Wechat shows the way forward for Facebook
China's WeChat has for years been an all-in-one app.
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FACEBOOK recently launched a new "Instant Games" platform as part of its Messenger app. Instead of downloading yet another game from Apple iTunes or Google Play, users can now play games directly through Messenger, without ever leaving Facebook.
These lightweight, HTML5-based games are designed to be "asynchronous", where players take turns to make a move without the need to be online at the same time. Think of it like playing chess. Popular titles include arcade classics such as Pac-man, to more modern favourites such as EverWing.
But the idea for a messenger app to bundle games and other app-like services is not new. China's WeChat has been doing this for years. Owned by the country's largest gaming company, Tencent, WeChat was initially modelled off WhatsApp, but has since integrated social media with free messaging and calls.
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