Facebook Joins the Cloud Gaming Platform Crowd

Google's got one, Amazon's got one -- it was only a matter of time before Facebook decided they also wanted to get in on the streaming game. Called "Facebook Gaming", this cloud-based streaming platform isn't designed for triple-A titles - rather, it's a social gaming hub designed so you can enjoy your free-to-play games on whatever medium you so choose.

"Today we’re announcing that Facebook Gaming has launched several cloud-streamed games in the Facebook app and on browser — playable instantly, with no downloads required. We recently had 200,000 people playing our cloud-streamed games per week in limited regions, so while it’s not exactly a secret, I'm excited to lay out what we're building."

Probably the most interesting thing about Facebook Gaming is what it's not: they advertise from the very start that this isn't supposed to replace your consoles or "wow" you with the hardware. Rather, the objective here just appears to be making it easier for you to access your favorite casual games -- and of course, spend money on them. They themselves probably say it best.

"Cloud game streaming promises to deliver unprecedented access to games across every screen. And while we’re thrilled to play a part in that future, that future is a ways off. So before we talk about our aspirations, let me start with what we’re not doing. Cloud gaming announcements are prone to hype, so I’m going to speak openly from the outset."

That's an admirable way to approach this, although it does remind me a little bit of the Ouya: they were offering something a bit similar, a chance to play your favorite Android games on the big screen. While this is very different on paper and in price point, I can't help but wonder if the ultimate goal -- giving you mobile gaming on the big screen -- is fundamentally the problem.

We'll see, I guess.