Giant Google-owned video-sharing platform, Youtube, is reportedly testing a new product called ‘Playables’ that allows users to play online games directly on the site.
The internal testing, aimed at exploring new growth areas, was revealed in an email sent to Google employees, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
While YouTube has not made any official announcements, this move signals the platform’s continued focus on gaming and the diversification of its features.
The email sent to Google employees invited them to participate in testing the new YouTube product, ‘Playables’.
Among the games available for testing is the arcade game Stack Bounce, according to the report.
These games can be accessed and played on YouTube’s website via web browsers or on mobile devices running Android and iOS.
Gaming has long been a focal point for YouTube, and this latest venture into hosting online games is seen as part of CEO Neal Mohan’s strategy to explore new avenues of growth.
As the platform is already popular for streaming games and watching live game footage, introducing playable games directly on YouTube expands its reach in the gaming industry.
The move comes as advertising spending faces a slowdown, prompting YouTube to seek alternative sources of revenue.
While the spokesperson for YouTube did not provide specific details, they confirmed that the company is continually experimenting with new features.
As the testing phase progresses, YouTube aims to enhance user experiences and potentially monetize online gaming on the platform.
This development aligns with YouTube’s recent introduction of new features, including the upcoming launch of its first official shopping channel for live commerce in South Korea, as reported by Yonhap news agency.