Sony Clarifies PS3 Usage Of Xfire

Representatives from Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) have moved to clarify the company’s usage of the Xfire instant messaging service on the PlayStation 3. In a response to consumer website 1UP, which first broke the story yesterday following an earnings conference by Xfire owners Viacom, 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." The website also quotes an unnamed SCEA spokesperson as saying, “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.” Mike Cassidy, CEO of Xfire also indicated that: "Xfire is not part of the PlayStation Network Platform. We are in discussions with Sony Online Entertainment, but I cannot comment any further." Upon the initial report many had assumed that Xfire would form a core component of the so-called PlayStation Network Platform – the PlayStation’s 3 online gaming service and broad counterpart to Xbox Live. Sony has still to reveal any substantial details of the service beyond the fact that the core features, including online gameplay, will be free to use.