Now.gg, a cloud-based mobile gaming platform, has announced the launch of the NowStore, an innovative app store integrated within Telegram, which will cater specifically to mobile games and AI applications. This new development allows game developers to publish their titles directly to Telegram, enabling users to access and play these games instantly within the messaging app.

This announcement was made by the Campbell, California-based company during the Gamescom event in Cologne, Germany. The introduction of the NowStore marks a significant expansion in the distribution options available to mobile developers, especially in the rapidly growing web3 gaming sector.

TON Blockchain

A key feature of the NowStore is its integration with the TON (The Open Network) blockchain, allowing users to make in-app purchases using TON cryptocurrency. This feature aligns with the emerging trends in the mobile gaming market, where blockchain technology is increasingly becoming a staple, particularly within the context of web3 games.

By integrating with Now.gg's nowSDK, developers can publish their mobile games and AI apps not only to Telegram but also to other platforms including PC, Mac, cloud/browser, and the Line messaging app. This integration significantly broadens the reach of these games, making them accessible to Telegram’s massive user base of over 950 million people.

TON (The Open Network) Blockchain

Expanding Opportunities for Game Developers

The introduction of the NowStore provides developers with a unique opportunity to tap into the extensive Telegram user base, which includes 20% of users who are already engaged in gaming. This positions Now.gg’s nowSDK as the third-largest distribution platform for mobile games, following Apple and Google.

For developers, the launch of NowStore represents a streamlined approach to game distribution. By utilizing Now.gg's platform, developers can manage multiple channels from a single interface, NowStudio, simplifying the process of reaching a diverse audience across various devices and platforms.

The store debuted with several popular games, including Nexus Nebula: Echoes by Magic Games, Tales & Dragons: New Journey by Lunplay, SkyVu’s Battle Bears franchise, and Juefeng’s Zombieland: Doomsday Survival and Magic Hero War. These titles are now available to all Telegram users, offering an instant and seamless gaming experience.

Now.gg Top Mobile Games

Strategic Move for Global Reach

This launch also highlights the growing importance of messaging apps as platforms for game distribution, a trend particularly evident in Asia with the rise of WeChat games in China. Now.gg’s move to integrate with Telegram is seen as a strategic effort to capture a global audience, particularly in Western markets where Telegram enjoys significant popularity.

SkyVu CEO Ben Vu expressed his enthusiasm, noting that publishing through Now.gg has given their games unprecedented access to multiple platforms, now including Telegram. Similarly, Now.gg CEO Rosen Sharma emphasized the vast opportunities this presents for developers, describing it as a merger of two massive ecosystems—mobile gaming and messaging apps.

With the NowStore, Now.gg is set to further solidify its position in the mobile gaming industry by offering developers a robust and expansive platform to reach billions of users worldwide. More information is available here.