Facebook developing desktop gaming platform

Facebook announced that it's working with game engine Unity to create a downloadable desktop gaming platform. It's also building upon the gaming experience on Facebook to offer you more distractions from being productive.

This gaming platform will allow publishers to distribute their mobile games on desktop, give the casual games that Facebook is known for a new home, and support more traditional PC games.

Game developers are being invited to apply for limited alpha access, which means it could be a while before it is available to users.

Facebook previously announced a desktop gaming platform under the name Facebook Games Arcade, though it is now simply being referred to as the "new Facebook PC gaming platform."

Facebook is trying to strike back against mobile app stores. In Q4 2014 it earned a peak of $257 million in payment taxes; this fell to $197 million last quarter. This new platform will also see it compete with Steam. After Facebook's acquisition of Oculus, it's important to have a desktop presence to further promote VR games.