You know, rumors hold a lot more water when they come from an actual source for all the world to see.

Up until now, the idea of cross-game chat arriving for the PlayStation 3 has been entirely rumor-infused, with nothing in the way of official evidence to back it up. However, if you check around the Internet, multiple sources are referring to a recent comment made by Sony's James Thorpe at the official European PlayStation Blog , which is most encouraging. It regards to the question, "When is there going to be cross-game chat? You can't hide it forever," Thorpe replied:

"I wish I could just give you a date, I really do!! Trust me when I say that as soon as I hear from ‘up top’ I will be shouting about it and making myself the most popular person on the blog."

Well, if they weren't prepared to announce anything yet, you may have just made yourself the most un popular person on the blog in Sony's eyes, but we doubt it's a major transgression. The point is, this allows us to all but confirm that the long-awaited feature is on the way, and hopefully, it'll arrive soon. It's not coming with the next firmware update, though – we've already detailed firmware update 3.10 – so perhaps it won't be ready to go until next year. Either way, it's good to know one of the most-requested online features will make the PSN experience that much more enjoyable.

Subscribe
Notify of
72 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
sobleck
sobleck
13 years ago

It'll be nice to see this implemented, my phone bill has gone up as i've been using it as a replacement for this feature.

Douchebaguette
Douchebaguette
13 years ago

It's called Skype. It's free.

maxpontiac
maxpontiac
13 years ago

The ONLY thing I miss since dumping my 360's..

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
13 years ago

plural? how many 360s did u have/replace?

maxpontiac
maxpontiac
13 years ago

In one year, I went through 5 of them.

I got rid of them both, and bought PS3's instead.

Sadly, my PS3 just died, and I decided to replace it with a new slim.

convergecrew
convergecrew
13 years ago

wow, do you do a lot of gaming? or do you keep your systems in the oven while you play? 😉

Banky A
Banky A
13 years ago

How'd and why did you buy so many consoles? =]

maxpontiac
maxpontiac
13 years ago

convergecrew –

Alot to some folks, and not to others. I have around 1000 trophies for example. No. I keep them in a well ventilated space. My 360 woes began on launch day, and I got tired of replacing them. Eventually MS fixed them for free, but after one of them came back from the repair shop, it broke in 2 uses. End of my 360 story.

Banky A –

My kids and I play certain games together, so we have a few PS3's in our house. Games such as Uncharted 2 have nearly convinced my wife to join us. As far as "how" goes, during the housing boom here in the US, there was alot of money to spend on multiple gaming and theater systems.

Scarecrow
Scarecrow
13 years ago

Not needed
Meh feature if you ask me

There's actually this thing called Skype

Where you can actually talk to smart people, not pre-teens shouting the F word from left to right

Ah, but I digress

DIsmael85
DIsmael85
13 years ago

Well it's debatable, but I believe it's needed. It'll be a good option to have, to shut the Xbox fanboys up. It'll be nice to be able to to play privately with friends though, so it can go both ways.

Alienange
Alienange
13 years ago

Who cares about the Xbox fans! They're a bunch of idiots who are paying a yearly fee for Skype and think that they have one up on another console. Cross game chat or even XMB chat would be really nice for those who really enjoy online gaming. It simplifies things tremendously.

Naztycuts
Naztycuts
13 years ago

I knew it, the indicator on MW2 was the latest thing I'd seen to suggest it, but now theres this too! I wonder what the xbots will say is inferior about psn now? I guess they can always b*tch about the fact we don't pay $50 a year for our online service.

Gregory Freeman
Gregory Freeman
13 years ago

wheres the mw2 indicator located?? i've never seen it…

as for what this guy said, i think ppl are looking for a leak where there may very well be none… he may just merely be speculating that if it does come, he hopes to tell about it, instead of him knowing it's coming, and if he gets the go ahead he'll tell everyone…

Naztycuts
Naztycuts
13 years ago

hit triangle when you invite a friend to your party and it says start new text/voice chat.

