Facebook has begun to roll out its new hub for social games and apps, App Centre, across Android, iOS and the Web.
The new App Centre was first announced in early May when Facebook called for developers to submit apps for inclusion. Facebook says the new hub is launching with over 600 apps, including the likes of Draw Something, Pinterest, and Nike+ GPS.
The App Centre changes the traditional model of success for Facebook apps by focusing on quality rather than popularity alone. Product manager for Facebook, Matt Wyndowe, says: “The App Centre gives you personalised recommendations, and lets you browse the apps your friends use. It only lists high-quality apps, based on feedback from people who use the app.”
Apps that are given poor user-ratings, or don't meet quality guidelines, won't be listed in the App Centre, according to Facebook. In line with this, new app rating metrics have been added to Facebook Insights in order to help developers see how users rate their apps over time.
“You can send apps you find on your computer to your mobile device using the new 'Send to Mobile' feature. If a mobile app requires a download, you'll be sent to install it from the Apple App Store or Google Play,” says Wyndowe.
One-stop-shop
While many social apps and games on Facebook have included in-app purchases, with the launch of the App Centre, paid-for apps will be available on the social network for the first time. Users will reportedly need to use Facebook Credits to purchase apps and the social network will take a 30% cut of revenue.
The App Centre is the latest development in Facebook's aim to keep its users engaged within a single eco-system. The new feature and the addition of paid-for apps could also present a new source of revenue for Facebook - especially as it could potentially help the social giant monetise its growing mobile user base.
According to Facebook, more than 230 million people play games on the social network every month. Over 130 Facebook games have over one million active users, and there are now over 4 500 timeline apps that tap into Facebook's Open Graph.
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