Snapchat is stepping into the gaming world.
The social media platform took the wraps off of its long-awaited gaming platform, Snap Games, at the first-ever Snap Partner Summit in Santa Monica, California on Thursday.
Also at the event Snapchat debuted new augmented reality lenses, including one that lets users superimpose interactive graphics onto real-world landmarks, as well as an updated slate of original shows and new tools for advertisers.
Users can now play live multiplayer games against their friends by clicking on the rocket ship icon in the Chat bar on the app.
As part of the launch of Snap Games, which is available for all users globally starting today, the firm rolled out six games that are only available on Snapchat.
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The social media platform took the wraps off of its long-awaited gaming platform, Snap Games, at the first-ever Snap Partner Summit in Santa Monica, California on Thursday
Snapchat has launched a new interactive gaming platform within the app called Snap Games.
Users can access the games by tapping the rocket ship button in the Chat section.
The games then load immediately and let users play live games with their friends.
Currently, it features six titles:
Bitmoji Party Alphabear Hustle Crash Arena Turbo Stars Drift Race Snake Squad Zombie Rescue Squad Tiny RoyaleOne of its headline titles 'Bitmoji Party' transforms users and their friends into cartoon avatar versions of themselves in a series of 'quick, wacky mini-games,' Snapchat said.
The other titles include 'Alphabear Hustle,' 'Crash Arena Turbo Stars Drift Race,' 'Snake Squad,' 'Zombie Rescue Squad' and 'Tiny Royale,' which is developed by Zynga, the company behind many popular mobile games like Words With Friends and Farmville.
All the games are located in the Snapchat app, without the need to download them separately, meaning they launch 'instantly,' according to the firm.
With Snap Games, Snapchat is looking to outshine competitors like Google and Facebook Messenger by creating games that are easy to find and play with friends.
It's also hoping to take a bite out of the rapidly growing global game industry, which is estimated to have generated $77 billion in revenue last year.
'It's hard to get everybody to install the same game, then find friends to play with and it's hard to chat. There's way too much friction,' Will Wu, director of Snap Games, said on stage at the Partner Summit.
Pictured are some of the games included on Snapchat's new Snap Games platform. The top title, Bitmoji Party, transforms users and their friends into avatar versions of themselves
As part of the launch of Snap Games, available for users globally starting today, the firm rolled out six games that are only available on Snapchat. Pictured is Will Wu, director of Snap Games
Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel (pictured) took to the stage at the firm's Snap Partner Summit in California. Along with Snap Games, the firm also debuted new AR and camera tools
'So even if you're playing together, it doesn't really feel like you're hanging out. Snapchat has the right ingredients to break down these barriers.'
In Alphabear Hustle, players collaborate on fast-paced word games where they try to spell words as quickly as they can, in addition to collecting bears and building their own bear village.
Other games, like Zombie Rescue Squad, require users to 'rescue survivors from the hungry hordes and gather as many supplies as you can.'
Game developers can make money off of the games via in-game ads, the firm said.