Miggy
Miggy
13 years ago

pardon my ignorance but I will admit I'm relative new to online gaming and it's terminology. So what exactly is the cross game chat? From the name alone I'm assuming it has something to do with talking to other players while playing a game yourself. Does it have to do with players enjoying a complete different game than you are?

bOnEs
bOnEs
13 years ago

exactamundo!!

Naztycuts
Naztycuts
13 years ago

You can be playing a game and talk to your friend who is also online and they do not have to be in the same game with you. It's like a built in phone for your console

Miggy
Miggy
13 years ago

Thanks

Cavan
Cavan
13 years ago

bet late than never i guess…

DGo8
DGo8
13 years ago

yerr it will be nice lil addition to tha Ps3 but…why isit needed soooooooo much? i dont understand why..i think its a good thing dont get me wrong but..i dont see why so many gamers are cryin out 4 it

Jawknee
Jawknee
13 years ago

I don't understand the benefit of being able to talk to my friend who's playing a different game. How does this make playing the game better? Not a criticism, just cursious.


Last edited by Jawknee on 11/17/2009 10:54:27 AM

Naztycuts
Naztycuts
13 years ago

I dont think it necessarily makes the games any better, I think they did it for two reasons 1) to show that you do not have to pay for online service for it to be excellent 2) It gives XBL one less "advantage" over PSN. Also check this scenario out- You're stuck on Psycho Mantis in MGS4 and your friend has already beat her you could just ask your friend how to beat her if you wanted.

Jawknee
Jawknee
13 years ago

I see.

bearbobby
bearbobby
13 years ago

Couldn't you also use the internet to find your answer? Your friend might not be there when you need them, but Google's your 24 hour friend 🙂

convergecrew
convergecrew
13 years ago

I wont ever use this feature, but if so many other people want it, then obviously its useful, right?

Banky A
Banky A
13 years ago

Google is available for even more than 24 hours.. =]

bOnEs
bOnEs
13 years ago

i don't really voice chat much with the friends on my list… we just exchange a couple of text messages most of the time… if i am using a headset to talk to them, i must already be playing a game with them…

i don't know, this sounds like it benefits those social types who like facebook and twitter… and who like to have a bajillion friends on their friends list to talk to and chat with…

i'm more of the quiet guy who prefers messaging unless i am playing a game with said person… so, while i see a huge demand for this feature, it's not something i am eagerly waiting for… i will probably start using it though if i find it worth my time… but right now, i don't envision myself using it…

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
13 years ago

I'm with you bones, a text here and there, headset only in-game, and well I need to concentrate when I'm playing a game anyway. People talking gets me killed or I miss the spoken dialogue.


Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 11/17/2009 12:23:13 PM

Qubex
Qubex
13 years ago

World, a little off topic; what is your PSN ID so I can add you to my friends list please!

Q!

"i am home"

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
13 years ago

DonovanTheIceman how about yours?

Qubex
Qubex
13 years ago

World, its "Qubex" 🙂

Q!

"i am home"

Nick Maim
Nick Maim
13 years ago

I'd take a better, more stable implementation of IN-GAME voice chat over this.. and give us custom soundtracks on every game!

In other words, the basics first please..

King James
King James
13 years ago

Cool. Now if they can just make the browser better…

furbiesmustdie
furbiesmustdie
13 years ago

yaaaaaaay now i can rant to my friends no matter what game they're playing.

Nynja
Nynja
13 years ago

Next year??…..

coverton341
coverton341
13 years ago

For everyone asking why this is a much requested feature here is a little scenario that happens a lot with me and my friends.

I live 150 miles away from the people I know in real life now because of a job move. I don't get to talk to them much and sometimes I don't want to use my minutes on my cell phone or take the time to send text messages or send messages to them via the PS3 messaging system because I am a)playing a story driven game that I do not want to take the time out of to construct a message hence taking me fully out of the experience, b) playing a game online where there is no pause and I don't feel like hiding in a corner while I make said message and my friend is in an entirely different game.

