Report: Sony, Xfire Partner For PS3 Online Service

[UPDATE: Subsequent press statements from Sony and Sony Online are claiming that the app would only be used for one specific game: Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) launch title Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom.] In an effort to deliver an online service on par with what Microsoft has established with Xbox Live, Sony has entered into an agreement with Xfire, Viacom's freeware PC instant messaging service, to create a version of the software specifically for the PlayStation 3. According to a news report from consumer website 1UP, the information was announced as part of Viacom's recent second quarter earnings conference call, and that testing of the new PlayStation 3 Xfire client, which will be integrated into Sony's PlayStation Network Platform (PNP), is already underway. Adding further credability, the report also noted that the PlayStation 3 exclusive Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom already visible within the PC client’s configuration file. According to a transcript taken from the call, Viacom president Tom Freston commented that the Xfire PC client's user base is continuing to grow, and has added 500,000 new users since the company acquired Xfire in May. Additionally, according to the executive, Xfire recently surpassed 4.7 million registered users. Specifics concerning the online service have been scarce since it was first announced, although Sony Computer Entertainment President Ken Kutaragi has indicated in the past that the PNP service will be a free service that will feature functionality such as matchmaking, messaging, rankings, friends lists, voice and video chat, in-game shopping and game downloads. In addition, publishers will apparently be allowed to connect their own servers, with Sony Online Entertainment providing the hardware infrastructure, and GameSpy their range of middleware tools and software. While neither Sony nor Xfire have issued any formal confirmation of the new partnership, the report noted that the companies have not denied it either. In addition, no specific details concerning how, or to what extent the PlayStation 3 will make use of the services provided by Xfire, or if new user level functionality, not currently available in the PC version of the software, will be introduced. However, such a deal would mark a significant boon for Sony, as it would feasibly be able to leverage off of an established online platform in its race to play catch-up to an already well established Microsoft.