Two years ago, Facebook threw its hat in the video game streaming ring with the launch of its Facebook Gaming app. With the growing popularity of streaming, fueled even further at the time by the early pandemic lockdowns, Facebook saw the opportunity to offer livestreamers and viewers a platform to rival the likes of Twitch and YouTube. Now, though, Facebook Gaming as a dedicated platform may be on the way out, as it’s been confirmed that the app will be shutting down in a few months.Word of this development was shared in an update on the app that has begun making the rounds on social media. The update confirms that the Facebook Gaming app will be shuttered on October 28, just two and a half years after launch. After that, the app will no longer be available on iOS and Android, so Facebook advises users to download any search data while they still can.Although the app is shutting down, Facebook isn’t moving on from livestreaming. The update states that all the platform’s streaming content will be available in the Gaming section of the regular Facebook app. Non-mobile users, meanwhile, will continue to be able to access the web-based version of Facebook Gaming following the shutdown.
One thing that the update fails to mention is the reason for the app’s shuttering, though that might not be hard to guess. Despite making a sizable effort to become a contender in the streaming market, Facebook Gaming hasn't had much luck in that regard. A recent report from research firm Streamlabs states that, for the second quarter of 2022, only 7.9% of all hours watched were on Facebook, versus 76.7% and 15.4% on Twitch and YouTube respectively. With Facebook’s parent company Meta reporting huge losses this past quarter, it’s possible that it’s deciding to cut costs where it can.
It’s too soon to say if this foreshadows Facebook Gaming shutting down entirely at some point, though it wouldn’t be the first time such a thing has happened. The same year Facebook launched its Gaming app, Microsoft shuttered its streaming service Mixer, ending a four-year run that was aided by exclusive partnerships with popular streamers like Ninja and Shroud. Mixer was ultimately absorbed into Facebook Gaming when Microsoft formed a partnership with the platform.
Despite whatever setbacks it may be facing, Facebook and Meta are continuing to invest in gaming, most notably with the Meta Quest line of VR headsets. The next Meta Quest headset is planned to launch in October, and is said to be able to track users’ eye movement and facial expressions in addition to the position of their hands and heads.
Source: Streamlabs