game. However, there are no announcements at this time regarding any discussions between SCEA, Viacom and Xfire," a rep reportedly said.

Sony Online Entertainment's Chris Kramer went one step further, telling the site the name of the title in question. "SOE has been in talks with Xfire about potentially including some of their technology in Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, our PlayStation 3 launch title," he said. "This proposed deal is completely separate and independent from the PlayStation Network Platform, and is something that SOE was examining specifically for Dark Kingdom. More information on Xfire and Dark Kingdom will be coming soon."

For his part, Xfire CEO Mike Cassidy flatly denied the service would be the backbone of Sony's answer to Xbox Live, as some had speculated. "Xfire is not part of the PlayStation Network Platform. We are in discussions with Sony Online Entertainment, but I cannot comment any further," he reportedly said.

489 Comments

  • Sackboy_man

    Posted Oct 10, 2009 2:02 pm GMT

    Cool. But this is old news . No new comments since 2006!

  • Inquisitor928

    Posted Sep 22, 2006 8:43 am GMT

    Why is everyone saying how awsome xfire is going to be. Did you read the article? "although it appears to be for only a single game." If Sony does not come out with a half decent online support then they will be making the same mistake that they made with the ps2. XBL is the #1 thing M$ had going for it over the ps2, and Sony cant even give you something that has been around since last gen. We need to show them how important online gaming is to us, or else we will be stuck with the same old garbage online support the ps2 had.

  • dwarlf

    Posted Sep 22, 2006 4:20 am GMT

    @ssjtrunks6 no its $600US. maybe in like 2005 they might have said that but not now. besides who the f**k honestly believes a word sony ever says. with that Killzone 2 realtime s**t Assassins Creed running on a 360 but apparently a ps3 exclusive, dual HDMI at 1080p ("the true HD"), world wide release. NO its not f***in $400

  • Rectifier201

    Posted Sep 21, 2006 5:05 pm GMT

    I can honestly say I'm a PS fanboy, but why can't sony come up with an original and more interesting online system, instead of taking a crappy one -- namely, Xfire? make a PS3 Live, something to actually compete with a creation made by the actual other console, don't take something already done before..

  • ogtarin2005

    Posted Sep 20, 2006 10:33 am GMT

    No Sony itself stated on the playstation website, and I quote; "How much will it cost?"

    "This generation of consoles is expected to be the most expensive in history. The Xbox 360 hit the $400 mark when it launched last year. With all the new technology in the PlayStation 3, you should expect it to cost at least $400. And with a 60GB hard drive confirmed to ship with every console, this is a more than believable price."

    http://www.ps3land.com/faq.php

  • andrewham7

    Posted Sep 19, 2006 7:18 pm GMT

    no...actually its 600

  • ssjtrunks6

    Posted Sep 19, 2006 6:32 pm GMT

    For all the people that hate the ps3 because of its price, yall must not ever actually pay attention to SONY them selves, the price of the ps3 is not 600, sonys release price is $450

    sorry about this every time there is a message that is posted about the ps3s price or something like that it is one of my buds that use my account.. not the owner of this account so pay no mind to it

  • choto8

    Posted Sep 19, 2006 8:43 am GMT

    "evilyoda861
    Poor Sony screwing up big time using the stupid Blueray driver..."

    That had absolutely nothing to do with the article...did you even read it? Or do you like mindlessly bashing?

  • evilyoda861

    Posted Sep 18, 2006 6:36 pm GMT

    Poor Sony screwing up big time using the stupid Blueray driver...

  • d0njuan

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 9:30 pm GMT

    cool

  • Jerell_rast Site moderator

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 8:13 pm GMT

    The idea of posting a comment on the article is por THAT purpose only!! Fanboys, go and post on the System Wars, please.

    Now about xfire. At first hand it really does look like sony's backbone in comparison to XBox LIve. But they said it was for one game only until now so we just have to wait and see.

  • MK24ever

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 2:03 am GMT

    Drakeish.... shut up!! Don't talk about something you don't even know,

  • Tertuel

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 1:29 am GMT

    Xfire is really good and would (in speculation) work well with the PS3.

  • wooplez

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 8:02 am GMT

    what does this mean then?

  • Marusamei

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 7:02 am GMT

    From a fanboy Point of Veiw sonys doing well, but from a business standpoint, there damn near going backrupt on this system. It will be way over 5 years before they can make another console, so you have alot of time to wait, and make enough money to get one. I prob wont get one, or at least untill 5 months of it being out, the PSP(i got one) was supposed to blow ds out of the water. IT Failed Misearabley at doing so. In fact the Ds has out sold the psp probably 3-1 or more. So i bought a 360 cause i trust microsoft in Business(hello PC) so thats no worries. And Nintendo is strong too, but im worried at Sony. I dislike em, but i dont want em to go down. There is going to be one hell of a ps3 shourtage tho. ON TOPIC, neat, xfire. I use it, theyll put it in a game, cool. Its nothing unlike what XBL does really so its a cheap way for em to mimic it i suppose.

