TechCrunch confirms that Facebook has made Facebook Credits, its official virtual currency mandatory for all app developers. All app developers will have to include Facebook's currency in its apps beginning July 1. Developers will still be able to offer their own in-game currency.
When Facebook users use Facebook Credits to make a purchase Facebook gets 30 percent of that purchase. TechCrunch says that Zynga is paying Facebook around $30 million a month for its Credits tax, which gives you an idea of how much money they make on digital purchases.
Eventually analysts believe that Facebook credits will be used for more than just buying purple cows and gold coins; eventually they expect that the virtual currency will be used to purchase other things.
Facebook believes that having a universal currency across the board works for everyone and keeps people from getting scammed by redirecting third-party offers etc. In addition, when you buy Facebook Credits you can use them in all Facebook games. That is certainly an advantage if you are one of those people that like to buy things in Facebook games.
We will see how it all pans out, but on the surface, it seems like a good idea.
Source: TechCrunch
