INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightFacebookFacebook has launched its own video game streaming platform.Facebook.gg, which launched on Thursday, will compete
directly with popular platforms like Twitch and Mixer
It's part of the social media site's continued efforts to become a destination for video content.The new service suggests streams based
on who individual users follow on the platform - as well as featured content chosen by Facebook.At the time of writing 2,900 people are
streaming Fortnite on Facebook.gg, while 3,400 play Player Unknown: Battlegrounds.It points to a slightly different audience for Facebook.gg
and the well established Twitch
Image caption
This is where you can find the games people are streaming
According to metrics from Twitch
analytics site SullyGnome, Fortnite consistently dominates on Twitch as the most streamed game, while PubG comes in close second.This push
into video game content is not a new venture for Facebook
Back in January it launched the Gaming Creator Pilot Program, which is its own version of Twitch's Partner Program.The Twitch Partner
Program gives it exclusive rights to the world's most popular streamers and, in return, pays them a portion of the service's advertising
revenue.Facebook's pilot program has attempted to lure streamers away from Twitch and YouTube by offering in-stream monetisation options
Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Twitch has over 2m active streamers
The new hub is the next
step, offering more discoverability options for streamers who may be finding it hard to make their voices heard on Twitch's crowded
It gives video game streamers on Facebook their own landing page, which makes it much easier for audiences to discover new content away from
the chaos of the news feed.Facebook's quest for gaming content goes back even further though
Back in 2016 it cut a deal with Blizzard to stream Overwatch on Facebook Live, before bolstering its mobile Instant Games platform with live
streaming at the turn of this year
It also partnered with ESL to broadcast Dota 2 and Counter-Strike Go eSports.Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
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