YouTube allows users to livestream games currently, but the company is getting more serious about video game content. Later this Summer it plans to launch YouTube Gaming, a brand new website and app.
The news comes from a Los Angeles event earlier today in which YouTube revealed its plans for the new service. It will allow users to engage with Let's Plays, livestreams, and even speedruns.
YouTube Gaming product manager Alan Joyce talked about the platform and how it covers a broad spectrum.
"YouTube Gaming is built to be all about your favorite games and gamers, with more videos than anywhere else," he said. "From 'Asteroids' to 'Zelda,' more than 25,000 games will each have their own page, a single place for all the best videos and live streams about that title. You'll also find channels from a wide array of game publishers and YouTube creators."
Livestreams will be "front and center" for the Gaming app, and it allows user to subscribe to channels and sort through recommendations. The site/app also includes a DVR function in which viewers can rewind the broadcast.
Twitch has dominated the livestream market for the past few years, even with the existence of Hitbox. Perhaps YouTube Gaming will be the first true competitor. It looks like we'll find out when the service launches in the U.S. and U.K. this Summer.
