Facebook ‘redefining’ platform with core gaming shift

Facebook is set to redefine gaming on its social network with a string of new ‘core player-focused’ titles, the head of game partnerships at the company has claimed.

Speaking to Reuters, Sean Ryan said a new set of games would be released on Facebook during the next two quarters, embracing both casual and hardcore players.

He said that genres such as first-person shooters, MMOs and real time strategy games would all be making an increased appearance on the social network, which has traditionally been known for light entertainment.

"You’ll see a whole set of games hitting in the next two quarters in particular and throughout the year that really start to redefine what people think of Facebook games," said Facebook head of game partnerships Sean Ryan.

He added: “It doesn’t mean we’re walking away from other games, but there’s no question our focus for 2013 much of it will be about becoming a better platform for core gamers and developers who make those games."

Ryan also said that Facebook had also invested “time and resources” into games such as U4iA FPS Offensive Combat and Plarium RTS title Stormfall: Age of War in an effort to increase the diversity of its titles.

Plarium CMO Gabi Shalel said Stormfall currently had 4.5 million players, and that hardcore gamers had proved far more lucrative than the casual market.

"Hardcore gamers pay more, play more and generate higher average revenue per user than traditional casual games," he said.

Kixeye meanwhile revealed that players of its RTS title War Commander spent 20 times more than social gaming users.