Facebook Launch Game Streaming App To Compete With Twitch And YouTube

Watch out Twitch, Zuckerberg is coming for you. Yes, Facebook has launched a brand new app called Facebook Gaming in an effort to position itself as more of a rival on the streaming scene against such giants as YouTube Gaming, Mixer, and the aforementioned Twitch.

The app should be live around the world now on Android, with iOS expected to follow very shortly. The app has been in the testing period for around 18 months now, and was originally intended to go live in June. Given the current global crisis, however, Facebook decided to bring the launch forward. There’s never been a better time to stay in and game, after all.

Facebook Launch Game Streaming App To Compete With Twitch And YouTube
Credit: Facebook

“Investing in gaming in general has become a priority for us because we see gaming as a form of entertainment that really connects people,” Facebook executive Fidji Simo told The New York Times. “We’re seeing a big rise in gaming during quarantine.”

It’s worth noting that Facebook already had a feature that let you stream yourself playing games… though you could be forgiven for having no idea it was there. This app has been designed to make its streaming capabilities more prominent and even add new features, such as the ability to make it easier to watch other streamers and even stream yourself playing mobile games.

Look out world, I’m about to make a name for myself as a streamer.

Facebook Gaming won’t feature any sponsored ads to start with. Instead, the tech giant will simply take a cut whenever streamers earn “stars”, which is basically a much nicer way of saying “donations”.

“We don’t want to be the background window in a Chrome tab while someone is doing their homework or doing something else,” Facebook exec Vivek Sharma added. “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.”

Facebook Launch Game Streaming App To Compete With Twitch And YouTube
Candy Crush's creator thought the game would be dead after six months

Facebook has been moving towards the lucrative world of streaming for some time now, albeit at a much steadier pace than its rivals. Earlier this year, Former UFC and WWE star Ronda Rousey announced that she’d start streaming games exclusively for Facebook.

Given the company’s deep pockets, one can only imagine what other stars are currently lined up to add some extra incentive and glamour to the streaming service. I’m hoping for Paul Chuckle, personally.

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