WeChat rolls out ‘instant games’ you don’t need to install

Already China’s most-used app, WeChat wants to make itself even more ubiquitous by allowing people to find and play games inside the messaging app.

WeChat, which has nearly a billion users, today rolled out a handful of what it calls “mini games.” They’re specially created games that work only within WeChat and don’t require downloading or installing.

I tried out Tiao Yi Tiao, a simple but gripping game in which the length of your press on the character dictates how far you jump:

GIF by Tech in Asia

When you get your score, you’ll also see a leaderboard among your WeChat buddies who’ve played the game as well.

I counted 16 mini games within WeChat from a variety of publishers, including Tencent Poker by WeChat parent company Tencent.

Killing off the app stores?

The move comes almost exactly a year after WeChat rolled out its “mini programs” – apps that don’t need to be downloaded and installed.

WeChat’s instant apps are gaining traction as more and more companies produce them, including global brands that are big in China like McDonald’s, KFC, and Starbucks.

Even Tesla has a WeChat mini app, allowing owners to find charging points.

Screenshot by Tech in Asia

While companies operating in China are still producing apps for iOS and Android, Tencent seems to be hoping to make both software systems and their app stores irrelevant by allowing mini apps and games to run inside its social network.

This is breaking news. We’ve contacted Tencent for further details.