Social networking giant Facebook on Monday launched a gaming app for Android users — simply called Facebook Gaming. The app is now listed on Google’s Play Store and already has over 50 lakh downloads.
The new gaming app is actually a standalone version of the gaming tab you discover within the Facebook app that comes with features like playing games, watch others’ live gameplay and connect with group members.
The new app is initially available on Android devices, with a separate version for Apple’s iOS within the works.
Facebook said that “Facebook Gaming” will enable users to observe “e-sports” or game competitions also as participate in games with other users online.
The leading social network said it accelerated the launch “to encourage meaningful community interactions” for people locked down thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
Facebook said it sees strong interest within the new app, with some 700 million of its global users already playing games or participating in gaming groups on its platform.
About launching a fanatical app for gaming, Vivek Sharma, Facebook’s vice chairman for gaming said to the New York Times, “We don’t want to be the background window in a Chrome tab while someone is doing their homework or doing something else. 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.”
Even though there’s no cost in downloading the app, the extra information on the Google Play Store listing reveals that there are in-app purchases raining from Rs 85-Rs 8,400.
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As expected, the app requires users to login using their Facebook account details.
Download Facebook Gaming App