Facebook launches Facebook Gaming app in push to beat Twitch

Nina Forneloza Published 22/04/2020

Facebook’s efforts to expand its presence in the gaming market continue on.

Facebook launched its Facebook Gaming streaming app. The app allows users to watch streamers on the platform, stream live gameplay themselves, and even play games with friends. Facebook Gaming was initially set to launch in June but with the ongoing global situation, more people were given time to stay at home and play their favorite games.

The app is available on Google Play for Android users and has over five million downloads. Its iOS version is currently pending approval from Apple.

“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’s App head Fidji Simo said in a statement.

Facebook’s continues to push forward in gaming

Facebook Gaming comes with the “Go Live” feature. It lets users broadcast their live gameplay without the need for third-party software. Its interface resembles that of the Facebook App and features instant games that can be played and broadcasted at any time. Users can also see what their friends are playing.

Facebook has been trying to establish itself in gaming and esports for years now, but has expanded those efforts over recent months. The company recently launched Facebook Tournaments, which allows users to organize online tournaments using the platform.

Surprisingly, Facebook Gaming will not include ads as of now. It currently relies on “stars” from viewers which is similar to Twitch’s “bits”. The company has been testing the Facebook Gaming app in southeast Asia and Latin America for the past 18 months.

Facebook was once a top gaming platform during the Farmville era, but things have changed for the worse over recent years. Twitch has an airtight grasp on live streaming while YouTube currently dominates video sharing, with little room available competitors.

Facebook has tried to remedy this, but there’s still a significant gap between Facebook and its competitors in terms of viewing time for live gaming content. Twitch has recorded 3.1 billion hours while YouTube clocked 1.1 billion hours. Facebook only logged 554 million hours in the first quarter of 2020.

With the launch of Facebook Gaming globally, the firm aims to bridge the gap.

Nina Forneloza

About Nina Forneloza

Nina Forneloza is a huge fan of gaming, but her favorite genres of games above all other are gacha games, first-person shooting games, and role-playing games. When she isn’t looking for a lucky pull in the latest gacha, you’re likely to find her in a competitive Valorant lobby or playing the latest big single-player RPG. Either way, you can be assured that she’ll be into it and ready to write about the experience.

View full profile

Read Also

Kick

Here’s a Rundown of the Major New Features and Improvements on Kick in August 2026 Khizar Mundia Kick Director Ethan Wright has shared several new features that were introduced on the platform in August, also revealing that the team will continue to “push out great updates after great updates”. Livestreaming platform Kick is serious about introducing new features and making changes to improve the experience for both streamers and viewers. The Kick GO Live mobile app may be the standout addition the livestreaming platform has made in ...

Twitch

xQc Talks Subathons and Reveals Why He Avoids Them Khizar Mundia Félix “xQc” Lengyel is a major force in the streaming world, with his earnings being among the highest in the industry. However, despite this success, xQc has never done subathons — and the Kick streamer has revealed his reasons. Subathons have become an important element in the streaming world, as they are both engaging for viewers and beneficial for creators. Kai Cenat is arguably the most famous streamer who made ...

News

Here Is Every Major Announcement at Sony’s September State of Play Zachary Roberts The latest Sony State of Play was on September 3 at 9 am ET, and as usual, plenty of interesting games were announced and shown off. These, like a Nintendo Direct or Xbox Showcase, always end up being one of the most exciting times of the year for gamers. PlayStation often has great exclusives, so it's always worth seeing what they're working on. Interestingly enough, the first showcase wasn't game-related. ...

Kick

Kick Joins GTA RP Trend — Here’s What Partnership With Prodigy Entails Khizar Mundia The GTA RP community has been consistently growing, and Kick has just partnered with Prodigy, which displays the livestreaming platform’s interest in the scene. Here’s information about the partnership and why Kick may have entered the GTA RP scene right now. Kick has been trying to expand its esports base for some time, and its recent partnership with Riot Games has created ample opportunity for the platform. However, gaming remains ...

Slots

True Labs Set To Change Direction With New CEO Ben Boland True Labs started life as an experimental crypto casino in 2018 within the True Flip Group and has since evolved into an independent entity, boasting more than 40 crypto casino games and a network of supporting partners. Its evolution is set to continue with the appointment of a new CEO on September 1, 2026, with Sergey Glamazda confirmed as the Malta-based company’s new chief executive. Before joining True Labs, Glamazda ...

GTA

Rockstar Backs NoPixel V — What GTA 6 Means for GTA RP Khizar Mundia GTA 6 is about to release, and Rockstar has decided that it is the optimal time to announce that its collaborative GTA RP, NoPixel V, is about to enter closed beta. Roleplaying has been a major element in GTA, with several gaming streamers building their entire brand and community around it. NoPixel Studios is one of the most famous names in GTA RP, and NoPixel V is the newest version, ...

News

Kevin Hart Set To Host Major Pragmatic Play Live Casino Event Ben Boland Kevin Hart is joining forces with Pragmatic Play to host a live casino event that looks set to pack a serious punch. Hart is famed for starring in blockbusters such as Jumanji and Ride Along, and also as a stand-up comedian who has delivered his uniquely comic observations to audiences around the world. He will now act live dealer host for a packed two-day event in November. Pragmatic Play is ...