Facebook has recently announced that it will be introducing multiplayer games to its video call feature in Messenger. Users will now be able to play 14 different games with friends and family while simultaneously chatting with them. The games range from old favorites such as Words With Friends and Mini Golf FRVR to newer titles like Card Wars and Exploding Kittens. The feature is available on Messenger for iOS, Android, and the web, and does not require any special installations.
Each game has been optimized for the Messenger experience, with clearly marked leaderboards and a user interface that is easy to navigate. The games are designed to be played by two or more people, with varying maximum player limits for each title. To access the games, users simply need to start a video call on Messenger, tap the group mode button, tap the “Play” icon, and then select from the library of available games.
Facebook has been experimenting with Messenger-enabled games for a few years, but this latest feature is the most promising yet. The launch lineup currently consists of 14 titles, including Card Wars by Bombay Play and Exploding Kittens by Coatsink as well as some fan favorites like Mini Golf FRVR by FRVR and Words With Friends by Zynga
But more free games are expected to be added later this year. Facebook Gaming is encouraging interested developers to contact their Partner Manager for information on how to add games to the platform.
This news comes shortly after Meta shut down its standalone Facebook Gaming app. With the addition of multiplayer games to Messenger, Facebook Gaming seems to be focusing more on integrating its gaming features into its existing platforms. It remains to be seen whether this new feature will be successful, but for now, users can enjoy some friendly competition with friends and family while video calling.
We’ll be checking out some of these games soon and I’ll let you know if I’m still friends with my colleagues or not afterwards.
