Facebook Launches Own Gaming Hub Fb.gg, Giving Twitch a Run for Its Money

Twitch may have found a staunch rival in Facebook after the social media giant launched its own gaming-focused page, Fb.gg, on Thursday.

Since Facebook launched the live video streaming feature for regular users and widely followed personalities and organizations, it has also been a very a useful service to the millions of gaming fans on the social media site.

Simply typing Fb.gg on a browser’s address bar will redirect people to Facebook’s Gaming Video page. Fans might also notice the link’s reference to the popular gamer greeting “GG,” which means “good game.”

Fb.gg features a section where fans can easily view a list of gaming creators and video games they are following. Users can also choose from an array of video streams to watch under the “Live Now” panel. With the launch of Fb.gg, all gaming creators and followers can now find gaming content they like without missing Facebook messages and notification from friends.

As expected, currently popular video games like “Fortnite” and “PUBG” easily became some of the most followed titles on Fb.gg. The Verge reported that Fb.gg has already attracted streamers and viewers whose number is strikingly close to the current figures on Twitch.

As of this writing, there have already been close to 3,000 live streams on Fb.gg which have accumulated over 238,000 viewers. Live "PUBG" streaming now numbers over 3,400 and was viewed by more than 95,000 fans within the first day of Fb.gg.

Facebook has already shown interest in catering to the interests of gaming creators and fans. It obviously does not want to miss out on the projected $170 billion market value of the gaming industry this year.

Meanwhile, to really have an equal footing with a platform like Twitch, Facebook needs to have programs that will convince gaming creators that the social media giant is ready to support them. This is likely the reason why Facebook also announced the Level Up Program on Thursday which is aimed at emerging streamers.

One of the highlighted benefits of getting into the Level Up Program is the chance to earn money through the Facebook Stars service, which basically works like a tipping system so fans can support their favorite streamers by buying and sending creators some "virtual goods."