YouTube, primarily recognized as a video streaming giant, is now setting its sights on a new frontier—gaming. However, don’t mistake this venture for the grand ambitions of Google’s erstwhile cloud gaming project, Stadia, which met its demise last year. Instead, YouTube’s latest offering, “Playables,” brings bite-sized gaming experiences directly to its platform.
As reported by Gizchina, YouTube has embarked on testing the Playables feature, though it’s currently a privilege limited to a select group of users. Confirmed by YouTube itself, this new feature started its testing phase on September 5, 2023.
Playables introduce a dedicated tab on the YouTube homepage, sitting alongside the usual array of content. It’s important to note that this tab is only accessible to the fortunate testers at this stage. Impressively, Playables seamlessly function on both desktop and mobile platforms, making gaming accessible to users regardless of their preferred device.
Among the games on offer is “Stack Bounce,” a seemingly straightforward yet engaging challenge where players guide a ball through a hoop. It’s the kind of quick diversion that can be enjoyed during a brief work break at your computer or while casually scrolling through your smartphone.
Regarding the broader rollout of Playables, YouTube has chosen to remain tight-lipped for now. The platform appears to be taking a prudent, step-by-step approach to evaluate the reception and potential of this innovative gaming feature.
