The service aims to make it easier to find other gamers

Mar 18, 2015 00:47 GMT  ·  By

A new app called Overdog is launching for the Xbox One home console from Microsoft and the unique thing about the service is that it is designed to allow gamers to find new partners for multiplayer gaming by using their social network information.

The team working on the concept says that it will allow the real world persona of the player to become involved in their choice of multiplayer partners.

Overdog is offered for free and will take into account information like the movies, the television shots, the games and the sports team a gamer likes, although the app is not limited to only entertainment-based data.

In 2014, the company working on it has managed to secure solid funding from venture capitalists.

Its chief executive officer states that "If you love Game of Thrones, the San Fransisco 49ers, The Black Keys, and OpTic Gaming, we think those factors should help determine who you play with when you sit down for a game of Call of Duty."

Apparently, Overdog will be only offered on the Xbox One for a while, but the company has plans to move to a second gaming platform, presumably the PlayStation 4, before it focuses on adding a paid version or on raising more money.

Matchmaking has been a problem on the Xbox One

Overdog might solve one of the biggest problems that have plagued the Xbox One since it was launched, the fact that it is sometimes hard for users to find another gamer to play with, especially when it comes to more obscure titles.

The app will need to convince a large number of players to become interested and to share enough data about themselves to make the selection process possible.

The launch of Overdog does not mean that developers like 343 Industries are off the hook when it comes to titles like Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which had broken matchmaking when it was launched.

A social-focused app cannot replace the systems that companies include in the actual video games, but it might be useful for those who look for long-term multiplayer partners that share similar interests.