YouTube is expanding the ways users may engage with content on the popular video site by releasing an in-app platform for bite-sized games. Unfortunately, this isn’t a full-fledged Cloud-gaming experience; think of it as Miniclip residing inside the social video site.
As this is an experimental service, it is only offered to a limited number of participants or beta testers. How can you find out whether you’ve been chosen? Open YouTube and search for a “Playables” tab beside material on the main feed. For a select few, games are available on both the desktop website and mobile devices.
There is no list of released titles at this moment, but a reliable source claims that Stack Bounce, a game in which a ball smashes through rings with well-timed clicks, is available. If the title seems familiar, it’s because Stack Bounce was previously available through Google’s GameSnacks service.
Moving a 3D ball around is also a long cry from the types of games Google Stadia was delivering before it went down, however the company emphasizes that the system will preserve game progress, which is available via the “History” page. In other words, while there isn’t much progress to save when moving a bouncing ball between rings, more complex experiences may be on the way. For the time being, though, it serves as a repository for minigames.
YouTube is not the only video-streaming provider dabbling in Cloud gaming. In the previous several years, Netflix has made a substantial push into the space, most notably providing services to select smart TVs and personal computers. TikTok is also experimenting with basic in-app games, as well as live quiz contests with cash rewards. Google’s Stadia Cloud streaming program failed in January.
- YouTube’s Debut AI-Generated Music Tools Can Clone Artist Voices And Transform Hums Into Songs - November 29, 2023
- YouTube Is Experimenting With Bite-Sized Games On Desktop And Mobile - September 20, 2023
- IBM and NASA Collaborate to Develop the GPT of Earth Sciences - August 18, 2023
