Google’s Playables game streaming service has officially entered its testing phase, offering a sneak peek to a limited number of YouTube users.
Rumors of the Playables service began circulating in June, supported by an internal email to Google employees. Now, it appears that these reports were indeed accurate, as Playables is currently accessible to a small group of YouTube users.
As spotted by 9to5Google, YouTube has updated its list of test features and experiments to confirm that Playables entered testing on September 5. According to available information, Playables will enable YouTube users to instantly play a selection of games through their web browsers, iOS, or Android devices. However, during this initial testing phase, it seems that only one title, Stack Bounce, is available to play.
It is anticipated that Playables will eventually find its place on the YouTube homepage alongside subscriptions, shorts, and YouTube Music. The question of whether a YouTube Premium subscription will be required for access remains unanswered. Some speculate that certain games within Playables could be behind a paywall, similar to Discord Activities.
The full scope and scale of Google Playables remain unclear. Notably, Google Stadia, a prior attempt at cloud streaming services, faced challenges and eventually discontinued its services. Playables may aim to provide bite-sized gaming experiences rather than a full-scale cloud streaming service.
The concept of Playables resembles the Flash game websites of the past, offering quick gaming distractions. If this service remains cost-effective or free for users, it could become a valuable addition to YouTube’s array of multimedia content, appealing to those seeking short gaming diversions within the platform.
