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

YouTube Announces YouTube Gaming, Will Debut This Summer

Article Featured Image

Since YouTube didn't acquire Twitch.tv, it decided to make its own. Parent company Google lost out on the gaming video site in September 2014 when Amazon grabbed it for $970 million. Now, YouTube has announced a rival destination: YouTube Gaming. The site will debut sometime this summer.

While YouTube itself has plenty of gaming content, the new site will have nothing but, and will be designed for the gaming enthusiast. The site will host dedicated pages for over 25,000 games, everything from Asteroids to Zelda, YouTube product manager Alan Joyce says. Viewers will be able to subscribe to channels and get notifications when live streams start. YouTube Gaming will also offer tailored recommendations.

YouTube promises to upgrade its live streaming with the release of YouTube Gaming, so that players don't need to schedule a live event beforehand. Players will also be able to use a single link to share all of their live streams. The live streaming will support existing features such as 60fps video, DVR controls, and the ability to turn live streams into on-demand YouTube files.

While the site won't be available until later this summer, visitors at the E3 video gaming expo in Los Angeles can get an early look at the YouTube booth.

For its part, Twitch doesn't seem overly concerned about the new competition. When YouTube Gaming opened its Twitter account on Friday by saying "A new player has entered the game," Twitch responded with "Welcome Player 2. Add me on Google+." 

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

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.

YouTube Launches Gaming Site and App, Competes With Twitch

Hoping to create a one-stop gaming experience, YouTube Gaming combines live and on-demand video with advanced DVR controls.

YouTube Creates News Channel to Promote Eyewitness Videos

The curated channel will highlight first-person videos related to major news events, making them available for news story embedding.

Twitch Explains How Professional Video Gamers Make a Living

For anyone over a certain age it's still hard to comprehend: People make a living playing video games? Yes, and the best make a lot.

Surprise: Amazon, Not Google/YouTube, Will Purchase Twitch

Were the unnamed sources mistaken or did Google back out? And why would shopping giant Amazon want a video game network?

Twitch Shuts Down Justin.tv, Prepares for Google Acquisition

Account holders are given no advanced notice, and are directed to Twitch, YouTube, or competing live video services.