PS4 Will Not Have a Dedicated Facebook App

Michael Epstein

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PS4 Will Not Have a Dedicated Facebook App

Facebook says the PS4 doesn't need a special app for users to stay connected.

Consoles may exist to play games, but the non-gaming elements of the experience are also incredibly important. With that in mind, one find it disconcerting that Facebook says they won't be making an app for the PS4.

Believe it or not: Facebook Engineer Colin Creitz says that PS4 won't have a Facebook app because it doesn't really need one. Speaking with Polygon [http://www.polygon.com/2013/11/12/5093556/why-facebook-isnt-creating-a-dedicated-app-for-playstation-4], Creitz says that, rather than taking the time to build an app, Facebook's games partnership team has focused on optimizing the way content from a user's Facebook feed will be shown on the console, which will be filtered into the console's "what's new" section. He even describes the PS4 browser as "actually pretty pleasant."

Facebook and the PS4 are also highly connected at the system level. Case in point, Facebook ID will be one way users can verify their identity on PS4: "It'll bring in your Facebook profile picture and you have the opportunity to manage whether people are looking at your PSN avatar or your Facebook profile picture, [which is displayed] on a per-other user basis."

At the same time, Crietz also cited the maintenance associated with building dedicated apps for the PS3 and Xbox 360 made the prospect of making next-gen apps less than appealing: "One of the things that came out of our experience with the previous generation of consoles is that we found that maintaining the native apps was a relatively high maintenance burden, and didn't really lead to a high fidelity experience," said Creitz.

Source: Polygon [http://www.polygon.com/2013/11/12/5093556/why-facebook-isnt-creating-a-dedicated-app-for-playstation-4]

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AnthrSolidSnake

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Aww, dangit...now I'll have to use my PERSONAL COMPUTER! Or my phone. Or my ipod. Or my tablet that I paid $30 for. Give it a few years and I'm sure they will integrate Facebook into those little electronic games they sometimes put in kids meals.
 

AnthrSolidSnake

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MinionJoe said:
Or just use your PS4. Reading the article explains that there is no Facebook app because the PS4 and Facebook are already fully integrated.
Yeah, I realized that after a second read. To be fair, I was attempting to read three things at once. My point is still valid though. I don't need Facebook integration on everything electronic.
 

Voren

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What?! Pre-order CANCELLED! See people, this is what happens when you don't trust microsoft and you buy something else that ISN'T an X-Box One! Now we have we proof that Microsoft has won thi---HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. No one cares about using facebook in their consoles.
 

AnthrSolidSnake

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MinionJoe said:
I agree completely! In fact, I refuse to have a Facebook account. Far too many employers are terminating people because of Facebook activity. Even if it's content they're not posting themselves.
I can't say you're missing out on much anyway XD

I usually keep all my social sites set to as private as possible, and I try to avoid all "social integration" with things like PSN and youtube so I don't bombard my friends with everything I do on the internet. I'm pretty sure they have Facebook connectivity on most porn sites as well. Not something I'm open enough to share with everyone.
 

MCerberus

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So, how much do you want to bet that FB "integration" is going to require premium subscriptions on both consoles? It just seems to add the level of WHYYYYYYYYYY that sony/MS are going for.
 

Zakarath

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Damn, and here I was really looking forward to getting a PS4 just so I could play Farmville. Guess I had better cancel my order.
 

azriel2422

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Sometimes I play games to be social, but many times I play games to be immersed into the game world. I am completely fine with my game systems not integrating completely with Facebook (which is apparently now a proper noun? Who knew) or social media. I thought that's what my friends list on my Xbox/PS3 was for in the first place? If they need me, they know where to find me (call, text, knock, write a letter...)
 

sethisjimmy

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Who actually uses Facebook on a console anyway? I get that it's used as a promotion for Facebook and a flashy little selling point for the console, but it's way too clunky and cumbersome to be used regularly.

