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Facebook befriending PS3 Nov. 18

[UPDATE] Firmware update v3.10 introduces native social-networking capabilities to Sony's console; photo layout, friends list tweaks also en route.

Today, Microsoft's Xbox 360 gained two new community features as part of the Xbox Live fall update: Facebook and Twitter. PlayStation 3 owners, of course, could already access both of these services through their console, courtesy of the system's built-in Web browser. However, as was rumored last week, Sony will more tightly knit the social-networking service into the PS3 as part of firmware update v3.10.

Facebook's new icon on the XMB.

Facebook's new icon on the XMB.

As detailed in a video on Sony's official PlayStation Blog, firmware update v3.10 introduces a native Facebook application to the PS3's XrossMediaBar (XMB). Through the Facebook application, gamers can select an option to upload their trophy accomplishments to the 400-million-member online network. The functionality will also let gamers automatically post updates on what content they purchased through the PlayStation Store.

Though the feature won't be available as part of the v3.10 update, PS3 owners will also be able to share game-specific information on their Facebook accounts in the near future. According to Sony, developers will be able to select certain elements such as in-game accomplishments or stats that can be shared on Facebook.

Beyond Facebook integration, the v3.10 update delivers a handful of tweaks to the PS3's firmware. The XMB's photo section now displays images in a grid format, as opposed to the strictly vertical layout that had previously been available. Sony also made changes to the PSN friends list, adding among other features the ability to change the background color of profile pictures.

[UPDATE] Though Sony did not initially provide a specific date for when firmware update v3.10 would be available, it has since announced it is available as of Wednesday, November 18.

158 Comments

  • fatbadger88

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 3:35 am GMT

    Result...as such....I worked out that its because my account is the sub account on my dad's PS3. I don't get why sub accounts cant have facebook too but maybe they will fix that in future patches.

  • fatbadger88

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 4:33 pm GMT

    @dragonuk82 No its definitely not in there, my version is 3.10 but is there anything else I need to do? thanks for the advice though, turns out they have singled me out lol

  • dragonUK82

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:57 am GMT

    @fatbadger - go to account management, its in there. I'm in the UK also.

  • fatbadger88

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:03 am GMT

    I've gone into my account management section but no facebook to be seen, is it missing from the UK version does anyone know? As so far it looks like it.

  • Nobri

    Posted Nov 24, 2009 2:12 pm GMT

    @PandaBear86

    Didn't the 360 get Grand Theft Auto, Tekken, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy (soon), and Metal Gear Solid (soon) from being Sony exclusives? The answer is yes. You can't say they're copying them. Facebook was already technically on PS3 since launch...

  • Nobri

    Posted Nov 24, 2009 2:02 pm GMT

    @NEWJERSEY-DEVIL
    @Stec13

    You have to go to the Playstation Network tab, and look under Account Management. You should be able to set it up there, and when you earn a trophy, it should as you if you wanna post it to Facebook. If you don't see it there, I have no idea what's wrong.

  • NEWJERSEY-DEVIL

    Posted Nov 20, 2009 3:24 pm GMT

    I don't get it i added it to my facebook, But i don't see it on my facebook. In other words it doesn't work....

  • Stec13

    Posted Nov 20, 2009 2:51 pm GMT

    I got the update but I don't see the Facebook feature!? wtf

  • win64

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 3:05 pm GMT

    any idea why its so slow to download at a 20 meb broadband speed

  • Killeropolis

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 12:39 pm GMT

    I may not ever use this, but it is nice to be able to know i can use it

  • StarvingPoet

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 11:53 am GMT

    @awaltzforvenus

    Your toilet updated your FB status and I saw it on my live feed!

  • awaltzforvenus

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 11:43 am GMT

    @StarvingPoet Hey, how did you know?

  • StarvingPoet

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 10:53 am GMT

    @awaltzforvenus

    awaltzforvenus is dropping a monster load
    34 seconds ago.

