-->
Save your FREE seat for Streaming Media Connect in November. Register Now!

YouTube Launches Gaming Site and App, Competes With Twitch

Article Featured Image

YouTube is launching its dedicated gaming site and app, YouTube Gaming, at 1PM Eastern today, creating a strong rival for Amazon's Twitch. YouTube first announced the service back in June, saying that it would debut sometime in the summer. The site will be accessible online from any country where YouTube operates, and through iOS and Android apps in the U.S. and U.K.

The big challenge for YouTube was to upgrade its live video service so that players didn't need to schedule a live event ahead of time. The live streaming supports 60fps video, HTML5 playback, DVR controls, and the ability to turn live streams into on-demand YouTube clips. Competitor Twitch lacks the ability to rewind during a live broadcast, something YouTube Gaming offers. However, YouTube streams will stop if unlicensed music is played, something that's not a problem with Twitch. The improved live streaming tools are currently in beta.

By launching YouTube Gaming, YouTube says it's ending the fragmented experience where gamers go to one site for live streams and another for on-demand clips.

"We wanted to create a one-stop shop for all gaming content," YouTube's head of gaming, Ryan Wyatt, said in an interview with the BBC.

YouTube says the area will offer over 250,000 game pages and even more gaming channels. Uploaded gaming videos will be automatically sorted by game title and content creator. 

Streaming Covers
Free
for qualified subscribers
Subscribe Now Current Issue Past Issues
Related Articles

YouTube Moves Gaming to Main Site, Plans to Close the Gaming App

Gamers are now welcome in the main site, as YouTube reorganizes its video game content to better supports its 200 million daily viewers.

Facebook Launches Live Gaming Video Hub and Creator Resources

On FB.gg, gaming video creators can grow a fanbase and profit from virtual gifts, while fans can discover live and on-demand video based on their interests.

YouTube Live Growing Far Faster Than Twitch, Finds Streamlabs

However, for dedicated live video streamers trying to earn a living, Twitch is a better bet thanks to its long-term connections with fans.

YouTube Reportedly in Talks with CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox for OTT

A low-priced skinny bundle called YouTube Unplugged may launch early in 2017, with 2 or 3 major broadcasters providing channels.

What Online Broadcasters Can Learn From Video Game Streamers

Gamers attract viewers by the millions to their live streams. Enterprise could learn a lot about entertaining fans and creating regular, monetizable content.

YouTube Intros Subscription Plan, Music App, Original Content

For $10 per month, online video fans can watch original content from some of YouTube's biggest stars, view ad-free video, and stream music to a new app. Is that enough to entice subscribers to YouTube Red?

YouTube Gaming Gains Mobile Streaming, Fan Sponsorships

Video creators can now stream their mobile gaming sessions on the Android app, using the front-facing camera to capture their reactions.

Hyper Debuts, a Hand-Curated App for Impactful Short-Form Video

Quality wins over quantity on Hyper, a free iPad app that offers a small selection of the best visual storytelling of the day.

YouTube Announces YouTube Gaming, Will Debut This Summer

Twitch is getting some serious competition. Is the video gaming world big enough to support two dedicated video streaming sites?