Facebook Gaming app, a rival of Amazon’s Twitch to be shut down

Facebook intends to shut down its Facebook Gaming App, which allows users to play and watch video games on demand.

Facebook Gaming will be discontinued on Android and iOS starting Oct. 28. However, gaming features will still be available via the main Facebook app.

In an update posted on Facebook Gaming, the company stated that it wanted to express its sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped to create a vibrant community of gamers and fans.

It said, “This was truly community-led effort in order to bring new games to Facebook.”

“Despite this, our mission to connect fans, players and creators to the games they love hasn’t changed. Gaming in the Facebook App will still allow you to find your streamsers, games, and groups.

Facebook Gaming was launched more than two years ago when the Covid-19 epidemic sparked a boom in both watching and playing video games. Twitch, which is the dominant player in this market, was once seen as a threat.

Facebook, which is now owned by Meta, has struggled for a foothold on the live gaming streaming market. According to Streamlabs market research firm, Facebook Gaming accounted only 7.9% for the market share in terms of hours watched in the second quarter 2022, trailing Twitch (76.7%), and YouTube (15.4%).

Facebook is not the only internet giant that has tried unsuccessfully to recreate the Twitch format. After signing a multimillion-dollar deal to have Fortnite’s Tyler “Ninja,” Blevins stream exclusively on Mixer, Microsoft shut down Mixer in 2020.

YouTube, Twitch’s closest competitor, has been more successful in challenging Twitch’s dominance. The company’s YouTube Gaming division has managed to tempt away top talent from Twitch lately, including Ludwig Ahgren, Rachell Hofstetter and Timothy Betar — better known online under their respective aliases “Ludwig,” “Valkyrae” and “TimTheTatman.”