Back when Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) wasn't a company with an under-the-water IPO, it tended to swagger around, getting developers to jump through hoops of its own making.
Now, a more humble Facebook is refining its platform business to industry norms.
Let's be friends
Alongside the recent integration deal with Apple's iOS 6, comes news that from July it's letting publishers roll out monthly subscriptions. These are still split 70:30 in terms of revenue, as with in-app purchases.
Companies such as KIXEYE and Zynga are already testing these methods, especially in terms of premium virtual items.
And more significant is that Facebook is retreating from demands that publishers and developers charge users - whether IAP or subscriptions - using its Facebook Credits currency.
One of many friction points between it and key game players (notably Zynga), Facebook is now opening up, enabling developers to exchange real world currency for whatever in-game currency of gems, gold coins or warbucks etc that content companies want to funnel their users' dollars, euros, yen and pounds into.
You win
This is a big philosophical shift, given that users could have used Facebook Credits across all games on the platform. The new approach locks payment into the currency used in a single publisher's or developers' games.
At least, Facebook is now aligned with other platforms such as Apple's App Store and Google's Play marketplace.
[source: Facebook]
News
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
Top Stories
News
May 11th, 2024
PocketGamer.biz Podcast Week in Views E11 - Xbox in turmoil, Krafton champions AI development, and Apple's iPad challenge
News
May 10th, 2024
Unity says restructure that saw mass layoffs is now complete as it posts Q1 2024 revenue decline
Feature
23 minutes ago
Hot Five: Dubai's new Gaming Visa, April's mobile game charts, and Xbox studio closures
News
May 10th, 2024
Week in Views - Xbox's mobile games store is doomed to fail, Sonic meets the Angry Birds, and Apple's iPad problem
Events
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
GamesBeat Summit 2024 | North America | May 20th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Nordic Game Spring 2024 | Nordic | May 21st |
Impact 2024 - Indie Games | May 23rd | |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |