New mobile version of Zynga Poker finally debuts to a global audience

Zynga has launched the new version of its hit game Zynga Poker on mobile devices. The game is critical to the social gaming giant’s shift to mobile gaming, and it is now widely available around the world on the Apple App Store and the Google Play market on Android devices.

The new, free-to-play Zynga Poker app was developed for mobile from the ground up. It focuses on personalized gameplay, fast performance, and a more sophisticated design that emphasizes authentic casino graphics rather than a cartoon style experience. That’s an important change for the world’s largest online poker game, which has had more than 350 million players since its launch in 2007.

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“In reimagining Zynga Poker, we set out to create the most authentic and immersive poker experience that mirrors the fun and excitement consumers have on real casino floors – all in a free-to-play social game,” said Jon Liu, Vice President of Games, Zynga Casino. “We listened closely to consumer feedback and our player community to create a Poker experience that delivers the fresh, unique features players have been asking for while staying true to the classic game our loyal fans have loved for the last seven years.”

Zynga’s new game has a look-and-feel that gives the players the feeling of sitting at a poker table at a Las Vegas casino. It has a faux 3D perspective, rich animations, and a clear view of the cards. The audio is also designed for a realistic casino floor sound.

Will players like it? It may be a matter of taste among users who prefer realistic or cartoon art. But Zynga has tested the product extensively, and it almost launched the product back in March. But it pulled it back for more refinements after an initial consumer test. The company says it has more intuitive controls than past mobile versions, with a focus on creating a tactile touchscreen experience. It makes it easy to join tables with your friends, and the game responds to players as they progress in the game. It places them at poker tables that match their expertise.

An estimated 100 billion hands of poker have been played during the game’s history. In a blog post, Barry Cottle, executive vice president of Zynga, said, “Over the last seven years you have shared invaluable insights with us about what you love about Zynga Poker, and ideas on features we could add to the game. So, when we thought about reimagining this beloved game, we put you at the center of all of our decision making to ensure the new Zynga Poker was tailored made for you, our dedicated players.”