Raptr Comes Out Of Beta With 1.0 Release

Gaming social network Raptr, which claims rapid growth with 500,000 new users registering each month, has come out of beta with the 1.0 release of its free buddy list/messaging application. Raptr launched with a closed beta in February 2008, and an open beta following in September. The service allows users to set up a single profile displaying what games they play, see what their friends are playing, chat with each other, and track achievements across multiple platforms -- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC (Steam, Xfire), and social network games. Along with tracking titles on multiple services, which Raptr says makes it easier for users to join their friends in a game, the program offers in-game messaging across various networks. With this setup, players can chat live with each other whether they're on Facebook, AIM, Yahoo Messenger, or other services while playing titles like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. The company says more than a million users participated in the Raptr application's beta, and the service is bringing in around 15,000 to 20,000 new users each day. Raptr currently tracks over 250,000,000 minutes of gameplay each month. "Over the last two years we have gotten great feedback from our users that has helped us create a service that meets the needs of a more connected gamer who plays games on multiple gaming platforms," says Raptr CEO and founder Dennis Fong. "With the release of Version 1.0 we hope that gamers will be able to connect with their friends easier and make gaming even more fun for everyone."