A New Era for Gaming: YouTube Explores Online Games

A revolution in gaming may be on the horizon as YouTube, the internet giant, plans to introduce online games to its platform. According to a recent email sent to Google employees, YouTube is currently testing a product called Playables that will allow users to play games directly on the website or through mobile devices running iOS or Android.

Testing the Waters

Employees have already been invited to try out Playables, with popular arcade game Stack Bounce among the titles available for testing. While YouTube hasn’t officially announced any specific details about the product, a YouTube spokesperson confirmed that gaming has been a focus of the platform and new features are being experimented with behind the scenes.

This move comes as no surprise considering YouTube’s immense popularity as a video streaming platform and the significant growth of game livestreaming. By hosting games on its own platform, YouTube aims to further expand its reach, especially in light of its recent decline in advertising revenue.

YouTube Gaming, which showcased 80% esports content from mobile games in the third quarter of 2022, attracted a staggering 1.2 billion viewers. The competition seems to have also suffered, with Facebook Gaming announcing the closure of its app on iOS and Android due to its inability to compete with YouTube and Twitch.

Controversy and Competition

The potential for YouTube to become a gaming hub has already sparked controversy and criticism among some online communities. Tim Sweeney, the founder and CEO of Epic Games, voiced his discontent with the Playables reveal on Twitter, expressing concern over YouTube’s ability to host streaming games while other platforms like Microsoft XCloud and NVIDIA GeForce NOW face restrictions.

This Tweet comes amidst a long-running dispute between Sweeney’s company, Epic Games, and Apple. The conflict began in 2020 when Epic Games attempted to circumvent Apple’s App Store fees and was subsequently removed from the store. The dispute has now escalated to a court case, with both companies seeking a reconsideration of the court’s ruling.

Despite the controversy, YouTube’s foray into gaming could potentially reshape the landscape of online gaming and provide new opportunities for both developers and gamers alike. As the tests for Playables continue, gamers around the world eagerly anticipate the arrival of this exciting new feature on YouTube.