Snapchat just added a new game feature for you and your friends

Apr 05, 2019

By Herb Scribner

Snapchat is now a place for games.

Snapchat debuted its new Snap Games feature on Friday, which allows app users to play real-time, multiplayer games while texting and talking with friends, according to TechCrunch.

The update comes after the app’s acquisition of PrettyGreat, an Australian game studio that brought us such games as Fruit Ninja, back in 2017.
The new games, including Bitmoji Party, which is essentially like Mario Party, rolled out Friday, according to Mashable.

Other games include “Alphabear Hustle,” which is a word game, and “C.A.T.S.: Drift Race,” which is a racing game, The Verge reports.

Snapchat can watch six-second commercials that reward them with bonus content and in-game rewards, which will be the company’s way of monetizing the new feature, according to TechCrunch.

“Snapchat will share revenue from the ads with developers, though it refused to specify the split. It could be a little weird watching ads to more easily beat your friends. But down the line it’s easy to imagine Snapchat selling cosmetic upgrades via in-app purchases akin to ‘Fortnite,’” according to TechCrunch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWD4mfKx3eE

Why it matters: Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, sees the addition of games as a way to keep people’s time and attention focused on the app, according to The Verge.

By the numbers: Snapchat — despite the Rihanna and Chris Brown issue and Kylie Jenner’s tweet — remains a popular brand with young Americans. According to the Pew Research Center, 78 percent of Americans 18- to 24-years old use Snapchat. But the number is closer to 54 percent for those 25 to 29.

Bigger picture: Snap isn’t the only social network dipping into the video game industry. Facebook reportedly will add a games tab to its app, allowing users easy access to games in the app.