  • OatmealKing

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 5:01 am GMT

    ok people here is the scoop...PS3 is going to be the best next gen console...xbox 360 is a good system...when i bought mine in about 5 weeks it broke and i sent it in to "xbox" and they sent me a new one b/c they said they couldnt fix it...i still think the 360 is really good but....PS3 will be the best...i mean just compare them...PS3 will have alot more to offer......online is now for sure kick a$$....graphics will be the best...who ever said graphics werent a big part of a game...its goes to ways to make a good game...graphics and game play....story etc...GET THE PS3....it will be way worth ur money....the best....im just mad b/c i bought my 30" HDTV and it only goes to 1080i so im really dissapointed....but thats just another point to the PS3..1080p....will the 360 do that...not that i know of....BLUE RAY means games will have unbelievable graphics, detail, ambient sounds, longer storys, what more can u ask for....PS3.....thats all i ask for...

  • IsmirZone

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 1:03 am GMT

    Just_Desert - It seems that so it is not possible to have a good online service for free. Then again MicroCrap is chargeing as they are greety for money......They don't haveto and they can make it free if they want. The fact is as for now they are the only Online console service that good so they can charge.

  • IsmirZone

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 12:58 am GMT

    megaman_legends - DAMN STREIGHT.

    It is hard to say much now....but you are right. Just wait till it's out. When you get that I cant help it urge to play the games PS3 offers.

    This time around I think online of PS3 games will be great.... !PEACE!

  • Z00Mbite

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 11:24 pm GMT

    megaman seems quite excited

  • ssjtrunks6

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 8:45 pm GMT

    DAMN, megaman_legends went off on some people.... LOL whoa

  • Kord911

    Posted Sep 15, 2006 4:33 am GMT

    I literally laughed at ryokinshin6x3's comment. I don't think he knows what he's talking about.

  • Just_Desert

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 7:06 pm GMT

    I just pray that that their online service is half-decent by the time MGS4 is released, I really can't see Sony pulling off a online service equal to or even better than XBL without charging you for it. I would rather have great network and pay for it then have a free half ass one (PS2 online =/).

  • ryokinshin6x3

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 6:17 pm GMT

    if they make xfire part of the platform gg xbl

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:58 pm GMT

    why for only one game?

  • LittleYoshi

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:34 pm GMT

    Your right ssjtrunks6! I agree with you on that all the way!

  • p_dime

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 9:48 am GMT

    I'll stay optimistic. But you can't deny how well the other next gens are doing. Just imagine putting the Wii, X360, and PS3's controller side by side. Something just looks oh-so-not-next-gen. Anyways, I'll keep my hopes up. The PS3 has got to raise the bar somewhere.

  • aim_to_kill

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 8:47 am GMT

    lol thats fun

  • ssjtrunks6

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 8:46 am GMT

    IF sony never has any good news, or if their news is always so lame... WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO POST THERE NEGATIVE COMMENTS..must be someone with nothing better to do with their day, only the fanboys should be allowed to say anything on the boards, if you dont have anything good to say, then dont say anything at all regarding the ps3, go play with youself and stop with the negativity to a machine

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 8:05 am GMT

    This makes no sense whatsoever. If SOE is already offering a way to communicate on the PNP, why the hell do they need XFire? Moreover, why the hell would they only use it for ONE game which isn't the most "popular" launch title???

    Lame.

  • OGKNav

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:43 am GMT

    (insert annoying fanboy comment here)

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 2:13 am GMT

    Hey I almost bought virtual boy... until they let me play it at the store. heh

  • jesse_jax

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:55 am GMT

    Romanticide
    rofl, Ps3 news is always so lame

    yeah, theres 2 lots of boring ps3 news, therefore, ps3 news is ALWAYS lame

  • papichuloazul

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:24 am GMT

    What crying people?... I'm happy for sony Wow sony will take to microsoft online system. Well I think that it time to up sony support in microsoft under (xbox live: "XBL") a create new playstation live "PSL" (if you are already in member or join register) pay $50 year fee full unlimit hourly if I were you I'm job good worker save a lot money in citibank or chase, bankone... And sony and ms not charger your credit card but whatever you buy shop online, download maps can charger you a each month not same for year service fee, when you pay service fee same for year PSL, XBL too that's all. I like xbl so I want new psl right now "psl" mean "playstation live" then done. Yo gamespot.com hear me out if I'm smart point out this PSL! I'm out

  • papichuloazul

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 1:12 am GMT

    What crying people?... I'm happy for sony Wow sony will take to microsoft online system. Well I think that it time to up sony support in microsoft under (xbox live: "XBL") a create new playstation live "PSL" (if you are already in member or join register) pay $50 year fee full unlimit hourly if I were you I'm job good worker save a lot money in citibank or chase, bankone... And sony and ms not charger your credit card but whatever you buy shop online, download maps can charger you a each month not same for year service fee, when you pay service fee same for year PSL, XBL too that's all. I like xbl so I want new psl right now "psl" mean "playstation live" then done. Yo gamespot.com hear me out if I'm smart point out this PSL! I'm out

  • Poki3

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 12:00 am GMT

    Hmm... I love Xfire. Hope they add it to the PS3, so I can count my gaming hours ^^

  • Romanticide

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 11:49 pm GMT

    rofl, Ps3 news is always so lame.

