Snapchat has discontinued Snap Games and it is no longer accessible through Android, iPhone or the web. Snap Games was launched by Snapchat in 2019 and gained popularity, with over 200 million users playing interactive video games within the Snapchat application by 2021. In July 2022, Snapchat released Ghost Phone which was one of the multiple games available on the platform and used extensive augmented reality features along with a captivating plot.
The game feature in Snapchat chat is no longer available, as confirmed by the company’s support website. The Minis feature has also been discontinued. Snapchat has clarified that they will now focus on products that benefit creators and viewers, according to their official Twitter support account. Previously, Snapchat users could tap on a rocket icon in chat to access games like Bitmoji Party, Snake Squad, Tiny Royale, Aquapark, and Alphabear Hustle.
Although many users enjoyed Snap Games, it seems that they will not be making a comeback on the app. This news may have come as a shock to fans, but there were indications that games and Minis were on their way out, such as a recent filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on August 26th, 2022. In this filing, it was revealed that Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, had ceased investing in Snap Originals, Minis, Games, and the Pixy drone.
In the company’s official document, it was stated that the mentioned projects were not aligned with its main objectives, which included community growth, revenue growth, and augmented reality. This decision was made in conjunction with a workforce reduction of 20% to reduce costs due to poor revenue growth. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until February 2023 that Snap Inc. got rid of Snap Games from the platform. Alongside Games and Minis, Snapchat also stopped the production of its Pixy drone shortly after an excessively promoted launch.
VentureBeat’s 2021 report stated that approximately 30 million Snapchat users engaged in Snap Games each month. Games were evidently a highly favored component of the app, and their removal seems to have been motivated by financial concerns. It remains unknown whether or not Snapchat will ultimately revive the games; however, it would be reasonable to reintroduce them for Snapchat+ subscribers in a restricted manner later on.
Snapchat Games were one-of-a-kind because most social media and messaging apps don’t have games available to play while chatting. For Snapchat users who miss playing games, an excellent alternative option is Game Pigeon, which includes over 20 games, such as 8-Ball, Anagrams, Chess, Checkers, Basketball, Mini Golf, and more. The app can only be accessed through iMessage and is not yet available for Android users. Although Snapchat’s games are no longer available, Game Pigeon can serve as a decent replacement as long as everyone in a person’s friend group has an iPhone.