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The makers of 2D game development GameMaker Studio 2, YoYo Games, has announced today that it has released the Amazon GameOn marketplace asset for GameMaker Studio 2. According to the creators, this asset package will permit developers to integrate the cross-platform, competitive gaming service GameOn into their GameMaker Studio 2 projects more easily.
Amazon’s GameOn cloud-based service works on any operating system and gives access to a set of features to help increase engagement and monetisation, including allowing players to compete for real-world prizes. According to YoYo Games, developers using the GameOn APIs have seen increases in new player acquisition and engagement, and this new GameOn package for GameMaker 2 – which is available for free on the YoYo Games Marketplace – will make it even easier for developers to integrate with GameOn.
"Online competition is an important part of the games ecosystem, and with the GameOn assets for GameMaker Studio 2, developers can easily integrate all aspects of online competition from leaderboards to user-generated competitions, with real-world prizes, into games on PC, mobile, and console," said Stuart Poole, YoYo Games’ general manager. "Now available on our Marketplace, GameOn gives GameMaker developers a powerful set of easy-to-use APIs that gives them a competitive edge, whilst simultaneously driving player engagement and retention."
Access to GameOn APIs requires an Amazon Developer account, and the first 35,000 plays per month are free for the first six months. For more, head on over to Amazon.
Amazon announced its new gaming service, GameOn, in March 2018, allowing developers to integrate cross-platform competitions into their games. Competitions created through GameOn let players compete for real-world or in-game rewards. GameOn supports various scales of events and gives developers the ability to enable user-generated competitions. It also supports leaderboards, leagues and multi-round competitions.
Recent rumours also suggest Amazon is reportedly developing its own game streaming service. While it’s unlikely the service will be up and running until at least 2020, it’s thought Amazon has already commenced talks with game publishers. If true, this sees Amazon join a string of companies such as Google and Microsoft already exploring game streaming.
