Google announced today it will soon be releasing a new app built for gamers, called YouTube Gaming, which will put the company in direct competition with popular live streaming app Twitch.
Twitch was acquired by Amazon last summer to the tune of $970 million in cash, following months of speculation that Twitch was set to be acquired by Google.
Despite whatever reason the rumored deal with Google did not go through, the search giant is clearly still interested in a live streaming platform for gamers.
While this may sound like it’s coming out of left field, gaming already has a home on YouTube in the form of recorded walkthroughs, speedruns, reviews, trailers, and more.
YouTube Gaming will include live streaming into the mix as Google claims to be brining together the “biggest community of gamers on the web” all in one place.
“YouTube Gaming is built to be all about your favorite games and gamers, with more videos than anywhere else. From “Asteroids” to “Zelda,” more than 25,000 games will each have their own page, a single place for all the best videos and live streams about that title.”
Twitch is no slouch in the gaming world, boasting 100 million monthly active users. Google no doubt intends to capture some of that audience — many of whom have already built a following and are deeply intwined in the overall community.
A unique feature offered by YouTube Gaming is the ability to follow games, similar to how one would follow YouTube channels. Following a game on Google’s new app will bring together all types of video content about that particular game without having to search for it in other places on the web.
Over the coming weeks Google says it will be launching an improved live experience, making it easier for people to broadcast gameplay to YouTube. High frame rate streaming at 60fps, DVR, and automatic conversion of a stream into a YouTube video will all be included in YouTube Gaming.
YouTube Gaming will be available this summer in the U.S. and U.K. As an app built specifically for gamers, Google will be listening to user feedback on its YouTube Gaming social channels and incorporating that feedback into the final product.
