Popular messaging app Viber expands into games

Voice, video and messaging service Viber has launched its own mobile games client, Viber Games.

Viber Games has already launched in Belarus, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore and the Ukraine. A staggered global rollout is planned over the coming months. Viber’s messaging service boasted more than 100m monthly active users at the start of 2014.

"This major expansion of our platform gives people another completely new way to connect with Viber," company CEO Talmon Marco said. "It’s an important step for us and we are looking forward to the response from our users."

The company is relying on third-party development partners for its Steam-like platform at launch, teaming up with Storm8 for titles Viber Candy Mania and Viber Pop and Playtika for Wild Luck Casino.

All three games are free-to-play, and each title utilizes Viber Connect – a private API that adds in-game achievements and allows members of the chat service to see what their friends are playing and invite them into hosted games.