  • osmifura

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 10:24 am GMT

    PS3 rules

  • stopher2501

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 10:05 am GMT

    Great another 'feature' that i won't use, and maybe i'm the only one here but i prefered the old picture layout. It's good Sony are thinking of ways to make there console more useful and appealing but there are plenty of other things to focus on, avatars being top of my list (petty i know but they are bad) improvements to PSN connections? i'm forever losing connection (yes i've checked my equipment and settings) and i'm not alone in this.
    In short thanks Sony but think it through from the gamers point of view.

  • jpsaply

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 8:50 am GMT

    Lets see....I bought a gaming console to twitter...nope. To use facebook...nope. For music...nope. To fill in that empty space on the shelf...nope. Oh yes! for gaming content! DING! DING! DING! We have a winner!

    Sony and MS need to get back to the basics. Worry about getting quality games to your consoles and not waste time with social networks. Most of us own PCs for that.

  • aallx

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 8:38 am GMT

    V3.10 is out, and lol, I love this feature! What better way to show off my trophies than posting it on my wall!

  • monson21502

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 8:02 am GMT

    @MSG-Deathscythe, only had 2 system ever brake on me. my 360 got E74, and a week later my ps3 got YLOD. not sure what you ment by enjoy paying for my *first servings* [maybe wrong person?] anyways dont feel sorry for me about my 360 its fixed for free. but i am and was sad my ps3 wont be fixed for free right at the worst time of the year. great games and the worry about buying presents for others... i just cant afford to pay sony 200 bucks to fix my ps3 right now.

  • MSG-Deathscythe

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 4:35 am GMT

    @monson21502: enjoy paying for your "first servings?" sorry you had to drop in here while your rrod360 is being repaired ... again. : (

  • Generalmojo

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 3:44 am GMT

    You see all that mentioned up there^^^^
    ITS FREE BABY!!

  • ali-009

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 3:37 am GMT

    Another win for sony!!!,now gamers can upload trophies and show them to all thier friends,now there is no reason to get Xbox 360 (if there was even a reason before),there is a lot to come for PS3,and this is just the start,and for anyone who says that the web browser of PS3 is good enough,sorry but that web browser only works if you want to watch HD youtube videos,this is awesome and i'm sure there is a lot to come.

  • sonicmask

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 9:54 pm GMT

    Sony is now becoming embarressing.... They should leave this to xbox...Xbox is like a sidekick... It breaks and only does crap communication for money!...Sony just keep the games coming!

  • xJackelx

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 7:58 pm GMT

    The 360 didn't have this as an exclusive. They simply had an application that integrated it. PS3 users have been able to use the built in browser since day one for their social networking, if they so choose. As for the social communication requests, try HOME ?

  • general_helix

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 7:51 pm GMT

    F
    A
    I
    L

  • ThisIsntLeonard

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 6:07 pm GMT

    I like how Xbox had exclusivity to facebook... for an entire DAY. Who says these consoles aren't pretty much neck and neck?

  • Lightchaos-20693173927190915074555969291770

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 8:19 am GMT

    Ok we get the facebook app, but how about an ability to change our PS3 username in the next update Sony. I know a lot of people want this and they should add this in the next update plz!

  • San_09

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 8:04 am GMT

    i dont give a damn about FB on PS3. How about Cross voice chat so we can actually TALK to those on our friend lists. How's that for social communication?

  • mrzero1982pt2

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 7:28 am GMT

    @unassigned exactly. this new "addition" to the xmb is just wasted space.

  • Unassigned

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 7:14 am GMT

    I already have a PC for this but thanks anyway.

  • TXMostWanted

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 6:39 am GMT

    FB on PS3? That's OK, I don't need the PS3 posting on a social website that its robbing me of my social life LOL

  • jmaxdeathscythe

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 5:16 am GMT

    Look people, of course it took it a little while longer to come to PS3. That other time was spent cracking kiddie porn passwords... geez, don't you read the other articles?

