As part of the ongoing trend of streaming platforms like Netflix adding games to their services, TikTok is now planning a push into the gaming world.
According to a report by Reuters, TikTok is currently testing the addition of minigames to its app starting with a pilot period in Vietnam.
Anonymous sources told Reuters that the platform has plans to expand its test to other areas in Southeast Asia in the third quarter. Additionally, they claimed that TikTok’s plans for gaming will eventually expand beyond minigames, signaling a new era for the video-sharing app.
It’s unknown when or if the games being tested in Vietnam might launch to a wider audience. However, TikTok already has a few HTML5 games available for users in the United States, including Zynga’s endless runner Disco Loco 3D.
This isn’t ByteDance’s — TikTok’s parent company — first foray into the gaming world. The company already owns Pixmain and Nuverse, two video game publishers. Douyin, a version of TikTok available in China, also offered games to its users since 2019.
According to Reuters, TikTok will likely utilize ByteDance’s library of games for its in-app games.
And TikTok isn't stopping there. The app recently saw the addition of an invisible dislike button and is also testing out subscriptions for influencers’ feeds.
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.
