In another example of creating a total entertainment experience, YouTube has made its playable games available to all users.
First launched to paying subscribers in November '23, 'Playables' - YouTube’s 'App Store' of free, casual and entertaining games - is being rolled out to all users on the Google-owned video-sharing platform, adding to competition in the mobile gaming world.
Head directly to YouTube’s home page, either on desktop or via iOS and Android app, to find 'Playables' in the Explore menu. There you will discover circa 75 titles, including “Cut the Rope,” “Tomb of the Mask,” “Angry Birds Showdown,” “Trivia Crack” and “Words of Wonders” to play and share with friends. Game progress can be saved by players as they go, tracking their best scores.
YouTube's arrival means additional competition in the free- and mobile games space. Some recent developments include Meta making it easier for game developers to publish beta versions of games directly to Facebook without review. Netflix first dabbled in games with interactive titles like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and a Carmen Sandiego game, but in 2021 made gaming a much bigger priority hiring a former EA executive and letting subscribers play a selection of mobile games for free as part of their subscriptions. Sony is developing an online store for mobile Playstation games.
'Playables' might also cut into the App Store’s free games offerings, which generates advertising revenue for Apple. There is likely to be additional revenue opportunities for YouTube from new ad placement whilst also retaining the engagement of its 2.5 billion users watching and sharing videos.
#games #mobile #entertainment
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