YouTube Explores Gaming Horizons with Playables

After Google's Stadia game streaming service shut down, the company expressed interest in exploring other gaming avenues. Now, it seems YouTube is stepping into the gaming ring with its own gaming product, Playables, currently in the testing phase. YouTube, already a popular destination for user-generated content and video game streaming, aims to strengthen its foothold in the gaming space, potentially offsetting a decline in advertising revenue.

According to The Wall Street Journal, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan is keen to expand the brand's presence in the gaming sector. As part of this effort, YouTube has internally tested a new gaming product called Playables with its employees. Playables is designed to work on YouTube's website via a browser, as well as on its iOS and Android apps. One of the games mentioned in an email to staff is Stack Bounce, an arcade-style game where players break layers of a brick wall using a bouncing ball.

While the email did not detail YouTube's plans for monetizing Playables when they go public, it is speculated that the games would be free to play, with unskippable ads included for revenue generation. Other monetization strategies may be in the works, but some form of revenue generation is expected in order to supplement the decline in advertising income.

In response to inquiries about Playables, a YouTube spokesperson stated that gaming has always been an area of interest for the company, but there are no official announcements at this time. As YouTube delves further into the gaming sphere, more details about Playables and other gaming initiatives may surface in the coming months. In the meantime, gamers can enjoy Google's GameSnacks or their favorite Android arcade games to satisfy their gaming cravings.