Playbyte, a startup, wants to be the TikTok of games. Playbyte's iOS app is now available. It allows users to create and share simple games, and also offers a fullscreen vertical scrollable feed that lets them play other games. The feed, similar to TikTok's, becomes more personalized over time and serves up more of your favorite games.
Playbytes games can be created with code, but they are made using simple building blocks, emoji, and images from your iPhone's Camera Roll. Building games is an expression of self, not a learning experience.
Playbytes' 2D engine, built on web frameworks and lightweight, allows users to create games that are quick to load and play even on slower connections. You can comment and like a game after you have played it. This is very similar to the TikTok interface. Playbytes feed will show you more of your favorite games as it uses its knowledge of tags, descriptions, and imagery in-game to offer more compelling games.
Playbytes users already created a range of games with the tools at launch. These included simulators, tower defense, combat challenges and obbys as well as murder mystery and murder mystery games.
We made an app called Playbyte that lets you make games on your phone, discover games made by other users, and challenge your friends https://t.co/FFnMbKG1ls pic.twitter.com/eqhabN3kM1 Playbyte (@PlaybyteInc) May 25, 2021
Kyle Russell, Playbyte's founder and CEO, was previously with Andreessen Horowitz and Skydio. TechCrunch Playbyte was created to be more than a gaming app.
He says that we have the model in our heads for how to build a new social networking platform.
Russell explains that Instagram and TikTok were able to do the same thing as Twitter for text. It's a common practice. They started with a focus to make these experiences short. He suggests that a constrained format and dedicated tools are key elements that will allow you to succeed within this constrained format.
Playbyte games are no different. They have their limitations, too. The games have five scenes, which is a limitation due to their simplicity. This constraint has led to a new format where people make games with an intro screen that allows you to hit play. Then, you will see a story intro followed by a challenging gameplay section and finally a story outro.
Playbyte allows other game creators to reuse game assets in addition to the easy-to use game building tools. This means that if someone has more experience in creating game assets, or putting together multiple components of a game asset, then the rest can also benefit.
Russell says that we want people who don't have as much ambition to feel like creative, productive game creators. If you have an idea, such as an image of a video game, you will be able to quickly search for assets and combine those you already saved. He suggests that you just drop the assets in and start constructing something similar to Legos.
Playbyte hopes to monetize its feed by using brand advertising. For instance, creators may be able to drop sponsored assets into games. Playbyte also plans to create a patronage model in the future. It could be subscriptions, or NFTs for the games. However, this would be further down.
Although the startup was originally intended to launch as a web application in 2019, the team abandoned that plan at the end last year and created a native iOS app with its very own game engine. After previously reaching TestFlights limit of 10,000 users, the app was launched in the App Store.
It is currently gaining traction among younger teens who play TikTok or other collaborative games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite.
These young people are motivated to create their own games, but feel intimidated by the need for programming or other advanced tools. Russell also notes that they don't have access to a computer at home to access these tools.
Playbyte has received $4 million in seed and pre-seed funding from investors such as FirstMark (Rick Heitzmann), Ludlow Ventures, Jonathon Triest, and Blake Robbins, Dream Machine (former Editor at TechCrunch and Alexia Bonatsos), as well angels such Fred Ehrsam (co-founder of Coinbase); Nate Mitchell (co-founder Oculus); Ashita Achuthan (previously of Twitter); and others.
The app can be downloaded for free on the App Store.
