Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) today announced that Free Realms (www.FreeRealms.com), the popular free-to-play, family-friendly virtual world game, is now available as a free download on the PlayStationNetwork. Free Realms, originally launched in 2009 for the PC and in 2010 for the MAC computer, has quickly grown into an online community of nearly 17 million registered players!

Free Realms comes as SOE’s second massively multiplayer online game on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, following DC Universe Online’s PC and PS3 release this past January. At launch, Free Realms is also the first free-to-play MMO and the first family-friendly MMO to hit any console to date.

"SOE has set the standard for MMOs on the console with two incredibly successful, innovative and exciting new massive online game worlds for the PlayStation 3 system- first with DC Universe Online and now Free Realms," said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. "Our games extend the current lifecycle of the console with the added value offer of bringing tens of thousands of people together, in a game world, to socialize at community events, compete in combat activities and engage in a diversity of gameplay experiences, for years to come."

Much like the PC and MAC versions, Free Realms on the PlayStation 3 system features the fun minigames, robust player housing system and adventure exploration that millions of gamers have come to love. From racing cars and building backyard mazes, to casting spells and mining for gold, in Free Realms players have endless opportunities to play and explore! New to the game, the PS3™ version adopts the console’s interactive capabilities and is easily accessible from the PlayStationStore. Players are now able to use voice chat to communicate with their friends as they boogie down at parties, engage in battles against mystical characters, and more. Additionally, players can now earn, compare and share trophies.