Get ready to either fall more in love with Facebook Messenger, or start to dislike Facebook game invites on the social platform even more than you already do. Games are now built into Messenger.
Facebook on Tuesday announced an update to its Messenger platform, adding a new service called Instant Games.
Instead of hiding games — such as basketball or soccer — behind secret emojis as the company has done in the past, Facebook is making games a central part of Messenger. Meaning with just a few taps you can invite a friend in a private conversation, or several friends in a group chat to compete at Pac-Man or Space Invaders.
According to the announcement, Instant Games are available in 30 countries on Android and iOS devices starting today. However, I have yet to see the game controller icon that’s needed to start a gaming session, and don’t seem to have any available updates to the Messenger app.
Facebook posted a video showing users how to invite friends to a game here.
Currently there are 17 titles available:
- Pac-Man
- Galaga
- Arkanoid
- Space Invaders
- Track & Field 100M
- Shuffle Cats Mini
- Words with Friends: Frenzy
- Hex
- Everwing
- Endless Lake
- Templar 2048
- The Tribez: Puzzle Rush
- 2020 Connect
- Puzzle Bubble
- Zookeeper
- Brick Pop
- Wordalot Express