Crytek unveils GFACE social gaming platform

By Fred Dutton Published 2 February, 2012

Freemium-only service now in closed beta.

Crysis developer Crytek has unveiled a new online social gaming platform called GFACE.

The service is currently in closed beta, with no firm release date set.

According to its website, it'll offer both casual and core free-to-play games. No specific titles have been confirmed, although Crytek's forthcoming online shooter Warface can be seen in some of the screenshots.

It'll run through a browser, though an image on the site also suggests it'll be Android and iOS compatible. Games will be streamed straight to your device, with no downloading necessary.

As well as gaming, it'll also offer various social networking features, such as chat, image and movie sharing, and virtual parties.

"GFACE enables its users to discover and experience entertainment together in real time," commented Crytek boss Cevat Yerli.

"'Play. Together. Live' encompasses our mission to re-imagine the way we play, the way we interact with each other - live in an entirely new way. We want everybody to play everywhere for free."

Crytek's other current projects include Kinect action title Ryse and the next entry in THQ's Homefront FPS franchise.

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About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 3 weeks ago

  • Phantom_Dynamite #1 3 weeks ago

    SHOW ME YOUR GFACE!

  • Dizzy #2 3 weeks ago

    So many companies are wasting money in the hope something will stick TBH.

  • CaptainQuint #3 3 weeks ago

    'Play. Together. Live'

    'Then watch us abandon the project completely, leaving nothing but a buggy glitch-fest and a quickly dwindling usership'

    'CRYTEK SOFTWARE'

  • Shotofen #4 3 weeks ago

    I will show bitches my OFACE on GFACE while playing WARFACE.

    Until they use their mace :(

  • marmaduke #5 3 weeks ago

    "GFACE enables its users to discover and experience entertainment together in real time,"

    Sort of like having a computer then?

  • Trigg3rHippie #6 3 weeks ago

    I seriously lost count of all the services, netwoks, sites, groups I'm signed up with. Everyone is pushing their stuff in your face all the time and I know it's a business model and marketing blah, blah.
    It's cool that Crytek wants to develop sth for free (or they will stuff their service with bunch of freemium games, I hope that will not be the case) but we will see how popular it's gonna be.
    They must've done some market research but they might as well fall flat right on their (G)face. We shall see.

  • uninspiredcup #7 3 weeks ago

    Cool. Will this add prone, lean and other non consolized features to Crysis 2?

  • KanePaws #8 3 weeks ago

    I hate the word "freemium."

  • drSchiwago #9 3 weeks ago

    Interesting, I cannot believe that Crytek will provide enough content for the four different games types on its own, WarFace will only cover one sector.

    There's already a separate company (Gface GmbH), this provide several advantages. If it's not working, the game studio company could still survive, it's also easier to get partners on board. In contrast, I guess that Valve is still one monolithic construction (game studio & publisher & platform holder within one company).

    The website suggests that it could be possible to join the same game on different platforms (PC, phone, tablet) with different roles based on the respective platform, this would be something unique and interesting, if I understand this correctly.

    Interesting to see how they compete with OnLive. The streaming service market is very promising, esp. when considering that the console manufacturers will jump that train in the near future (e.g. Microsoft's set-top box edition).

    Assuming that streaming & social network service is the next big thing, this could be a smart move. The chosen timing is also not bad, the technology has just proven itself but its still some years away from becoming a mass phenomenon.
    Edited by 2 at 02/02/12 @ 19:18

  • Iain815 #10 3 weeks ago

    Awful name, mainly because this is all I think of when read it.

  • the_mtfr #11 3 weeks ago

    Friendface.

  • 5h1nj1 #12 3 weeks ago

    Oh no. Another of these sh*ts. Concentrate on games! Real games! What is it with game studios these days? Did they all switch to reta*d mode?