Facebook has decided to remove Instant Games from Messenger and is adding it to the Facebook Gaming tab on the main app.
‘With our focus on creating a central Instant Games experience on Facebook, and as Messenger moves to be faster, lighter and simpler, we recently started migrating Instant Games play sessions from Messenger to Facebook and the Facebook Gaming tab,’ said Leo Olebe, Global Director, Games Partnerships, Facebook.
Aiming to boost user-engagement with the platform, social media giant introduced Instant Games including Pac-Man and Words With Friends Frenzy, on Messenger in 2016.
And to ensure a smooth transition, users in Messenger will continue to access games through thread updates and chat bots, while gameplay itself will app-switch to Facebook. With this move, Facebook wants to minimise disruptions to both developers and players, and maintain overall game health.
If you are an active player on Instant Games, Facebook will notify and guide you on details for platform transitions and timelines.
‘We recently increased the number of people eligible for the Gaming tab based on Instant Games activity and we'll continue to expand this audience over time. We're continuing to expand the global Facebook Gaming team,’ added Olebe.
Facebook is also planning to launch a new cryptocurrency ‘Libra,’ which will be a part of a new digital wallet ‘Calibra’ that you’ll be able to use to save, send and spend Libra. Libra will work with Messenger, WhatsApp and as a standalone app — and is expected to launch in 2020.
In future, Facebook will offer additional services for people and businesses including payment of bills with the push of a button, buying a cup of coffee with the scan of a code or riding your local public transit without needing to carry cash or a metro pass.
