Facebook enters cloud gaming segment with free-to-play games; here are all the details

Facebook joins other technology giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to focus on the gaming crowd. Let’s check out more details around the Facebook cloud gaming push here.

Social media giant Facebook has just launched a new service to entice the gaming audience on its platform. As per the latest information, the company has just stepped into the world of cloud gaming. It joins other technology giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon to focus on the gaming crowd. However, unlike its rivals in the space, Facebook is approaching this space in a slightly different manner. First up, this is not really a new and standalone service unlike xCloud, Stadia, and Luna. Instead, the company is leveraging its existing gaming platform, Facebook Gaming. Second, the company has decided that it will not charge a monthly fee to offer these games to its users. Let’s check out more details around the Facebook cloud gaming push here.

Facebook cloud gaming push is different, details

Looking at the official announcement post, the company notes that it will offer a seamless experience for these cloud games. Some of the aspects of this seamless experience include the absence of a new app or new hardware like a controller. Instead, interested gamers can access several of these cloud games in their existing “Facebook Gaming” app for Android or web. Facebook revealed that it is not promising 4K at 60fps features which translates into the “free-to-play” games. Jason Rubin, the vice president of Facebook Play stated that the company is exploring cloud gaming to expand the type of games it offers to players.

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For some context, the company started more than 10 years back with Flash-based games such as FarmVille. Later, it moved to HTM5-based games for its “Instant Games Platform”. However, both these technologies were limited in scope with the type of gaming experiences they can deliver. Cloud gaming seems to be the way forward as Facebook can offer more sophisticated games in a fast, and seamless manner.

It is also interesting to note that HTML 5 games are not leaving the platform. Instead, Facebook will continue to provide these games along with free-to-play cloud games. The Verge also noted that the company acquired Spanish cloud gaming service PlayGiga last year as a necessary step towards building this new offering. Rubin stated that the company is launching the Free-to-play cloud games in beta. The initial titles available include Asphalt 9, Mobile Legends: Adventure, and more. The cloud games are currently limited to the US for web and Android app users. Facebook cloud games will also offer cross-platform progression if the login is tied to the Facebook account. Finally, it noted that the offering may grow to include premium games and more advanced features with time.