It sounds counterintuitive, adding games to what is supposed to be a work tool – but Microsoft has started working on bringing casual games to its Microsoft Teams service. According to an employee familiar with the matter, Microsoft has started testing games like Solitaire, Connect 4, and Wordament inside Microsoft Teams. The games are casual in nature, and supposedly designed to allow colleagues to play against each other during meetings.
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Microsoft is looking at various ways to improve the experience of its clients during meetings, which would reportedly help in maintaining the balance between work and play in a remote or hybrid working environment. Microsoft is only testing casual games internally from its Casual Games offering right now, and the company could choose not to roll this integration out to consumers and businesses. The company declined to comment when approached by reporters.
It is also looking at virtual spaces inside Teams where colleagues can network and socialise with games. It forms part of Microsoft’s larger metaverse plans, which will ultimately lead to 3D avatars and more immersive meetings expected to come to Microsoft Teams sometime this year.
Microsoft has been continuously adding features to Teams with remote work in mind. Together Mode was one of the first pandemic-era additions nearly two years ago, and Microsoft Teams has also been updated with remote-friendly views and features and mobile improvements.
