Sony's said it has nothing to announce regarding cross-game chat for PlayStation 3, despite the feature being confirmed for its new portable, PlayStation Vita this weekend.
At its E3 press conference this week Sony showed off the PSP successor's online features, which include the ability to talk to friends no matter which game they're playing.
However, when the CVG E3 team caught up with SCE Europe boss Andrew House at the show, he said there's still no update on when or if the long-requested feature will be coming to its home console.
"No, [there are] really not any new announcements to put on that," he said. "We know that it's a huge thing out there. We have continued to do much R&D in the area, but we don't have anything to announce right now."
Comments
43 comments so far...
Reality Check on 10 Jun '11 said:
What is the 'REAL' reason its not on the PS3 for? I am sure SONY could of done it by now. I don't get it really. Anyway i think Party chat(i will call it that because if i called it cross game chat the Mods on this would think i was slagging off Xbox 360, god they are so SAD)is a waste of time. Its for little kids talking crap all day online. No thanks to party chat on the PS3! LoL
TheCrimsonFenix on 10 Jun '11 said:
Never seen the point in crossgame chat so it isn't really a big thing for me to get me thinking, "omg I can't live without it". Hell, even if the PS3 did have it I wouldn't use it. I don't want to be talking whilst concentrating on a game.
hollywood111 on 10 Jun '11 said:
CROSS-GAME CHAT!!!??... I dont know, what's next?, music that comes on little silver disc's!?, a network of information thats digital!?...
Get an XBOX, get LIVE.
TheLastDodo on 10 Jun '11 said:
Sony have got a funny way of showing it.
Personally I don't care but it's been four years now, we'll get the PS4 before Cross Game Chat comes to the PS3. Just accept its probably not going to happen.
fps_d0minat0r on 10 Jun '11 said:
some games have used up all of ps3's ram so theres none left for cross game chat.
if those games do attempt it they will most likely freeze.
all thats left for them to do is learn from this and make sure they keep extra ram in the ps4 for future updates *cough* gameplay recording, youtube uploading *cough*
dannyhulse on 10 Jun '11 said:
*slow clap*
z_surf_z on 10 Jun '11 said:
i really don't understand the appeal of cross game chat. I have done it a few times and its just distracting. If i'm playing single player, it spoils the immersion, multiplayer, it hinders my concentration.
Mandatory Grape on 10 Jun '11 said:
On the 360 I always use party chat, its fun. Been waiting for it on the ps3 for awhile now...
monkeyd_93 on 10 Jun '11 said:
i would love party chat on the ps3, mainly to play MP games, and keep the chat on a separate line, so we aren't been disrupted or listened in on.
If they know it's a huge thing the only question why hasn't it been implemented, or reason why it hasn't, unless of course it's a big suprise later this year in a big update, and have the chance to chat with the Vita?
kirankara on 10 Jun '11 said:
You couldn't talk more crap if u tried , could u?
Cross chat isn't important to me, but clearly it's a saleable feature, so they should implement it to rival their competition.
I'd like them to organise the party organisation in mp games better , so that it resembles how it's done on live though.
Noobsaibot on 10 Jun '11 said:
So, basically you'd like Xbox live? Well then, why not, y'know, get Xbox live? It's the only reason I use my 360 more than PS3.
gmcb007 on 10 Jun '11 said:
I wasn't fussed with it when it came out on Live, but now I occasionally use it to talk to my mates. Its a pretty handy feature if you enjoy having a chat while you game. I don't know why Sony never included it.
A slightly related question: Do headsets come with your PS3 or do they sell them separately?
jim2wheels on 10 Jun '11 said:
Not bothered. Talking s**t while doing something else is not my idea of a good time. Rambling conversations on the phone (which party chat effectively is) seems like the sort of thing my wife would do.
Not for me thanks.
jim2wheels on 10 Jun '11 said:
Separate. But any Bluetooth set will do.
pp82 on 10 Jun '11 said:
There must be a reason why they can't . It can't be PSN as the Vita will be using PSN it must be down to the architeure of the PS3
gmcb007 on 10 Jun '11 said:
Ahh right, thanks. Bluetooth seems like the step forward in headsets. I hate the current clunky and uncomfortable wired ones we have now.
kirankara on 10 Jun '11 said:
Cross chat isn't important to me, but clearly it's a saleable feature, so they should implement it to rival their competition.
I'd like them to organise the party organisation in mp games better , so that it resembles how it's done on live though.
