Social media giant Facebook is planning to launch a mobile gaming app focused mainly on live game streaming. The new app will be released for Android devices on Monday, April 20.
According to the New York Times, the app will be free to download from the Google Play Store. It includes casual games and access to gaming communities. The app will allow users to watch and stream live games from their smartphones for free.
The Go Live feature, meanwhile, will let users upload streams of other mobile games on the same device. Those streams can be uploaded to the user’s personal Facebook account in just a few taps, making it easier for friends and followers to watch. No need to install any third-party programs or connect the mobile device to a computer.
This app will devoid of ads for now. Facebook will make money through the “stars” that viewers send to streamers. The company plans to add other ways of making money in the future, though.
The Facebook Gaming app was in the testing phase for the last 18 months. The company also plans to release iOS versions of the app once Apple approves them.
Facebook to launch a mobile gaming app
Live game streaming is a booming market that is largely dominated by Amazon’s Twitch and Google’s YouTube. Facebook is now looking to enter the frame with a focus on mobile gaming. Industry leader Twitch mainly focuses on desktop PC gaming.
Facebook says more than 700 million engage with gaming content on its platform monthly. The numbers still lag behind Twitch and YouTube when it comes to hours of gameplay watched. However, Facebook Gaming is growing and it’s growing fast.
The platform reportedly saw more than 200 percent year-on-year growth in hours spent watching gaming content in December 2019. The company is looking to tap on this opportunity as early as possible.
Interestingly, Facebook was initially planning to release the app in June. However, with many peoples currently staying home due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the company moved up its plans.
“Investing in gaming, in general, has become a priority for us because we see gaming as a form of entertainment that really connects people,” said Fidji Simo, head of the Facebook app. “We’re seeing a big rise in gaming during the quarantine.”
Facebook says the mobile experience is more intense than computer viewing and hence its app is focused on mobile gaming.
“With mobile, if you have the app open and you’re using the app, it’s in the foreground. You can’t do anything else on your mobile phone, and that is extremely powerful,” said Vivek Sharma, Facebook’s vice president for gaming.