Facebook Credits Mandatory For All Games From July

Facebook has confirmed that it will be requiring developers to use its Facebook Credits system for all items spent on the social network’s games.

The Credits system cuts the money received from players in the standard 30/70 split, with Facebook taking the smaller sum. This differs from the current method where developer take all of the cash, with this change being something which may cause concern to game makers.

TechCrunch initially broke the story, with Facebook then confirming the site’s account saying that from July 1st 2011 Credits will be only way to get real money into games.

Once bought by the user, Facebook Credits can be turned into money for games such as FarmVille or whatever title you’re playing, leaving game-specific currencies intact. However, developers will get added incentives (such as more prominent advertising) if they use the Credits to actually sell their in-game items.

Facebook argue that the credits are better for users as it means a unified system for buying credits. Of course, there’s also the 30% cut that Facebook get.

GamesIndustry.biz notes the rumoured $835 million which is made through transactions on the site, a figure that would certainly be a boost to Facebook’s revenue. TechCrunch say that they’ve heard that Zynga already pays Facebook $30 million a month through the scheme which they joined last May.

Facebook have been talking to various large developers for a while. Many, such as Zynga and EA, are big enough that if they opposed the move there would be a bit of a storm for Facebook, but now that the large companies are on board it’s time for everyone else to get in line.