With Facebook Gaming, the social network offers a live streaming application to compete with Twitch, YouTube Gaming or even Mixer.
It is available since Monday 20th April 2020 on the Playstore. Facebook has just launched its video game streaming application.
Dubbed soberly Facebook Gaming App, the live streaming application intends to compete with the market leader, Twitch, but also YouTube Gaming or Mixer.
📣 Launch announcement 📣🧵
1/ We know you’ve waited patiently. Well folks the day has come: we’re launching FarmVille in VR! j/k, sorry, kind mobs of Twitter, don’t @ us! We’re actually launching the Facebook Gaming app on Google Play.
Download NOW 👉 https://t.co/6wzoSRD3Gj pic.twitter.com/5YzVxmklHm
— Facebook Gaming #playaparttogether (@FacebookGaming) April 20, 2020
What is Facebook Gaming?
“Welcome to Facebook Gaming, a place to watch, share and play your favourite games. For several months now, Facebook Gaming has been a tab available on the social network for users who love video games.
Since Monday 20th April, Facebook therefore also offers its application dedicated entirely to live streaming, announced a spokesman for the American giant to the New York Times.
The application must make it possible to share a part of the game live with its subscribers or friends on the social network.
Before being launched on Android this Monday, and pending validation from Apple to offer it soon on iOS, the application has been tested for almost 18 months in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
A launch which arrives with a little advance, since it was initially planned for June 2020. But with more than half of the world population confined in the world, Facebook decided to revise its calendar. Fiji Simo, director of the Facebook app, told the New York Times :
“Investing in gaming in general has become a priority for us, as we see gaming as a form of entertainment that truly connects people.”
How it works?
Once the application is downloaded for free to their smartphone and connected to their Facebook account, the user has access to games, but also to special communities dedicated to the game.
The Go Live function will undoubtedly interest more than one. It allows you to launch the streaming of any game on your Facebook profile. You can also simply watch the games of other players.
Favourite players, the “streamers”, can be paid by their subscriber community thanks to a virtual currency, the “Stars”. Each time the user purchases “Stars” to encourage their favourite streamer, Facebook takes a commission.
No ads should be displayed on the app, according to Facebook, at least when it is launched. Last year, according to The Information, the ad grossed nearly $ 300 million to market leader Twitch.
On Facebook, “more than 700 million people play games, watch game videos or participate in group play,” said the American firm on its dedicated site.
