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Intel invests in Xfire

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Xfire it is a computer based service which has around 20 million users that are able to connect socially through a gaming based environment. Xfire describes itself as a mix between Facebook and Skype. The service enables text chat, voice chat, screen streaming (so others can watch your gaming) and sells games via direct download amongst many other things. Xfire is compatible with more than 2300 video games. The Intel Capital fund has invested $4 million into Xfire to revamp the website, application and servers for a better user experience.

Xfire’s President Mark Donovan explained why Xfire needed the funding in order to revamp its service and image by stating: “We’re witnessing watersheds in gaming, including the rise of free-to-play online titles, Xfire is expanding with this trend by helping publishers and players connect with one-another through the Xfire social platform.”

Xfire is not new to external funding sources, it receives lots of private investment: in more recent times Xfire has received investments from:

Tomorrow Ventures;
Clearstone Venture Partners;
PriceGrabber;
MP3.com.

Intel did not want to comment on the investment but Intel is well known to invest in companies which are well established but also able to grow more and help shift more of Intel’s chips through some form of advertising or positive persuasion of the target’s users.

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