Business

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 friend Facebook

Posted November 17, 2009 10:00 pm

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Users of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles can now brag about their achievements on Facebook as both systems integrate the social network this week.

Microsoft Corp. switched on a slew of new features for its Xbox Live online service, allowing owners of the Xbox 360 consoles to update Facebook and Twitter directly from their consoles.

The Xbox 360 can also stream music from the Internet radio service Last.fm.

Sony Corp., meanwhile, is letting PlayStation 3 users connect their systems to Facebook through its latest software upgrade. Although it had already been possible to access social networks through the console's Internet browser, the latest changes let users share their gaming achievements automatically as Facebook updates.

Both companies have been looking to turn their consoles into entertainment hubs beyond gaming. Sony recently added Netflix streaming to the PS3, something that had already been possible on the Xbox 360.

By contrast, Nintendo Co. has kept its Wii first and foremost as a gaming system. Even so, the Wii has been outselling both the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

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