So, basically you'd like Xbox live? Well then, why not, y'know, get Xbox live? It's the only reason I use my 360 more than PS3.
i had a 360 too and live, and sold it couple months back(mainly i just dont have time to play games i own on one system, let alone 2). The features i want implemented are more about making the psn network better as a service for those that want it, and thus making it more competitive, rather than for my use tbh. so no, i dont really want xbox live, in answer to ur question, as i had it, and got rid of it.
jtthegame on 10 Jun '11 said:
Cross game chat is a good thing. xbox live has did it from the start. chat with friends and famill and they can be playing different games. but of course sony boys will want it played down because the ps 3 does not do it
KK-Headcharge78 on 10 Jun '11 said:
Couldn't live without private or party chat personally, always a few chaps online to chew the fat with and if one person is busy with some storyline then we have a rule of less talking, as for immersion I would argue it adds to games being able to discuss your progress, tips, features, achievements and secret stuff you found, and advice generally on the good, the bad and the ugly, in gaming. i.e Brink which I was gonna buy until a few mates had it one night while I was on Dirt3 and it became clear the game is in fact huge turd.
One of the reasons my PS3 didn't see as much playtime as the Box is due to the lack of cross game chat, I personally think it is shoddy in the extreme that Sony have not had it a while ago.
ps Party chat means exactly that, you can't hear the millions of 'young american kids screaming' so a moot point there methinks.
Mmmmgrolsch on 10 Jun '11 said:
Why would anyone dismiss party chat??? Thats right because you most likely don't play multiplayer with friends.
Party chat would be a god send for the PS3 thanks to its slow interface when in games its a f**king nightmare trying to play CoD. Party chat = lots of win for online play, someone gets kicked out of a game we can still communicate and tell each other.
+ Lets not forget about all the f**king French scum, rambling on and all the dirty chavs playing there gangset wana be tripe down the mic blowing my ear drums
roynluc on 10 Jun '11 said:
Was that really necessary?
Deliberately trying to wind up the PS fans?
First warning…
Very_Silver_Ownz on 10 Jun '11 said:
'' hollywood111 wrote:CROSS-GAME CHAT!!!??... I dont know, what's next?, music that comes on little silver disc's!?, a network of information thats digital!?... Get an XBOX, get LIVE.''
Hey look everyone a Microsoft employee
kirankara on 10 Jun '11 said:
Ermmm, or maybe we just don't care about it?
I had a 360 and didn't use it once, and wouldn't use it on my ps3 , if it was there.
I'm sure some ppl love it, but last thing I want when playing most games , is ppl chatting to me. If I want to talk to ppl , I'll call them . If I want to play games , I'll play games.
roynluc on 10 Jun '11 said:
I don't understand how a lot of people don't like this idea.
For many reasons, it's a god send, for reasons already stated.
No whiny kids.
If you drop out of a game, you're still in contact with your mates.
Simple.
MrPirtniw on 10 Jun '11 said:
Indeed- no whiny kids PLUS it's always good to let your team mate know that someone on the other team is behind him (the amount of times it's saved my virtual butt is ridiculous), and as Bob Hoskins once said 'It's good to talk'.
DISCLAIMER: You may need friends to enjoy this function.
I jest, I jest. But it does help.
roynluc on 10 Jun '11 said:
And don't think I have forgotten about you, either. It took me a while to work out your post.
Just got back from a week ban I see. Not by myself, either.
Would you like to disappear again?
kirankara on 10 Jun '11 said:
Some people seem under the impression you can't talk to squad mates on psn in team based games, which isn't the case at all. The only thing u can't do is chat to ppl playing different games , and it's not as convenient to get into parties in games.
MrPirtniw on 10 Jun '11 said:
Good point. Don't have a headset for my PS3... fail.
roynluc on 10 Jun '11 said:
I think people are on about when you get kicked out of game lobbies, can you stay in contact with friends and actually attempt to hook back up in another lobby. Is that actually possible yet on PSN, haven't played it online in ages.
jim2wheels on 10 Jun '11 said:
Your point about still chatting when kicked is a very good point indeed. I have to admit, I had never thought of that. That point alone actually swings my opinion a bit, which doesn't happen very often I must say!
Edit: @Roynluc, no you cannot on PS3. You just end up talking to yourself for a few minutes before you notice conversation has gone rather one way.
gobbybobby on 10 Jun '11 said:
WHat I hate about the 360, the headsets.
I ahve a logitec USB that works with my PS3 and PC.
great little thing sucks it don't work with my PC>
The audio quality on the PS3 is much better than the 360 as well.
Playing MAG sat in a clan deploy with 30+ other people can all talk to each other clearly and it works well.
