The world’s favourite instant messaging service launches Games Tab making the best casual games more social

Sydney, Australia. Friday, 10th December 2010: Windows Live Messenger 2011 has launched a new social Games Tab today, enabling its 4 million Australian Messenger users to play popular casual games for free whilst enjoying all the traditional Messenger chat features – blurring the line between “casual” and “social” gaming.

Messenger Games Tab delivers a socially infused casual gaming experience, linking to a player’s Windows Live and Facebook networks and integrating across platforms to offer truly connected game-play with status updates, game challenges, leader-boards and more.

“We’ve made it easier to find and play the games you love while connecting to the people who matter most,” said Alex Parsons, Director of Marketing and MSN Products, ninemsn.
“You can invite friends to play with you side-by-side within the conversation window, or you can play solo, and then challenge your friends afterwards when you post your high score. Users can connect with friends and play games, but also see their friends’ favourite titles, and even enjoy HD video chat while playing.”

The new Games Tab launches with over 60 popular casual games for Australian Messenger users including favourites like Bejeweled, Plants vs Zombies and Cubis. Games will continue to be added from leading publishers such as Microsoft Games Studios, iWin, PopCap Games Inc., Arkadium Inc. and GameHouse.

Further enhancing the social aspect of the Messenger Games Tab, users will be able to see which of their online friends are playing so they can challenge them to a game or chat.

In Australia, 4 million people use Messenger with a total of 81 million chat sessions every month*, making it the nation’s most popular instant messaging service.

The new Messenger 2011 with games tab is available for download at http://www.windowslive.com.au