It strikes me as one of those ideas that is nice, but totally impractical in practice. Like Netflix on the 3DS.
 

rees263

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Jun 4, 2009
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Michael Epstein said:
Consoles may exist to play games, but the non-gaming elements of the experience are also incredibly important.
Did I just read that right? Doesn't everyone use their computer/phone/tablet for other things?
 

Roxas1359

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Aug 8, 2009
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MCerberus said:
So, how much do you want to bet that FB "integration" is going to require premium subscriptions on both consoles? It just seems to add the level of WHYYYYYYYYYY that sony/MS are going for.
Perhaps on the Xbox One, but seeing as how Sony is allowing for people to access Hulu + and Netflix without needing to have a PS+ account, having FB of all things behind a pay-wall would be extremely strange.

OT: Doesn't matter to me, mainly because I'm one of those rare people that actually doesn't have a Facebook and never will have one since I don't like FB at all. XD
 

Dragonbums

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May 9, 2013
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I personally don't fucking care. I have a computer, a phone, and a television to access Facebook. I honestly don't need a console to do that either. It won't be missed by anyone sans the few oddballs out there that actually use a console for Facebook.
 

Caiphus

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Mar 31, 2010
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Michael Epstein said:
Facebook's games partnership team has focused on optimizing the way content from a user's Facebook feed will be shown on the console, which will be filtered into the console's "what's new" section.

...

Facebook and the PS4 are also highly connected at the system level. Case in point, Facebook ID will be one way users can verify their identity on PS4: "It'll bring in your Facebook profile picture and you have the opportunity to manage whether people are looking at your PSN avatar or your Facebook profile picture, [which is displayed] on a per-other user basis."
Not to be rude, but I'm legitimately confused. Surely this is roughly what an app does? I mean, it might not be cordoned off in its own separate window, but... that almost seems better than an app? I dunno. Help me Escapist.
 

RicoADF

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Jun 2, 2009
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Caiphus said:
Michael Epstein said:
Facebook's games partnership team has focused on optimizing the way content from a user's Facebook feed will be shown on the console, which will be filtered into the console's "what's new" section.

...

Facebook and the PS4 are also highly connected at the system level. Case in point, Facebook ID will be one way users can verify their identity on PS4: "It'll bring in your Facebook profile picture and you have the opportunity to manage whether people are looking at your PSN avatar or your Facebook profile picture, [which is displayed] on a per-other user basis."
Not to be rude, but I'm legitimately confused. Surely this is roughly what an app does? I mean, it might not be cordoned off in its own separate window, but... that almost seems better than an app? I dunno. Help me Escapist.
What their saying is that you wont have an app that you download, instead you sign into fb on the system and it connects. Your right, it is the better way of doing it, I don't get why Michael phased it in a negative light rather than positive. Heck looking above quite a few think it means no fb at all....
 

Strazdas

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May 28, 2011
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So another reason not to buy Playstation 4? Sony, why do you keep telling us how much worse is your console now? Too late to cancel preorders so now you can tell us the bad parts?
 

jollybarracuda

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That's actually totally fine. I don't want to go on Facebook on a console. In fact, I don't want to do anything except play games on my console. I would actually be so down for one of the big console manufacturers to create a "lite" version if their console that doesn't have all the apps and other nonsense tacked on. Just an internet capability for updates, and a disc drive to put the game into. Make it $250 and I don't care who makes it, I'd grab that in a heartbeat.
 

Dragonbums

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May 9, 2013
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Strazdas said:
So another reason not to buy Playstation 4? Sony, why do you keep telling us how much worse is your console now? Too late to cancel preorders so now you can tell us the bad parts?
Let's be honest here, do you honestly care about Facebook on your console when you most likely have 5 other gadgets that do the same thing infinitely better?
 

Strazdas

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May 28, 2011
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Dragonbums said:
Strazdas said:
So another reason not to buy Playstation 4? Sony, why do you keep telling us how much worse is your console now? Too late to cancel preorders so now you can tell us the bad parts?
Let's be honest here, do you honestly care about Facebook on your console when you most likely have 5 other gadgets that do the same thing infinitely better?
Lets jut say i have hacked my phone OS for the sole reason to delete integrated facebook application. So yes, i care.