Microsoft working on games for Microsoft Teams

Testing of casual games within Teams has begun.

Microsoft has begun bringing casual games to its Microsoft Teams service. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the software maker has begun testing games such as Solitaire, Connect 4 and Wordament within Microsoft Teams. The casual games are designed for colleagues to play against each other during meetings.

While you won’t be playing Halo or Forza in Teams anytime soon, Microsoft is clearly looking at games as another way to enhance the meeting experience as companies continue to balance the needs of hybrid and remote working.

Microsoft is currently only testing casual games internally from its Casual Games offering, and the company might choose not to roll out this integration to consumers and businesses. Microsoft declined to comment on the testing of games within Microsoft Teams.

In addition to testing casual games in Teams, Microsoft envisions virtual spaces in Teams where colleagues can network and socialize with games. These virtual spaces are part of Microsoft’s broader metaverse plans, and the company previously detailed its ambitions for 3D avatars and immersive meetings expected to arrive in Microsoft Teams this year.

Microsoft has continually added features to Teams with remote working in mind. Together Mode was one of the first additions from the Pandemic era nearly two years ago, and Microsoft Teams has also been updated with remote-friendly views and features and mobile improvements.

Source: theverge