Zynga Might Launch Their Own Social Gaming Website

[Karnal]

There could be a major casual gaming shakeup on the way, as Zynga -- the makers of popular Facebook games like Mafia Wars and the omnipresent FarmVille -- is reportedly planning a split from Facebook entirely to launch their own social gaming network.

According to TechCrunch, sources say that relations between Zynga and Facebook are at an all-time low, with one source saying the level of stress at Zynga is "intense." The major sticking point is in Facebook's "Facebook Credits" system, which is the only payment platform they offer casual game makers on their website. Facebook takes 30 percent from whatever credits players spend, which is a large chunk of revenue leaving Zynga's pockets.

On top of that, sources also say Facebook is trying to pressure Zynga into a new long-term exclusivity deal, and they're allegedly using punitive tactics to force Zynga's hand -- including shutting off notifications for some of their games and threatening to shut down some of their games permanently.

All of this evidently resulted in an "all hands meeting" at Zynga, where CEO Mark Pincus informed employees that they should prepare for a possible split from Facebook. According to a purportedly leaked email from an anonymous source, Pincus told employees that Zynga "was going to launch a social game network called Zynga Live." Another source says this split "could be tomorrow, it could be in six months."

In a statement to TechCrunch, Facebook said that "we have conversations with our large developers all the time and we don't typically comment on specific discussions." Zynga declined to comment at all.

So while all this may make for a worryingly uncertain climate for FarmVille addicts that can't go a single day without a fix, it could all be potentially great news for every non-FarmVille player who never wants to see another FarmVille update from one of their friends ever again.

[Steve Hines]

I think if they do it they are dead in the water... people spend more time on FB then anywhere so FB knows they have the leg up and honestly Zynga can't do much about it.

[Kendra Marks]

I actually think they'd do just fine... people like Zynga's games and they could be much more flexible on the interface if they did it that way.

[vexx]

I think Facebook has an interest on keeping Zynga in...Facebook is 80% ppl playing games

[sbha200]

I think it's now an uphill battle... seems like people are dropping apps left and right.... although I did hear about that one mother who killed her baby for interrupting her Farmville session... so maybe a few people are still addicted