Facebook Gaming Introduces Non-Gaming Content Hub For Partners Called ‘Hanging Out’

Facebook Gaming has debuted a new streaming tag for partnered creators — or creators who have signed a contract with Facebook to set a regular streaming quota in exchange for paychecks from the social network.

The new hub is dubbed Hanging Out, and will enable creators to connect with audiences in ways that extend beyond gameplay. Facebook likens the tab to “an IRL section for gaming creators,” which will enable them to explore a range of content formats including chatting, art, cooking, talk shows, podcasts, game design, and everything in between. (In concept, Hanging Out is not unlike Twitch’s own IRL tab, which launched in 2016 and is intended for non-gaming broadcasts of every stripe).

Hanging Out could also be used for vlogs, fan shoutouts, and product unboxings, Facebook says.

That said, certain kinds of content is ineligible to appear in Hanging Out — including sleeping streams, broadcasts where streamers are simply listening to music, or shopping channels, for instance, because the purpose of Hanging Out is to foster interaction and engagement between creators and viewers (without gaming).

Facebook says that while Hanging Out is only available to partnered creators right now, but will roll out more broadly soon.

You can check out the initial slate of Hanging Out streams right here.