As Facebook builds momentum in the gaming market, the social network is looking to capitalize on the growing popularity of gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic with the launch of a new dedicated Facebook Gaming app that incorporates gaming content, game options, and groups. The app will initially be available on Android, with iOS to follow soon; As you can see, there are three key elements to Facebook gaming: Watch: Home for streamers, plus discover new videos from the biggest publishers in esports and gaming. There's a whole world of games to explore on Facebook Gaming. Play: Play instant games anytime, anywhere, no downloading required. Connect: We have playgroups for everyone, with new groups forming every day. Facebook has been testing the app in Southeast Asia and Latin America for the past 18 months, and as noted, it is now entering the next phase of deployment as the popularity of gaming rises during the coronavirus lockdown. But this isn’t a sudden improvement in Facebook’s broader gaming presence.Facebook has introduced a number of gaming-related tools and products over the past few years, including live streaming prompts for players and a streaming feature that overlays the game screen via a desktop. Facebook also recently launched a new simplified tournament creation option for amateur players to conduct gaming events within the app. These efforts have indeed paid off — according to data from StreamElement, in December 2019, Facebook's gaming viewing time increased by 210% year-on-year, accounting for 8.5% of the market share of total gaming viewing time. Given the resonance of gaming and gamer-related content in popular culture, this is an important element for Facebook to stay relevant, and while there is still some way to go before it can catch up with the 'top players' in the gaming industry, the main attraction for Facebook's growth is seeing more community response results. You can expect to see more on this front — as Facebook’s Fidji Simo said (via The New York Times): “Investing in games in general has become a priority for us because we believe that games are a form of entertainment that really connects people together. It’s entertainment that’s not just a passive form of consumption, but it’s interactive entertainment that brings people together.” Facebook's dedicated gaming app will add to this functionality further, offering more ways to keep players engaged, while Facebook will seek to further solidify its gaming credentials as its VR tools expand. There is no doubt that the potential of gaming is huge, and its market will only get bigger. With this in mind, it makes sense for Facebook to increase its investment in the gaming business under such circumstances.
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