Google takes on Twitch with YouTube Gaming

Despite the fact that gaming’s had dedicated TV channels in some Asian countries for years now, it took the advent of Twitch.tv for live-streams of games to really take off in the rest of the world. Since then though, it’s entered the mainstream in a big way. Heck, even Google’s getting in on the action.

The internet giant recently announced the upcoming launch of YouTube Gaming, a new app and website that aims to bring together various gaming channels, communities, and livestreams.

According to product manager Alan Joyce, “YouTube Gaming is built to be all about your favorite games and gamers, with more videos than anywhere else”.

It looks like that’s more than just an idle boast too. According to Google, more than 25 000 games, ranging “from ‘Asteroids’ to ‘Zelda'”, will each have their own page, bringing together videos and live streams about that title.

Google also says a wide array of game publishers and YouTube creators will have their own channels on the platform.

Front and centre though are the livestreams — hardly surprising given the nearly US$1-billion Amazon shelled out for Twitch in mid 2014.

YouTube’s not just trying to imitate though. Its general video experience means its got a few tricks up its sleeve, including high frame rate streaming at 60fps, DVR, and automatically converting your stream into a YouTube video. The site also says that it’s redesigning its system so that you no longer need to schedule a live event ahead of time. On top of that, it’s creating single link you can share for all your streams.

It’s an interesting move and, as well as once again underlining the value of gaming, it opens up the technology ans space to a much wider audience.

YouTube Gaming is set to be available in the next couple of months, starting in the US and UK. Google will also be showing off demos of the product at E3.