Does Facebook have what it takes to dethrone Amazon’s Twitch, Google’s YouTube, and Microsoft’s Mixer? We’re about to find out, as the social media giant is taking its first step into the game-streaming arena with its Facebook Gaming mobile app, which is launching tomorrow. The app, which will debut on Android first, lets users create and watch content much like its competitors.
“Investing in gaming in general has become a priority for us because we see gaming as a form of entertainment that really connects people,” said Fidji Simo, head of the Facebook app. “It’s entertainment that’s not just a form of passive consumption but entertainment that is interactive and brings people together.”
Unfortunately for desktop users, Facebook is determined to keep its new Gaming app within a mobile environment to keep the experience front and center. “We don’t want to be the background window in a Chrome tab while someone is doing their homework or doing something else,” Mr. Sharma said. “With mobile, if you have the app open and you’re using the app, it’s in the foreground. You can’t do anything else on your mobile phone, and that is extremely powerful.”