Video games and social media have always been closely related, but were rarely directly integrated with one another. Until now, that is. Many people are familiar with arcade games on their smartphones and tweeting their high scores, but that experience is about to take a whole new dimension. Earlier this month, Sony and Microsoft released new versions of their flagship gaming consoles, both of which boast a host of brand new social features.

Even those of you who are not ‘gamers’ should take note. For one, Microsoft’s offering, the Xbox One, is being promoted not as a game console, but more of an entertainment center. Instead of being focused solely on games, the Xbox One has fully integrated Netflix, Television, and Skype, among other things. Sony’s Playstation 4 has live video streaming, which allows you to watch your friends play popular games while you comment on their progress (or lack thereof!).

Both consoles are focusing on video uploading and sharing to sites like YouTube and Facebook. The Playstation 4 allows direct Facebook connection and video chatting, while the Xbox One has revealed its own take on a social network as an extension of Microsoft’s already significant Xbox Live system. This allows users to message and connect with their friends through games and otherwise.

On top of all this, the consoles support ‘second screen’ technology, which enables you to sync your smartphone or tablet with the system and interact with your games and friends through apps.

This attempt at merging two gigantic (but overlapping) worlds, namely, the social media devotees and the video game aficionados, is a bold but natural move that is poised to further streamline our connections with those around us.