Facebook Creates Its Own Gaming App

Facebook launches its own app for game creators on its platform

Photo by Alex Haney on Unsplash

Good news for game creators! Facebook creates its own gaming app on its platform very recently.

Here’s how you can get started:

Create a Gaming Video Creator Page

To start streaming games on Facebook, you will need to set up a Gaming Video Creator Page. This Page is what you will use to stream and build an audience. It’s the place where you’ll curate clips, host former broadcasts and post relevant content for your fans.

Here are the steps:

1. Go to the Gaming Page Creator. Click this to go there.
2. Enter a name for your Page.
3. Select Continue.
4. Select Upload a Profile Picture or Skip.
5. Select Upload a Cover Photo or Skip.
6. Select Send Notifications to alert your friends about your new Page, or select Not Now to skip this step.

Build Your Streaming Page

Create a page to connect with your Facebook friends, fans and the gaming community on Facebook.

Note: Streams made from your Gaming Video Creator Pages are curated for viewers at fb.gg. Your Page and feed will have the custom url: fb.gg/[Your Page Name].

Set Up

Install Streamlabs, OBS, or XSPLIT software to record video, set up a scene, and monetize your stream.

Go Live

Stream the action live as you play, while reaching and engaging your Facebook friends and fellow gamers.

Here are the things that you need to do:

Setting Up Your Page

Titles, Captions, and Tags

Use relevant tags to help your content show up for your desired audience. If you’re playing a game on PC or console, mention the game and console in the title and add the game’s name to your stream’s tags. This way, you’re more likely to show up to interested audiences. For the title, use the game’s name, keywords, and enticing language to draw the viewer in.

While writing your stream’s caption, remember that readers remember the first line, so make the most of it. You can include other relevant info later in the post.

If you need to edit this information when you’re live or after, you can edit stream information in one click, right from the Streamer Dashboard under the Stream Edit module.

Notifications

The more viewers that follow and opt into notifications by clicking “following”, the more watch time you’ll get out of your streams. Remind viewers to do this when live during your stream. Asking viewers to follow or like your Page in your post is considered engagement bait and discouraged.

Stream Settings

Video Quality Settings

Here are Facebook’s recommendations for best video quality, but note that this varies depending on the game you are streaming. You should experiment and see what works best for your set up and preferred game. Note: OBS bitrate is in Kbps, so 10Mbps is 10,000 in OBS.

For 1080p60fps — use 6Mbps

For 1080p30fps — use 6Mbps

For 720p60fps — use 3Mbps

For 720p30fps — use 3Mbps

You may need to regenerate your stream key if you’re currently using a persistent one.

Encoding

Below are several x264 spec options depending on the game you’re playing. Play around with your preset until you find something that works for you. You’d want to stream at a higher resolution for games with text, even with a low bitrate. For those who have lower upstream bandwidth, it’s better to lower your bitrate to make sure you don’t drop frames instead of pumping it up at the risk of stuttering.

1080p 60fps

Higher quality, slower content (card games, games with a lot of text)

Resolution: 1920x1080

Bitrate: 6000 kbps

Framerate: 60 fps

720p 60fps

Action games (i.e. first-person shooters)

Resolution: 1280x720

Bitrate: 4500 kbps

Framerate: 60 fps

720p 30fps

Good starting point for most set ups

Resolution: 1280x720

Bitrate: 3000 kbps

Framerate: 30 fps

These settings are the same across the various set ups.

Rate Control: CBR

Keyframe Interval: 2 seconds

Preset: very fast and adjust as needed

Profile: Main/High

The most successful creators on Facebook post regularly. Plan when you’re going to stream and make sure your viewers are aware of your streaming schedule. By adhering to a schedule, you build excitement and engagement with your viewers, because they know when to tune in. Add your schedule to the About section of your Page so your viewers have quick access to it.

On Facebook, you can stream up to 8 hours at a time. To maximize viewership, make your stream a show people want to watch the whole way through. Whether you choose a mini-challenge or a theme, it will keep viewers more engaged than a freeform stream. Your stream will become a must-see event, and truly entertaining streams may even see viewers stay for a longer time — whether it’s Live or VoD.

Now that you’re all set up with your Gaming Video Creator Page and know how to go live, the real work begins. There are many tools at your disposal and the Facebook Gaming team is constantly adding more as they continue to evolve their platform.

What are you waiting for? Join Facebook’s global community of gamers and shape its creator-first gaming platform. Click here to signup and get started.

Thank you for reading this Facebook creates its own gaming app story. Share this to the gamers in your family and friends if you liked this. You can follow me on Medium if you’d like and also subscribe to this publication’s newsletter.

Check out the other Facebook and Instagram articles below. Until next time. Take care of yourself and each other. May you and your family stay Covid free.

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