PopCap Games has recently unveiled a free update for one of the hottest casual games around, Bejeweled 2 for iPhone and iPod touch (where we shall collectively refer to below as iPhone for convenience’s sake). Being one of the five best-selling iPhone games of all time, Bejeweled 2’s free new update for current owners of the game will be able to enjoy an exciting new mode that boasts Facebook Connect integration of the “Bejeweled Blitz” game which was previously available only on Facebook.com.

The new Blitz update for Bejeweled 2 on iPhone offers the full feature set of Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook, including bonus multipliers, laser gems, star medals, real-time gem swapping (even while the gems are falling into place) and posting of scores to your (and your friends’) shared leaderboards. Scores and medals achieved while offline will be recorded the next time you connect your iPhone. After connecting to Facebook and launching the Blitz mode of Bejeweled 2, iPhone players will be able to see their full list of Facebook friends who are playing Blitz (either on the Web or on an iPhone), including pictures and their friends’ scores – just like the leaderboard from the Web game. During play, scores are automatically uploaded to Facebook, including any earned achievement star medals. Leaderboards will seamlessly reflect scores achieved on both the iPhone and Web in a single integrated list so players can try to improve their scores and track their friends’ performances from either place. This marks the first time that PopCap has released multi-platform interoperable adaptations of a game and the very first time that PopCap has extended social gaming beyond a Web application.

Guess you will never really be too far away from your Facebook counterpart of the game with such an update. Those who have yet to pick up Bejeweled 2 for iPhone can do so for $2.99 via the App Store, while current owners of the title can receive the new Blitz mode as a free update via the App Store or iTunes.

Press Release

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