Facebook launches Gaming on Android

Facebook launches Gaming on Android

GENERAL
Facebook launches Gaming on Android

Facebook has rolled out a mobile application that allows users to watch and play games in Thailand, the company's fourth market to receive the app, to attract more advertising revenue and build a game content creator community locally.

The Facebook Gaming app can be downloaded on Android devices.

Thailand is among the top five countries for viewers of gaming livestreams through Facebook in 2019.

Twitch, a global livestream gaming platform, has invested more than Facebook has in Thailand over the past year, including appointing an account manager specifically for Thailand.

According to research firm NewZoo, Thailand has generated US$692 million in gaming revenue this year, ranking the country in the top 20 in the world.

NewZoo forecasts Asean's game market could generate $4.6 billion this year, up 22% year-on-year.

"Thailand is a strategic market for Facebook in the gaming business," said Michael Rose, Southeast Asia head for games partnership at Facebook.

The company chose Thailand as the first country in Asean to initiate a Facebook Gaming Creator Programme last year, he said.

Facebook's game livestreaming viewership grew 38% over the past year, with the number of game-related content creators in Thailand rising 85%.

As of September, the top five most popular streams from Facebook Gaming were PUBG mobile, PUBG, Grand Theft AutoV, Arena of Valor and Free Fire-Battle Grounds.

Facebook also has a special icon for gaming to allow viewers access game content.

The app provides tools for game creators that help them have quality content and engage more with their audiences.

"Users can purchase stars to give to their favoured live-streaming gamers, while gamers can earn revenue from these stars as well as revenue shared by Facebook from advertising," Mr Rose said.

Some 16.6 million stars have been sent out by gaming video content viewers in Thailand through Facebook.

The beta version of the Facebook Gaming app has been introduced, which allows gamers to both watch livestreams and play games.

To grow the game community, Facebook is also holding Thailand Game Show.

Globally, over 700 million users play, watch and share games on Facebook every month, with women representing over 40% of gamers on Facebook and over 55% of users playing games each month on Facebook.

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