TikTok looking to implement Video Games in a move to reel in a wider audience.

Over the past few years, TikTok has taken the World by storm by providing users a much more innovative approach to consuming video content, as it reaches over 1 Billion monthly active users with some Markets even putting the Platform ahead of YouTube in terms of watch time. Now it seems, TikTok is diving into the foray of Video Games, specifically HTML5 games, with their active testing of those games well under way.

The Gaming Precedence

Although a wholly new aspect for TikTok itself, Video Game implementation is not however an uncharted element to the Company’s Competitors and Predecessors. Most notably, ‘Douyin’ the TikTok equivalent app operating specifically in China, already featured the ability to play Video Games on its Platform in the form of a plethora of various mini-games. Apart from Douyin, Facebook and Netflix have also recently made moves with regards to Video Game implementation within their respective platforms, specifically targeting Mobile Games. Moreover, this foray into Video Games is not something new for TikTok itself as well, as the Platform has already developed one in-app mini-game known as ‘Garden of Good’, a game that plays akin to the famous ‘FarmVille’ series of games. This implementation was TikTok effort to create a seamless marriage of an Enjoyable User Experience and Supporting the Content Creators on the platform itself. This was possible through ‘Garden of Good’, because it allowed the players to earn points as they play, and then utilize those same points to make donations.

TikTok’s plan for their Games

As per the transcripts of the report, TikTok intends to begin testing HTML5 mini-games. These games specialize in providing the users the ability to play games directly from their modern web browser without the need of any third part plugins. HTML5 is the replacement intended to the now discontinued Flash and Unity Web Players, and it is currently the preferred technology used to make web-based games. The plan TikTok hopes to implement is to introduce ad-supported games that are directly related to their parent company, ByteDance’s packed library of games, with the initial adoption of games aiming for shorter playing times and simplicity in its gameplay mechanics in order to make them more accessible to as much people as possible. The intention behind this is to boost the platform’s revenue through attracting a wider group of people that could potentially encourage them to spend more time using the TikTok app. The Company has stated that it is always on the lookout to create more value for their community through their platform, if these Video Game implementation work out the way that the Company itself intends them to, then this will surely bring with it a whole new consumer-base, and in turn a new model for monetization for TikTok. Currently, TikTok has announced its partnership with Zynga, to develop their first HTML5 game, ‘Disco Loco 3D’ which is to be released exclusively on TikTok.

Exploring the avenue of LIVE Games

Besides the aforementioned HTML5 developed mini-games, reports have also suggested that TikTok is actively working on delving into LIVE games as well. The report in question states that the Company is currently working to introduce mini-games within their LIVE Videos in their app. The reasons behind this venture is to create a more interactive experience between the Content Creators and their Fans, as both will be empowered to play Video Games together during LIVE Video Sessions, enhancing their overall TikTok using experience. These LIVE Games could initially include games akin to Pictionary, in which both the Content Creators and the Fans can play together in real-time through the feature of Screen-sharing.