Barca Azul on 10 Jun '11 said:
I wouldn't use the cross game chat, but understand other would.
I'd rather have the video recording too.
runadumb on 10 Jun '11 said:
Interesting reading the comments here. Personally I couldn't give a flying duck about party chat but I guess it's better than not having it at all. So I would say, make it happen Sony!
dannyhulse on 10 Jun '11 said:
I don't know on what planet the PS3 has better mic quality but it certainly isn't Earth,
Because the PS3 doesn't come with it own headset out of the box people have to buy one seperately, and in my extensive experience with both the PS3 and 360, most of the time the choice of headset for PS3 users is pretty damn awful, which isn't indicative of the PS3's audio quality but does highlight the problem of not including a headset with the console.
The 360's standard headset isn't great but it is servicable and atleast you know everyone has one available
The PlayStation branded bluetooth earpiece is pretty good, but quite a few 3rd party (and cheaper) headsets are terrible. Plus not everyone has a headset, even those on my friend list, I have to talk to a few of them through IM
ingy on 11 Jun '11 said:
That's right, the bluetooth headsets pick up every little sound in the room and generally don't seem to have any noise cancelling at all, also setting up a game with several of your friends is a doddle on live when you can just ask them whatever game they seem to be playing.
I mainly use my 360 for online games but when i want a game of killzone, trying to get a few friends together is a nightmare by comparison, voice quality drops, having to mute everyone else in the lobby is a pain it's dreadful.
Clunky game invites don't help either, tried a game of wipeout the other night with a friend, we actually used our 360's to chat while playing as it's not even possible on ps3, that says it all really.
Multiplayerking on 11 Jun '11 said:
Of course we need cross-game chat, I'd rather see it in the PS3 than the Vita. Come on Sony!
But personally, I'd also love to see custom soundtracks on every game.
Zombies with Benny Hill playing = win
clifton on 11 Jun '11 said:
100% agree. I also hate the fact you can't hook the chat up on the dashboard and discuss what you are going play first or change your mind halfway through playing something, come back to the dashboard and then slam in a different game all the while connected.
I hate not being able to easily chat privately whilst playing and having to mute others in the lobby every time.
C'mon Sony find a way....
ricflair on 11 Jun '11 said:
Apparently MS own the patent for "Method and Apparatus for Creating and Playing Soundtracks in a Gaming System". For the PS3 to use it is has to be programmed into the game.
I wonder if they have something similar for home consoles and cross game chat? On the face of it seems like such a simple thing to implement. It's really good for setting up multiplayer games - I don't really chat to mates randomly on it while playing another game though.
TheCrimsonFenix on 11 Jun '11 said:
If you try it out, custom soundtracks work with a few PS3 games, aslong as you choose them from the XMB. Ones that don't will just tell you the whole "cannot be played during this media" thing. Stardust HD once had an inbuilt custom soundtrack function but now it's reduced to the XMB method. Microsoft owning the patent on custom soundtracks is almost as bad as Sega owning the patent on arrow navigation.
verynaughtyboy on 11 Jun '11 said:
I didn't think that crossgame chat was so important.... and then my wife bought me a 360. I was playing Fifa and chatting to some mates who were having a blast playing COD. When they were done they joined me in Fifa. It may not seem like a big thing but when you have experienced it you realise that it is a big thing to be without IMO.
kriscotw9 on 11 Jun '11 said:
Lol people are saying it take up memory of games? what! its nothing to do with the games its the ps3, why they dont have this feature is beyond me. as an xbox user xbox live wouldnt be the same without this. and i really dont see why sony do not put this feature on PSN
coruscant on 12 Jun '11 said:
As a PS3 owner I don't see the point of having cross-game chat. I have lots of real-life friends on my PS3 friends list, but I practically never on at the same time as them. Even if I was, I don't really see the point in chatting to them, as I'm try to concentrate on playing a game! If I was desperate to chat to them, I could always use the Text Chat Room feature (through which you can chat to people whatever game they're playing at the time), but I never do.
Ergo, I couldn't care less about cross-game chat and don't see why others are so bothered about it.
Pokeymike on 12 Jun '11 said:
@kriscotw9 - to implement cross game chat will more than likely take more precious PS3 memory which will mean that existing games will possibly need patches or just not even work if it is implemented. Plus CPU resources as well which leads me to the opinion that cross game chat might not be possible without some compromises.
Sony dropped the ball a little here when they did not invest enough resources in the online elements of the PS3. Microsoft had this planned from the start, therefore no surprises for developers later on.
I'm sure it will be different next time around though. Even Nintendo's online is catching up (Wii U)