Facebook adds augmented reality games to Messenger

Facebook

• Facebook is adding augmented reality games to its
  Messenger app.
• The new feature is further evidence of how Facebook is
  leaning into augmented reality as a way to offer users new
  experiences — and make more money.
• Up to six people can play the games at a time via video
  chat, which include “Don’t Smile” and “Asteroids
  Attack.”

Facebook is continuing to lean in to augmented reality.

On Wednesday, the social network
announced via blog post that it is adding augmented reality
(AR) games to Messenger that users can play with their friends.

The games use the California company’s AR tech to track players
faces and pit them against each other in head-to-head multiplayer
challenges. In one, “Asteroids Attack,” plays have to navigate a
spaceship around asteroids. Another, “Don’t Smile,” does what it
says on the tin — whoever smiles first loses, similar to
the AR iOS app “Try Not to Smile.”

The games are fairly rudimentary, but highlight how Facebook is
continuing to push forward with augmented reality as it
experiments with new formats and experiences for its
users, experiences
that could lead to future monetisation opportunities as
Facebook’s revenue growth slows and its profits
shrink. Facebook-owned Instagram recently launched a set
of AR filters on its platform that let users try on lipstick
shades from Kylie Jenner’s cosmetics company — a clear nod to
future money-making opportunities in AR for the company.

The Messenger games can be played with up to six people and
there’s more currently in the pipline, including “Beach Bump” and
“Kitten Kraze.”

Here’s Messenger product manager Nora Micheva’s instructions on
how to play the games: “Make sure you have the latest version of
Messenger. Open an existing conversation or find the person or
group of people you’d like to chat with and tap the video icon on
the upper right corner of the screen. Then simply tap the star
button and select one of the AR games — the person or group you
are video chatting with will get a notification indicating it’s
time to get your game on.”

Of note: Snapchat, one of Messenger’s chief rivals, already
offers a selection of simple AR games. 

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