New Snapchat functions: games area, own shows and more AR features are coming
from David Wurm 
on April 06, 2019, 17:22 p.m. | Write a comment
Snapchat is probably working hard to make Messenger a little more popular again. The service has been going downhill for a long time. Now new functions should ensure more fun and a longer stay in the app.
At the Snap Partner Summit in Los Angeles, the new features were presented to the public, such as GSMArena reported. There should be a games area where you can play different games with friends. In addition, the lenses are to be equipped with further AR functions and even their own shows are planned. A brief overview of the new functions.
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Snap Games: Messenger gets its own games area
In the future, as already known from Facebook, you should be able to play various games with friends. These games do not have to be downloaded, but can be started directly in the chat. Now the first games have already been mentioned, which can be played for free at the start. "Bitmoji Party", "Tiny Royale", "Snake Squad", "CATS Drift Race", "Zombie Rescue Squad" and "Alphabear Hustle" are among the current offerings.
An installation of the respective game is not necessary to play. It is enough to start a game together with a friend in the chat. Here you can either play alone or at the same time, and see each other in the game, and can also talk together via voice chat. The function is currently to be rolled out for the first beta users on Android and iOS.
Snapchat Discover: Shows scheduled in the app
The public media stories in Snapchat are becoming more and more interesting - the length of stay for this content in the “Discover” area is said to have more than tripled in 2018. So they want to increase this even more in the future, and in addition to news from publishers and the media, they will also offer their own shows there in the future. Specifically, these should be displayed completely in full-screen format and portrait mode. These should be visible in the app for free - there are plans to include documentaries, scripted reality, comedies and teen dramas in its offer. It should only be about exclusive content and recurring classics. After all, these shows should impress and encourage viewing.
What exactly will be the content here and what the quality of the shows in German will be remains to be seen. The rollout should follow in the coming months. This function is also planned for both Android and iOS users.
Snap Lenses: New Features and More AR
The Snapchat lenses, which work by means of AR (Augmented Reality), should now be even better. In the future, it should be possible to scan items of clothing or objects in the vicinity and receive suitable suggestions from partners. Corresponding shops could cooperate with Snapchat here and encourage people to buy various items directly in the app. As with Google Lenses, there should also be corresponding suggestions directly in the app - for example when scanning a sight or a painting.
The Lens Studio, where you can create your own lenses, has also been updated. There you can create your own lenses and share them directly with contacts and friends. There are some new functions there, in general the user experience should have been improved a bit. In addition, they are now cooperating with artists around the world to create their own lenses for landmarks. There should also be cooperation with Photomath, with which Snapchat users can solve mathematical equations in the camera.
AR lens example on the Eiffel Tower. (Image: Snapchat)
How long it will take for all functions to arrive in your app cannot be said exactly. First you will start with a beta version for some users, only then will the functions be visible to everyone.
