LinkedIn to Add Gaming to Its Platform

LinkedIn, the social platform owned by Microsoft, is expanding its horizons beyond networking and professional development by delving into the world of gaming.

With over 1 billion users, LinkedIn has established itself as a go-to platform for career-minded individuals and recruiters. Now, in a bid to increase user engagement, the company is venturing into gaming territory.

TechCrunch has uncovered LinkedIn's plans to introduce gaming experiences to its platform. This move is inspired by the success of simple puzzle games like Wordle, which have garnered viral popularity and attracted millions of players. Among the early game concepts in development are titles like "Queens," "Inference," and "Crossclimb."

App researchers have stumbled upon code hinting at LinkedIn's gaming endeavors. One researcher, Nima Owji, noted that LinkedIn may be exploring the idea of ranking player scores based on their workplaces, effectively allowing companies to compete for top rankings.

A LinkedIn spokesperson has confirmed the company's foray into gaming but has not disclosed a specific launch date. According to the spokesperson, LinkedIn aims to introduce puzzle-based games to inject some fun into the platform, foster deeper connections among users, and facilitate meaningful conversations.

It's worth noting that the images shared by researchers are not the final versions, indicating that LinkedIn's gaming project is still in progress.

While LinkedIn embarks on its gaming venture, its parent company Microsoft reigns as a gaming giant. With holdings like Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and ZeniMax, Microsoft's gaming business generated $7.1 billion in revenue last quarter, surpassing Windows revenues for the first time.

Although LinkedIn has traditionally been associated with professional networking, the popularity of gaming presents a lucrative opportunity for the platform.

Puzzle-based casual games are particularly popular among mobile users, and integrating gaming experiences could drive user engagement and traffic.

Other non-gaming platforms, such as The New York Times, have successfully integrated gaming elements to enhance user experiences.

Despite some platforms experiencing mixed results with gaming initiatives, LinkedIn remains committed to exploring new features that resonate with its audience and align with its focus on professional development and networking.