The Facebook Gaming App will be shutting down for iOS and Android devices on the 28th of October
In October Facebook will discontinue the Facebook Gaming app, a little over two years after its debut. You will now see a banner when you open the app that informs you that it will stop functioning on iOS and Android after that time. Additionally, neither the Apple App Store nor the Google Play Store will carry the app.
The Statement states:
“Despite this news, our mission to connect players, fans, and creators with the games they love hasn’t changed, and you’ll still be able to find your games, streamers, and groups when you visit Gaming in the Facebook app. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you for everything that you’ve done to build a thriving community for gamers and fans since this app first launched.”
The Facebook Gaming App was released in 2020, but it had a difficult beginning because Apple repeatedly rejected it, citing its policies that forbid apps whose primary function is to distribute casual games. Facebook was compelled by Apple’s regulations to delete the app’s actual gaming capability.
A spokesperson for Meta told TechCrunch in a statement:
“We know how important gaming is to our community and remain committed to connecting our gaming community with the content they love.
The standalone Facebook Gaming app has been an incredible environment for our gaming team to test and iterate on a wide variety of gaming-specific features and products, and many of these features have found a home in the main Facebook App.
We’ll continue to support our gaming communities, developers, and creators on the main Facebook app where hundreds of millions of people play games, watch gaming videos, and connect in gaming Groups each month.”
Meta (formerly known as Facebook) didn’t give a reason for the Apps closure but this move could indicate an underperformance from Facebook Gaming itself and it’s possible that they will shed light on this decision in the future.
In other news Meta is reportedly testing a new livestreaming platform called “Super”. Influencers can present livestreams on the new platform, generate income, and interact with viewers. According to reports, the corporation has paid influencers between $200 and $3,000 for a 30-minute use of the platform.
The New Product Experimentation team at Meta started working on Super toward the end of 2020. Less than 100 creators are actively testing the platform, which seems to function similarly to Twitch.
The future of Meta is unsure but we will be keeping a close eye on the situation as it unfolds so stay tuned.