Skip to main content

Tango messaging app launches $25 million gaming fund to boost platform

In the fiercely competitive world of messaging apps, startups have to do whatever’s necessary to get noticed and take their business to the next level.

In what it claims is a first for a messaging startup, Tango has announced a global games fund for developers worth a whopping $25 million.

Recommended Videos

Coming just a year after it integrated a gaming platform into its app, the Mountain View-based company hopes the fund will serve to tempt developers into designing games for its cross-platform service.

In a post announcing the fund, Tango digital marketing strategist Sarah vanGoethem said the cash will be targeted at promoting top-performing games through paid marketing initiatives outside of Tango. It’ll also look at the possibility of investments and acquisitions in game developer teams “on a case-by-case basis,” vanGoethem said.

‘One of a kind’

Tango CEO and founder Uri Raz said on Monday he’s adamant developers will benefit from his company’s “one-of-a-kind” game distribution model.

“First, we give developers access to our highly engaged member base, 70 percent of whom play mobile games,” Raz explained. “Secondly, we give them access to platform tools that allow them to increase vitality and retention on their games. On top of that, we will be putting our marketing muscle behind off-platform user acquisition.”

The strategy to take Tango deeper into the gaming space will be spearheaded by new arrival Jim Ying, formerly of Tokyo-based GREE, a mobile social networking service with a strong focus on games. Tango’s decision to enhance its games service comes as Asia-based apps such as WeChat and Line enjoy success with similar moves.

‘Major milestone’

Tango described the move to launch a fund as “a major milestone not only for Tango, but the mobile messaging and gaming industries,” adding, “No other messaging app has made a financial commitment of this size for game developers.”

The startup landed in the mobile messaging space five years ago as a video- and voice-calling app. Since then, the free service has steadily evolved into a full-fledged social platform, allowing users to share photos, discover new music, and play games, as well as communicate with one another via text, video, or voice.

In March the company announced its global user base had crossed the 200 million mark. In the same month, it secured $280 million in funding, with Chinese Internet giant Alibaba throwing $215 million into the pot.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
The iPadOS 26 developer beta has transformed my iPad
4 windows open on the iPad Pro 11 on iPadOS 26 developer beta 1

I somewhat called it! In the run-up to WWDC 2025, I asked Apple to please introduce true multitasking to iOS (and by extension, iPadOS). We didn’t get it in iOS, but Apple did unveil an entirely new windowing system on iPadOS 26. With it, they’ve transformed the iPad for me and likely for millions of customers as well.

It’s not just about multitasking: Apple saved the best till last during its WWDC keynote, and the iPad has a host of other features that are further transformative to the iPad experience. I’ve been using the iPad OS 26 developer beta for the past 24 hours, and here’s how it’s transformed my iPad Pro experience.

Read more
My Android 16 update made me jealous of iOS 26… but it shouldn’t
Deep down, I know my disappointment is irrational
The Android 16 logo on the screen of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

I've just downloaded Android 16 on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold. As someone who’s a sucker for a software update this should be a momentous occasion - so why am I feeling flat?

Whether it's an update for one of my favourite apps, or a complete operating system overhaul, I love pouring over change logs to see what's new and diving into features.

Read more
Samsung won’t stop teasing the Galaxy Z Fold 7: here are 3 things revealed already
We're getting a better idea of what the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be
The open Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Samsung is expected to announce its next generation of foldable devices in the coming months, and while we await confirmation from the South Korean brand on when exactly it plans on revealing the phones it’s continuing to tease the upcoming releases.

Samsung's remaining coy on exact specs, but with each teaser it publishes we get a clearer picture of what we can expect when the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch finally happens.

Read more