  • futurecardinal

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 4:55 am GMT

    @mjc0961 the future in gaming is intergrating applications such as facebook, netflix, et cetera on the consoles. nothing is hardcore about the Wii so sorry to burst your bubble and it is a console that had its run and now sales are now slowing down because people see how childish it is.. and even tho I am a PS3 gamer, when project natal on Xbox releases you can kiss your Wii Wii goodbye.

  • kamizuka

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 4:52 am GMT

    i want to know when this update is comeing

  • flyingteddy

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 3:08 am GMT

    I find it interesting how MS mentioned this ages ago and now its just arrived but the PS3 will have it sooner.

  • Smoolander

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 2:35 am GMT

    Make xbox live free you stupid morons Microsoft. All these features you keep crapping on about also go to the competition and are free, so do the same bloody thing.

  • robgam3r

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 2:17 am GMT

    i just hope the update dosent brick anyone ps3

  • awaltzforvenus

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 12:43 am GMT

    First my computer, then my phone, and now my PS3 (browser use aside). Next, my toaster and then my toilet. It's only a matter of time before we can use Facebook with only our MINDS.

  • coldsauce09

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 12:24 am GMT

    OMG i had fun reading xbox's fanboys comments its hilarious.. kid these days.. lol

  • Jettero-Heller

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 10:46 pm GMT

    @KingOfOldSkool... Even more importantly (for me) will there be an uninstall feature usable while these apps are STILL in vogue. These social engineering stes were beyond retarded BEFORE Sony & MS leaped onboard. I would seriously like to have the option of opting out of this & keep my information on PSN where it belongs.

  • OwnageGuy

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 9:57 pm GMT

    here go the 360 fanboys. we get everything you got and its FREE. suck on that. 360 noobs stay off the ps3 news if u got nothing good to say.

  • Chadley10

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 9:35 pm GMT

    Play games, not systems. Noobs...

  • thrasher510

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 9:05 pm GMT

    mjc0961

    the wii may be user friendly, but community wise it doesn't have things like Home on the PSN where people could be talking to each other in literally a virtual room. just because the games you play on the wii are practically all friendly, it doesn't mean 360 and PS3 dont have friendly games.

  • PandaBear86 posted Nov 17, 2009 9:05 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    PandaBear86

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 9:05 pm GMT (hide)

    Sony copies everything MS is doing this gen. Guide button, trophies (acheivements), hard drive, in-game XMB, various online features, and now this Facebook app.

  • AlphaCommando

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 8:18 pm GMT

    Well there goes another one of the 360's fanboys arguments. Once again, 360 fanboys used to have '360 HAZ THIS WE WIN 4EVER!!!', and PS3 fanboys end up saying 'PS3 HAZ WUT U HAVE 4 FREE N00BS!!!'. I wonder how long it'll take for the 360 to surrender...

  • KingOfOldSkool

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 7:59 pm GMT

    I guess the only question that remains is whether or not there will be an uninstall option when some of these fad social networking sites inevitably crap out or at the very least fade away from relevancy.

  • trw534

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 7:23 pm GMT

    sounds cool

  • Patapon250

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 7:22 pm GMT

    Isn't it lovely folks? All of the Xbox fanboys are coming out of the woods to bash Sony to make themselves feel superior. Sooner or later, I'll be called a "sony fanboy" by some immature person, but so be it.

  • Patapon250

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 7:19 pm GMT

    @mjc0961 How true. Honestly, stuff like twitter and facebook are for those who feel that it's important sharing anything and everything that they are doing with others. Systems are for games, not for those dumb websites. If you want facebook and twitter, you use a COMPUTER. I'm not flaming here, I am simply stating personal opinion about this... "Puts up Flame Shield"

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 7:03 pm GMT

    i won't use it to post trophies on my wall or anything, that'd be kinda weird, but i like the fact that it doesn't clutter up the XMB.

    i really hope that there is a transparent option for the friends list since my preferred theme (Aniom) has a Top white and bottom black background.

  • IUltimateOneI

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 6:09 pm GMT

    Does Sony purposely avoid bringing Universal Chat to PS3, or is it just something that takes more work than expected?

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