Now, I see that they are online but in a game that I don't own or don't feel like playing, but I do want to see if they want to set up a game later on COD:MW2 or maybe some NHL10. So, without pulling my self away from the great story of Dragon Age, I quickly hit the talk button ask "Bob" if he is down for some Killzone 2 or MW2 later because he is playing Uncharted 2 and I don't own it. He says yes we set a time and off we go. I'm back into the Dragon Age story with little distraction, he is back to doing what you do in Uncharted 2 we meet up in something else in an hour and neither of use used our minutes, text messages, or even had to pick up the phone at all.

These things might not be a big deal to everyone but to some people they are and that is why this is such a requested service.

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

Thank you, that explains everything. I no longer have any questions.


Last edited by on 11/17/2009 12:18:58 PM

Kaden101
Kaden101
13 years ago

You don't own Uncharted 2? I think I'll cry a little tear for you.

I hope you were being hypothetical.

WorldEndsWithMe
WorldEndsWithMe
13 years ago

Don't need it, but kudos on the move for the sole purpose of shutting up the live lovers.


Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 11/17/2009 12:25:43 PM

tlpn99
tlpn99
13 years ago

Dont chat, dont hardly play online anyway but thats slowly changing lol 🙂
But glad it is coming anyway another thing we have now on the PS3 🙂


Last edited by tlpn99 on 11/17/2009 12:32:06 PM

OrdinaryJester
OrdinaryJester
13 years ago

I like for this reason example playing rainbow six vegas 2 team deathmatch ur friend can be on one team u on another and find spawn points and such to when u play said game. also psn needs a universal invite system.

Bagmup
Bagmup
13 years ago

Exactly why IW took party chat out of MW2, to stop cheaters like you.

Gregory Freeman
Gregory Freeman
13 years ago

from what i saw through MW2, i say something like it is coming eventually… it works pretty well in that game, and wouldn't take much to patch and paste it into new and pre-existing games…

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
13 years ago

@Bagmup

Exactly. That's why cross game chat should be done sparingly and allow developers to choose whether it's enabled in their title or not.

randomname
randomname
13 years ago

Sweet. Now, how about a party system. 🙂

bearbobby
bearbobby
13 years ago

I'll take any new features they want to add, whether I'll use them frequently or not.

Though I personally would like more options for customization, specifically concerning the XMB. I understand why they put the extra store icons there, it would just be nice to be able to turn them off if I wanted, or to place them elsewhere on the list in that category.

Oh and if at all possible, enable us to use the web browser while in game. that'd be tit.

Charger7302
Charger7302
13 years ago

I don't think the ps3 could do that. Sony's biggest mistake with the ps3 was that they only put 256 RAM memory, and with only 256 RAM I don't think the ps3 can handle an in-game browser.

It still puzzels me why Sony set out to make such an impressive piece of hardware but only choose to put in 256 RAM.

TheHighlander
TheHighlander
13 years ago

@Charger

Oh, I don't know it might have something to do with losing $300-$400 a unit sold at launch and XDR memory being somewhat expensive since the PS3 is the only major system to use it. XDR memory is very fast compared to other kinds of memory, but the production volumes remain relatively low, and so it costs a bit more.

However I might also point out that the PS3 has 256MB of system memory and 256MB of video memory. This is in effect a 512MB memory architecture with a fixed partition between system and video at 256MB. The 360 uses a 512MB unified memory architecture. However in practice a significant portion of that memory on the 360 is devoted to video leading to a situation that is almost identical to the PS3s hard partitioned memory architecture.

Compared to a current PC 256MB seems like very little, but remember it's 256MB of dedicated system memory that has very high performance. Besides, the PS3 isn't a desktop computer it's a game console, so there's no need to pack several gigs of RAM just to run the OS.

johnld
johnld
13 years ago

I think you're forgetting that killzone 2 can open the browser to the killzone website. granted that its their own website, it may be possible to open the browser while putting the game on standby or something, not in the middle of online gameplay.

Charger7302
Charger7302
13 years ago

I just hope Sony does it right, and implement the feature ONTO the PSN. Custom soundtracks is supposedly "available" on the PSN already, yet only like 4 games support it on ps3. Sony better make the feature available on everygame. But if they take the same route they did with custom soundtracks, then I rather Sony not do it all. Do it right or don't do it at all.


Last edited by Charger7302 on 11/17/2009 3:42:45 PM