These days everyone seems to be getting out of gaming, but TikTok wants in.
According to a new report by the Financial Times, TikTok is about to launch a gaming tab on its app, allowing users to play mobile games. These games will feature ads, and users will be able to pay for additional content, the report claims.
TikTok first started testing games in Vietnam in May. The service’s moderators in Europe were tasked with testing games ahead of launch, says the Financial Times, citing two people with inside knowledge.
All of this could be announced on November 2, when TikTok is hosting its « first global gaming event, » with the tagline « TikTok Made Me Play It.«
« The future of gaming is here—and it’s happening on TikTok. Leading publishers are launching games on our platform as culturally relevant entertainment properties, building communities, and inspiring broader entertainment audiences to discover and play their games, » reads a description on the event’s website.
Some of TikTok’s competitors haven’t had much luck with gaming, though. Snapchat launched playable games in 2019 only to announce it would shut down gaming in August, and Facebook is shutting down its gaming platform on Friday, Oct. 28. Netflix, which launched its gaming product last year, recently said it would double down and push into cloud gaming as well as launch more games.