YouTube is testing an online game offer

Play directly on YouTube? The online video giant is testing an offer to play online games, according to an email sent to Google employees, parent company of YouTube.

According to the “Wall Street Journal” which revealed the information, the US group may be looking to shift from a video hosting business to gaming, a new area of ​​growth, as online advertising slows. Google has invited users to test “Playables” to access games on mobile phones or computers. Among which, “Stark Bounce”, an arcade game allowing you to crush bricks with a ball.

Contacted by “Les Echos”, a spokesperson for YouTube does not deny the information, without however communicating on a launch: “Games have long been at the heart of YouTube’s concerns. We’re still experimenting with new features, but we have nothing to announce at this time.” The company often tests products internally before releasing them to the general public.

Games, among the group’s priorities

YouTube already welcomes many influencers around the game. And, in the priorities unveiled in March by the general manager Neal Mohan named at the beginning of the year , represents this segment. “Last year, we hosted the greatest game creators [comme fuslie, Sykkuno, LilyPichu, Swagg, Myth ou NexxuzWorld] to stream exclusively on YouTube. They have helped create incredible momentum: we have recorded more than 2,000 billion game-related views on our platform in 2022, ”he explained in a letter on the YouTube site.

The platform competes with Twitch, from the Amazon group also very present in various sectors of the video game industry, for live broadcast game footage. In fact, by hosting online games, YouTube would strengthen its presence in this sector. Especially since more and more groups have launched “gaming” offers like Netflix or Apple (“Arcade”) in recent years.

But nothing is won in advance. Consumer spending on the mobile gaming segment plummeted last year after a period of pandemic-related euphoria. Never seen.

The Stadia Failure

Above all, Google has not only been successful in this segment. Last September, the platform announced the closure of Stadia, its “cloud gaming” offer giving access to video games for a monthly subscription of 10 euros. Stadia “didn’t attract the audience we expected,” Phil Harrison, executive director of Stadia, said in a blog post.

The American giant has never managed to present a sufficiently dense offer to attract “gamers”, despite significant investments. But the director of Stadia had also indicated that he could use the technology for other Google activities, citing YouTube.

you text text text