You really can’t claim that you have a viable mobile platform if there’s no official Facebook app, so alongside the release of Windows 8.1, Microsoft also launched(Opens in a new window) a Facebook app for the updated OS.

Not that there was a dearth of third-party Facebook apps for Windows 8, but there’s nothing like the real thing. Note that I couldn’t install the app on Windows 8 or 8.1 Preview PCs, just those running full-blown Windows 8.1.

The app, which comes from Facebook Inc. itself rather than Microsoft, looks pretty much like every other Facebook app, with swipe gesture support for moving back and forth between pages. The typical red Facebook notifications show up at top right just like on the website.

The Facebook app also supports Facebook messaging, with the added ability to send messages to Windows Phone users that look just like SMS text messages.

Tapping on a photo makes it full screen, and you can unpinch to zoom, just as on most mobile devices these days.

The app is designed to work with Windows 8.1’s side-by-side snap view of multiple running apps. Its Start screen tile shows updates (with the Friend’s profile picture), and the lock screen can show notifications, as can the lock screen.

While it’s true that you could always use the Facebook website on a Windows 8 tablet, the new app is better suited to Windows 8.1’s touch interface, notifications, and multi-windowing capabilities.

For more, check out PCMag’s full review of Windows 8.1 and the slideshow below.