YouTube gaming app launches in Australia
Almost 8 months after YouTube initially launched a dedicated gaming app, Australian iOS & Android users now have access to the app starting today.
The launch of such an app was more a matter of time rather than if. Kodaku reports that over 144 billion minutes of gaming content is viewed on YouTube every month, and by typing “gaming” into YouTube, you’ll get 22.5 million results.
The idea behind YouTube gaming is to have a dedicated space for videos, live streams, and the biggest community of gamers on the web, thus making it easier for gamers to search for specific gaming content.
“We wanted to create a one-stop shop for all gaming content,” YouTube’s head of gaming Ryan Wyatt told the BBC.
“At the moment there is a fragmented experience. People go to different places for live content, and YouTube for video on demand.
“We have amazing gamers that don’t live stream yet. Now they have that opportunity.”
YouTube’s gaming app on Android
Another big focus point for the app is the ability to personalise to each gamer.
A spokesperson for YouTube told Gizmodo, “We really wanted to create an experience that was personalised specifically by gamers, for gamers.”
“The business team, the partnerships team, the engineers — these are gamers that are creating an experience for gamers and it feels very authentic. We are working very closely with creators and publishers to identify areas of needs and what it means to create products for gamers specifically.”
It will also be interesting to see the ramifications – if any- for gaming streaming platform Twitch. Owned by Amazon, Twitch (along with Daily Motion), has been the go-to platform for gamers who want to broadcast live. Whether this new competition changes significantly the behaviour of gaming broadcasters and viewers is yet to be seen.
Posted in Blog, Technology, Top Apps
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