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 10:51 pm GMT

    Nation411
    It still gets me when people cry and whine about paying a whopping $60 a year for XBL....pick up a penny when you see it and do it for a year and you'll account for $60. Like seriously....give up the XBL debate...it's cheap as hell and you look like some trailor park trash who can't afford a tin can when you complain about such a small sum of cash. At BARE minimum wage it'd take you 12 hours of work for XBL to provide you a possible 8760 hours of funess.

    So seriously....argument killed. XBL is cheap, complain and you'll be called "Cheapskate Cow / Sheep--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Great we can do all of that, stop coming in here and complaining about the price of the PS3, not you directly but the MS and Nintendo fanboys that come in here everyday, sony online is going to be free correct, so the ps3 is what $200 more than the 360, take $60 away from that for online gaming, wow now PS3 is $140 cheaper then the 360, ok great now you make a great point whats a measley $60 a year? so whats a measley $140 extra for something more powerful, has more features and honestly will have more launch titles and better 3rd party support, heck even the core version comes with a 20GB hard drive!!!! you look at and tell me thats not a better deal you get what you pay for

  • Nation411

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 10:19 pm GMT

    It still gets me when people cry and whine about paying a whopping $60 a year for XBL....pick up a penny when you see it and do it for a year and you'll account for $60. Like seriously....give up the XBL debate...it's cheap as hell and you look like some trailor park trash who can't afford a tin can when you complain about such a small sum of cash. At BARE minimum wage it'd take you 12 hours of work for XBL to provide you a possible 8760 hours of funess.

    So seriously....argument killed. XBL is cheap, complain and you'll be called "Cheapskate Cow / Sheep"

  • sacramentho

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 10:16 pm GMT

    PS3 will sell less than Virtual Boy did up in those days...the only thing sony knows of is lies, lies and, let me think....lies

  • masterofTS

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 9:33 pm GMT

    Wow, foxhound_fox is a dumb fanboy. Sony isn't stealing from the computer. They are using a licensed program from the company itself so it can make the PS3 better.

  • foxhound_fox

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 9:25 pm GMT

    Wow... stealing from the PC now... jeez... will $ony ever stop!?

  • aldrenar47

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 9:02 pm GMT

    from http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3153547:

    UPDATE II: Sony Computer Entertainment America responded to the below report with the following statement: "We can confirm that Sony Online Entertainment is in talks with Viacom and Xfire for a single, specific PS3 game. However, there are no announcements at this time regarding any discussions between SCEA, Viacom and Xfire."

    Silly rabbit, theres no such thing as good PS3 news! Its only for one game. Zing!

  • pavalooo

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 8:51 pm GMT

    wow reading the comments, its like the attack of the fanboys

  • albanianfreak

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 8:47 pm GMT

    WOW EFFING WOW AWSOME

  • dragon1su2

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 8:31 pm GMT

    It's so funny reading all the xbox 360 players bashing ps3 i could bet one thing there are more xbox/xbox360 players that play ps2 then there is ps2 players that play xbox/xbox360. Every xbox/xbox360 player can all name one ps/ps2 game they love so they need to shut the hell cause sony owns when it comes to gaming. When the ps2 came out it owned but here comes the xbox omg it's going to own ps2 WRONG!!!! ps2 killed it omg here comes the xbox360 to beat the ps2 WRONG AGAIN!!! ps2 is still holding it down. the ps3 launch is looking on the rougn side but has long as they don't do a recall cause they rush it like xbox360 was it looks like xbox360 players forgot about that launch.When it comes to the ps3 yea there messing up but i bet by late 2007 it's going to own again cause xbox doesn't have games for everybody. All they have is FPS games it's so bad there making a controllers just for FPS people keep saying there no ps3 title hahaha so i'll play my ps2 games into more titles come out cause Sony owns the right to there system not like mircosoft so the old game will work. I hope the ps3 online owns xbox live if xbox 360 falls i'll laugh in all your faces XBOX FAN BOYS

  • frblaze

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 8:16 pm GMT

    Everyone should now know that Sony has officially clarifed the PS3 usage of x-fire. "SCEA has claimed that the application would only be used for one specific game: Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) launch title Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom."

    "According to Sony Online Entertainment’s Chris Kramer, the usage of Xfire in Dark Kingdom has still not been confirmed, with 1UP quoting him as saying: “This proposed deal is completely separate and independent from the PlayStation Network Platform, and is something that SOE was examining specifically for Dark Kingdom."

    More info: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=10856
    or http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=19664

    Basically the PS3 online is back where it started.

  • lagreendown

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 8:14 pm GMT

    cool now lets play the game flame the wii fanboy wii know that xfire is now are suckas

  • kenshinhimura16

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 8:12 pm GMT

    PS 3 will most likely be very succesful outside the US because in many countries ppl dont want to pay for gaming online, if that wasnt true, then there wouldnt be WOW, Guild Wars, etc free keys and free servers so that ppl that cant pay the fee can play it.

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