Xbox 360 to add Twitter and Facebook apps

Microsoft is set to integrate Twitter and Facebook applications into the Xbox 360 games console in time for Christmas.

The social network apps, which will allow users to access certain features on the sites during game play, can be downloaded from Xbox Live.

Facebook members will have the option to look at friends profile updates, browse photos and change their own statuses, while Twitter users will be able to access live feeds and tweet.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that the company has set an ‘autumn’ date for the integration. “It will be before Christmas,” he said. “A lot of the background work’s been done for a lot of the applications are coming.”

The US software company made a £240 million investment into Facebook in October 2007 and the site is now the most popular social network in the world, with over 250 million active users.

Microsoft hopes its new initiative will help bridge the gap between social networks and the gaming industry.

Yesterday, Microsoft also announced plans to launch a new online TV player for UK broadband customers, which will broadcast shows such as Shameless, The Young Ones and the Peep Show (see Microsoft launches UK video player).

The company said MSN Video Player has been developed as a result of the demise of Project Kangaroo, the joint VoD venture between BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV, which was blocked by the Competition Commission (see Competition Commission “stops” Kangaroo).

Microsoft is keen to get the service up and running before Arqiva and Hulu launch their rival products in the UK.