Because the Playtime game engine and content are all genuinely cross-platform, Windows Phone gets this at exactly the same time as the other two mobile OS.
From the BBC's launch post about the update:
CBeebies Playtime is an app for the BBC’s youngest audience of 0-6 year olds. Available on Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Windows 8 app stores, the app has been downloaded over 2.6 million times since its initial release in August last year.
To keep little ones entertained, the CBeebies Playtime app has seen three exciting games additions, providing access to even more CBeebies favourites. I am very pleased to announce our fourth update – adding the new Swashbuckle Island Adventures game.
Children can join Gem on a Pirate adventure, making their way around the Swashbuckle Island and helping her to win treasure her back from the naughty pirates Cook, Line and Captain Sinker.
Swashbuckle Island Adventure is based on a traditional board game experience but enhanced for mobile or tablet devices. Each roll of the dice activates an assortment of hidden surprises: little ones might discover a pirate-y joke with a ‘Barrel of Laughs’, find and collect items for the ‘Ships mess’ or receive a ‘Message in a Bottle’ to move back or forward along the board.
As you travel around the board with Gem, users will also encounter four individual mini-game squares; each an opportunity to help win back one of Gem’s jewels. If successful, they will receive the ultimate reward and (replicating the TV show) be able to make one of the three naughty pirates walk the plank into the sloppy ship’s mess!
Sounds though, though there's another update behind the scenes, too:
Our popular Playtime ‘Make a Picture’ game has received a ‘Show Me Show Me’ makeover! Now children can: have fun, and expand their imaginations by creating beautiful pictures to frame and save.
Excellent stuff, especially considering the price (free), and perfect for storing away to keep your kid entertained in unforeseen waits/queues, etc.
The BBC also love to use the in-game tracking (I know, I know, but it's all anonymous) to provide usage stats:
- The ‘Make a Picture’ game was added to CBeebies Playtime in Nov 2013. Designed to inspire imagination and creative play, this has been one of the most popular games in the app with over 10 million plays this year.
- ‘Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures’ was the last game added to CBeebies Playtime, in February 2014. Since launch it has performed very well achieving over 7 million plays since launch.
- A constant favourite is the Something Special, Paint Pop game with 4.6 million plays in the last 3 months alone.
- CBeebies Playtime has been played over 13 million times at an average of nine minutes each time over the last three months. Peak access tends to be between 4-8pm (or more specifically 6-7pm) during a weekday, with peak times at the weekends being between 8-10am.
UK Windows Phone owners can download CBeebies Playtime for free here. Outside the UK, all bets are off. Comments welcome as to what happens!!