Facebook is all about making friends, but the social media giant may have to prove itself before it makes more connections in the mobile gaming space.
Less than two weeks ago, the company announced Facebook Mobile Games, a pilot program whereby it will offer promotional support for select developers across its mobile apps. In return, Facebook will take an unspecified share of revenue that comes as a result. Ten developers are already on board.
Facebook Announces New Mobile Game Publishing Effort | TechCrunch - http://t.co/7mghm2Q6Qf via @Shareaholic
— FierceMobileContent (@FierceMobiCo) July 30, 2013
The initial reaction from the developer community on Twitter could best be described as "cautiously intrigued."
Interesting to see Facebook stepping into the mobile games publishing arena. https://t.co/659cWEq7aC
— Ben Mears (@The_BenMears) August 6, 2013
Interesting.. FB as mobile game publisher https://t.co/PmGDMw4P0B
— Jennie Lees (@jennielees) July 30, 2013
WTF just happened. Facebook is now a mobile game publisher? http://t.co/sMk5PxrQuV
— Deniz Opal (@selzero) July 30, 2013
Mobile gaming is a great space certainly. Let's see what Facebook can do to help http://t.co/1CqBV0DU1W #facebook #mobile #socialmedia
— Alexander Kates (@ajkates) July 30, 2013
There was definitely a sense that Facebook's moves would disrupt some of the more established players in the mobile gaming space.
Good news for independent developers, bad news for Zynga: http://t.co/zrnetr09g0
— Zach Kahn (@zkahn94) July 30, 2013
And the consolidation continues, FB moves upstream "Facebook breaks into mobile game publishing http://t.co/C1pwhPBXGc"
— Eros Resmini (@ErosResmini) July 31, 2013
Some thought it important to remember that this was also about business, not just community-building.
@facebook is trying to help small/medium mobile game devs get their discovered in exchange for revenue sharing https://t.co/3Vg1HOOpK6
— Aaron Silverman (@Zugwalt) July 30, 2013
Facebook "publishing" games seems like their way of acknowledging a discovery problem for devs who won't buy FB ads: http://t.co/jmsrkn2jvG
— Robert Holtzman (@Calisker) July 31, 2013
Facebook breaks into mobile game publishing (potential for developers to define a target audience.) http://t.co/y1TEzMPWtd
— Kelsey Lyn Heavey (@KelseyLynH) July 31, 2013
Hope small devs actually benefit from this. | Gamasutra - News - Facebook breaks into mobile game publishing: http://t.co/4899IjHbQm
— Murphy D (@MurphyD88) July 31, 2013