Microsoft has confirmed today that the Zune HD will have gaming abilities on it.

“Later this year, Zune plans to release free applications such as Twitter for Zune and Facebook for Zune, in addition to fun 3D games such as Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Vans Sk8: Pool Service and Audiosurf Tilt,” a press release read.

“Games can be added to Zune HD via Zune Marketplace over the wi-fi connection or when connected to the Zune PC software.”

Microsoft is not yet going to open the Zune Marketplace to third parties. In this way it still won’t compete with the iPhone/iPod as a gaming device.

“So what we didn’t want to do was build two parallel app store experiences that didn’t work together,” Microsoft’s Zune marketing manager Brian Seitz told The Seattle Times.

“Right now our product roadmaps didn’t line up perfectly for us to snap to what they’re doing or vice versa.

“Down the road if there’s a way we can work with Windows Mobile or another group inside the company that’s building an app store and take advantage of that, that’s something we’ll look into.”