The Facebook gaming app was used as a streaming hub for fans to follow their favourite content creators on the app, like streamers, and being able to interact with the social media pages of their favourite games, where they could keep up with updates on the game as well as keep in contact with creators and developers of the games. The Facebook gaming app also provided access to the mobile titles that required purchase.
In previous years Meta has invested quite the sum of money into the gaming app, signing contracts with larch content creators to get them to exclusively move their content over to the Facebook app, leading to other companies like Twitch and YouTube, and the now defunct Mixer signing similar exclusive deals to keep some of their bigger creators from moving to the other platforms.
Meta’s Focus
While moving away from the Facebook gaming app, Meta’s current gaming output is focused on VR and making the ‘metaverse’ or the concept of 3D internet a reality.
Meta has even developed their own VR devices, like the Meta Quest, and they recently announced the Meta Quest 2. Despite the not-so-hot reception of the device critically and from consumers, they have decided to increase the price by US$100, which will probably slow the growth that the metaverse was experiencing.
The sub-division of the Meta parent company that is responsible for the Quest, Reality Labs, released a statement saying that the increase is due to the increase in the cost of production as well as shipping costs.
“By adjusting the price of Quest 2, we can continue to grow our investment in ground-breaking research and new product development that pushes the VR industry to new heights. We have an ambitious VR hardware roadmap, beginning with the launch of our high-end headset, Project Cambria, later this year. And we plan to ship new generations of Meta Quest after that.”
The Official Statement
A statement was published by Meta as they wanted to emphasize that while the Facebook gaming app would no longer be available or supported, the functionality would be migrated over to the Facebook app, and not lost entirely. This is a relief as Meta, and the content creators who exclusively use the app will not lose all of their investments.
“Beginning on 28 October 2022, the Facebook Gaming app for iOS and Android will no longer be available,” the statement from the Facebook Gaming team read. “After this date, this app will no longer work. You can download your gaming app search data here. 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. This was truly a community-led effort to bring new gaming features to Facebook. 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.”
