PS3 and Facebook Join Forces

Eric Lempel, the Director of PlayStation Network Operations, recently updated the official PlayStation Blog, announcing that the forthcoming PS3 firmware update version 3.10 will include limited Facebook implementation, among other features.

In regards to Facebook on the PS3, Lempel said:

“The latest update incorporates Facebook into the PS3 experience. By linking your PlayStation Network account to your Facebook account, you will have the option for the PS3 to automatically update your Facebook News Feed with Trophy and PlayStation Store activity. This update also enables developers to set specific criteria in their titles to publish additional game information to your News Feed. You can then check out your updates, and those of your friends, on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media favorites through the PS3’s built-in web browser.”

The announcement was undoubtedly intended to take a bit of the steam out of Microsoft’s social-networking roll-out on the Xbox 360; though the initial Facebook features on PS3 are meager, comparatively. The Xbox app allows users to update their Facebook status, browse photo albums, view profile information, and find friends on Xbox Live via Facebook connections, and vice-versa. Obviously, the PlayStation app will eventually showcase similar features, but the initial offering appears to be more of a placeholder than anything else – with the majority of PS3 Facebooking still being performed through the console’s web browser.

The two additional firmware 3.10 features detailed in the post include an enhanced XMB photo gallery set-up (no longer limited to a vertical list of pictures), improved friends list appearance, as well as the long awaited… ability to change the color of your PSN profile box.

Facebook integration is a no-brainer, and rolling out a limited feature-set, in the interest of siphoning a bit of attention away from Microsoft, makes sense. However, what the PS3 is really offering users is the same type of “Status Update Spam” that Uncharted 2 was criticized for. Maybe a few gamers, and quiz-addicted social-networkers, want to fill their “News Feed” with excessive information but the majority of users will likely find the feature off-putting, and simply wait for a more robust integration package before taking Facebook on the PS3 seriously.

Sony has not offered an official release date for PS3 version 3.10 but users should expect the update in the near future.

Would you use the forthcoming Facebook newsfeed features or wait for a full version?

Source: PlayStation Blog