Facebook keeps in the leading position in the messengers market with their ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘Messenger’ Apps. Although these apps are extremely popular and reach more then 1 billion monthly active users, this corporation wants to make their users spend more time on the platforms, which is why Facebook launches games for its enormous user base. Facebook has announced beta testing of a gaming platform ‘Instant Games’, which gives its users the opportunity to play games directly on Messenger and Newsfeed. It is developed on HTML5 base and will work in web version as well as Android 5.0 and iOS 8.0 mobile versions.

How to start playing on the new Facebook gaming platform?

Messenger users will have simple access to ‘Instant Games’ platform by locating the icon near the stickers, just below where people type a message. In the web version, there will be a separate tab with all games. You will notice some call-to-action buttons on your newsfeed soon. New games will be promoted via recommendations, posts, challenges, and the Facebook Pages of individual games. According to developers of the new platform it, “offers a fun and Social experience featuring score-based games, leaderboards, and group thread conversations to challenge and compete against anyone.” Instant Games beta testing version is currently available in North American and 30 European countries. Players could compete simultaneously, or asynchronously, through common friends players scoring rate. Currently, the games do not include internal purchases and can not be promoted by developers. Eventually Facebook will launch such an opportunities.

Which new games could we play?

There are 17 Instant Games available now to play, with many more to come, including popular titles from arcade classics, to action and other modern favorites. Due to the collaboration of Facebook developers with BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc., users will be able to play such classics, as PAC-MAN and Galaga. Space invaders – the first game in the gaming history, where the enemy character attacks the player, is also available on the platform.  Such famous game developers, as Konami and Zynga are also represented on the new cross platform.

How many people play games on Facebook?

Since 2008 Facebook keeps leading positions among social game platforms. The beginning of the social gaming age, was its top time period because people spent hours of their time in extremely popular virtual farming. Thanks to 30% inside game purchasing commissions, this web-platform bring about $250 million in income to Facebook per quarter. In spite of the quantity of Facebook users increasing steadily, social gaming is stagnating.  Nowadays, users spend around 15% of their time on Facebook playing social games, while average income decreased to $200 per quarter. The biggest social network is not the only one, which develops gaming platform in messenger on HTML5 base. The first one to enter this technology was Pavel Durov’s Telegram, which launched a similar platform in October. That’s why, Facebook is ready to get back into the social gaming race.