Facebook Gaming is a platform created by Facebook in 2019 so that users can play all kinds of video games from their mobile phones and other devices, as well as broadcast their games on the social network, competing in this field with platforms such as Twitch, owned by Amazon or even YouTube itself.Facebook launches cloud streaming games for Facebook Gaming in beta for Android and the web
In order to stand up to such important rivals, Facebook has launched a series of new features in Facebook Gaming. Now the service includes the best Facebook games and an extensive list of games in streaming in the cloud, allows you to select names and avatars different from those of the Facebook profile, launches advertisements to play them and a new tab to discover games, among other new features which we discuss further below:
-Streaming games in the cloud : For the first time, streaming games from the Facebook cloud arrive at Facebook Gaming, in beta version for Android natively in APK format and for the web. Apple has confirmed that, at least for now, they will not reach iOS.
The games are free and change every week. For example, titles like Gameloft’s “Asphalt 9: Legends” are now available; Moonton’s “Mobile Legends: Adventure”; “PGA TOUR Golf Shootout” by Concrete Software, Inc.; and “Solitaire: Arthur’s Tale” from Qublix Games, “Dirt Bike Unchained” from Red Bull, among others.
Facebook will add more titles to its video game library, which will grow in variety and types of games to accommodate others related to sports, cards or strategy simulators.
These are cloud games that could cause some latency problem, despite the fact that the experience has been maximized, trying to eliminate speed or quality problems. In any case, Facebook, aware of this fact, includes a small rating card and a form so that the users themselves can give feedback on the performance of each game in this beta phase.
Once the beta ends, Facebook Gaming will also add more resource-intensive action-adventure titles to its streaming titles roster. It will already be in 2021, and they will allow in-game purchases, depending on the developers’ requirements.
Cloud streaming games will only be available for now for users residing in certain cities and states in the United States, such as California, Texas, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington and Virginia. It will reach the rest of the country in the coming months, and it is unknown when it will reach other parts of the world.
-Name of players and cross games : Facebook will now allow users not to use their name and real Facebook photo as an identifier in video games. They will thus be able to create a specific name, as well as unique avatars that represent them in each game.
Their player names and in-game activity will be visible right next to the user’s real name, so when connecting with friends or colleagues they know who it is.
In addition, titles that integrate Facebook Login for Gaming will allow users to play the downloaded version of the game and the Facebook cloud version interchangeably. Thus, they connect from where they connect, the games will continue where they left off and the purchases made will be maintained.
-Reproducible ads in the cloud : reproducible ads are demos that make a brief explanation or intro of what the video game is about and the user, after seeing it, will have the possibility to press a button and start a game instantly, as a proof.
These playable formats are faster and cheaper to develop and serve to test user impressions. For these, in addition, this experience gives them the possibility of paying before paying for the game or investing time in downloading it, as well as space on their device.
-Facebook Gaming on the web : Facebook already had a new tab called « Gaming », where users could find their favorite games on mobile. Now, it has launched a similar tab on the web, completely improved, where users can find updated features, re-enter already running games left on pause or find recommendations for new games to try.
