YouTube Gaming Out. Promises Improved Live Streaming And Buffer Playback

By Peter R - 28 Aug '15 10:01AM

Google's YouTube has launched its gaming platform taking Amazon's Twitch head-on. YouTube Gaming's live streaming portal is expected to be a big draw for gamers.

A substantial amount of video content on YouTube is generated from gamers who post live streams, game videos, trailers and other video content related to games. According to BBC, YouTube's most followed star Felix Kjeilberg is also a gamer. His channel has over 38 million subscribers.

YouTube Gaming will let users categorize gaming content, reveal what's trending in the gaming world and buffer up to four hours of streaming content for watching later, IGN reports.

"We wanted to create a one-stop shop for all gaming content. At the moment there is a fragmented experience. People go to different places for live content, and YouTube for video on demand. We have amazing gamers that don't live stream yet. Now they have that opportunity," YouTube's head of gaming Ryan Wyatt told the BBC.

The service has been launched in the US and UK, with launches in other countries expected to follow soon.