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Have Snapchat deleted games?

Have Snapchat deleted games?

Snapchat is a popular social media app that allows users to send photos, videos, and messages that disappear after being viewed. The app has been around since 2011 and is especially popular among teenagers and young adults. One fun feature of Snapchat that helps set it apart from other social media platforms are the games built into the app that allow users to play and compete with friends. However, in recent years Snapchat has been removing some of these gaming features, leaving users wondering if Snapchat is getting rid of games altogether.

History of Games on Snapchat

Games and gaming have been a part of Snapchat since early on. In 2012, just a year after launch, Snapchat introduced a game called SnapKart where users could race cartoon characters against friends. A few months later, Snapchat acquired a gaming company called Toyopa to help ramp up its gaming offerings. Over the next few years, Snapchat rolled out numerous mini games that tapped into the playful and silly nature of the app.

Some of Snapchat’s most popular early games included:

– SnapKart: a MarioKart-style racing game
– Snake Squad: a snake game where you grow your squad
– Trophies: an augmented reality game to collect trophies
– Lenses: AR lenses that turned you into a dancing hot dog or vomiting rainbows

Games were accessible from the Chat section of Snapchat and allowed friends to play head-to-head in real time. There were leaderboards so you could see who got the high score. Snapchat also created sponsored games and lenses in collaboration with big brands. Games became a fun way for Snapchatters to interact and an important part of the app experience.

The Pivot Away From Games

While games were a big part of Snapchat for many years, in 2018 Snapchat slowly started to move away from the casual gaming features. It began with removing the dedicated games tab in chat and made some of the original games harder to access.

Over the next couple of years, Snapchat discontinued supporting many of its once popular games like SnapKart, Trophy Case, and Paint Squad. By 2021, only a handful of games remained like Bitmoji Party, Bitmoji Tennis, Subway Surfers Airtime, and Zynga games like Tiny Royale.

Snapchat’s shift away from casual games was part of a greater pivot towards being more of a communication and camera company rather than just another social media platform. Snap wanted Snapchat to be differentiated and saw gaming as more of a distraction than a core feature.

Snapchat began focusing more on media content, augmented reality lenses, and messaging. Resources were shifted from maintaining games to developing more engaging AR experiences. While you can still play some games in Snapchat, gaming took a backseat to Snap’s long-term strategy.

Impact on Users

For many Snapchat users, the disappearance of games changed the way they used the app. Games were a fun way to interact and goof off with friends in Snapchat. Without as many gaming options, some users spent less time in the app.

However, not all users are disappointed by Snapchat moving on from games. Those mainly using Snapchat for communication and don’t care as much about games likely didn’t notice or mind the change.

Some impacts on Snapchat users as games disappeared include:

– Less reason to interact on Snapchat when not chatting or sharing stories
– Switching to other apps like Facebook Messenger for casual gaming with friends
– Spending less total time using Snapchat daily or weekly
– Missing some of the silly, goofy aspects of Snapchat that games brought
– Finding Snapchat a bit more “boring” without the variety of games

Ultimately it depends on how central gaming was to each individual’s use of Snapchat. Heavy gamers were impacted the most while others didn’t notice much difference.

The Future of Gaming on Snapchat

While Snapchat has moved away from the small mini games of the past, gaming still likely has some future on the platform. In 2021, Snap acquired a gaming developer called Pixelopoly to help develop new augmented reality games.

Snap sees potential in creating engaging, made-for-mobile AR games as the next generation of gaming. These games integrate both digital and physical elements leveraging smartphone cameras and environments.

Some possibilities for future games on Snapchat include:

– AR scavenger hunts in real world locations
– Multiplayer AR games against friends
– Premium licensed games based on popular franchises
– AR games that encourage physical movement
– Sponsored branded games promoting products or events

Snapchat probably won’t return to the basic mini games of old. However, expect innovative AR gaming experiences tailored to Snapchat to emerge as the platform continues to evolve. Gaming on Snapchat isn’t dead but is maturing into something much different than before.

Conclusion

Snapchat has significantly scaled back the gaming capabilities and mini games within its app since 2018. Classic Snapchat games like SnapKart and Trophy Case have been removed as Snapchat focuses more on augmented reality and messaging.

This pivot away from casual games has changed the way some users interact with Snapchat and lowered time spent in-app for former gamers. However, Snapchat sees potential in fresh AR gaming experiences aligned with its capabilities.

While gaming won’t disappear from Snapchat, expect it to take on a new form in future. The days of simple mini games are likely over. But new AR games leveraging cameras and locations could emerge as Snapchat continues to innovate. The platform is maturing past just being a place for silly games and into a more holistic communication and engagement channel.

Year Key Gaming Developments on Snapchat
2011 Snapchat app launches without any gaming features
2012 SnapKart racing game introduced as Snapchat’s first game
2012 Snapchat acquires gaming company Toyopa to expand gaming capabilities
2013-2017 New gaming hits like Snake Squad, Trophy Case, Lenses become popular
2018 Snapchat removes dedicated games tab and access to some games
2019-2021 Most original Snapchat games discontinued
2021 Snapchat acquires AR gaming company Pixelopoly signaling a future focus on AR games

Snapchat burst onto the social media scene in 2011 and instantly appealed to younger users with its disappearing photo and video messages. While the core product focused on visual communication, Snapchat soon moved into offering interactive mini games as well in its chat section.

For years, games like SnapKart, Trophy Case, Snake Squad, and Lenses were a popular way for friends to goof off and compete in Snapchat. However, Snapchat decided to pivot away from these simplistic games in 2018 as part of its maturation as a company.

Resources were shifted from maintaining mini games to developing the augmented reality and messaging capabilities that Snapchat saw as its future. As a result, most of Snapchat’s original gaming titles were removed from the app by 2021.

This disappointed some heavy gaming users who spent less time on Snapchat without those gaming options. However, Snapchat sees potential in developing new and innovative AR gaming experiences tailored to mobile. Rather than basic mini games, expect future Snapchat gaming to leverage smartphone cameras, locations, and premium licensed content.

While gaming is not disappearing entirely from Snapchat, it is evolving from the early days of simple mini games. As Snapchat pursues its future as an AR and engagement platform, any gaming will likely complement those broader strategies. The social media app is maturing past just being a place for silly games and into a more full-featured communication channel.