Unlock the New Gaming Benefit: YouTube Premium Playables in 2023

It’s that time again for YouTube Premium users to explore the latest offerings on their YouTube accounts. In a notable expansion beyond conventional video streaming, YouTube is delving into the realm of gaming with the introduction of YouTube Premium Playables for their premium subscribers. This experimental feature was initially unveiled to a select group of users in September, signalling YouTube’s venture into the gaming landscape. With continuous updates and features being introduced, it’s worth checking out this link to stay informed about the latest additions. And back to the question: What exactly does this new gaming benefit from YouTube entail?

Exploring YouTube Premium Playables: Unveiling the Latest Gaming Feature

YouTube launches more than 30 'Playables' games for Premium users https://t.co/HD766Hz5Be by @aiishamalik1

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) November 28, 2023

As reported by Droid-Life, YouTube sent a notification to Premium subscribers last week, introducing them to YouTube Premium Playables and providing the option to experience it. Subscribers who choose to participate can directly experience a collection of 37 mini-games on the platform without needing to download or install anything. The games are seamlessly integrated into YouTube.

From Tuesday, November 28, Premium users get to enjoy the YouTube Premium Playables. The assortment of games encompasses diverse variations of classic arcade titles like Angry Birds Showdown, Brain Out, Daily Solitaire, Color Burst 3D, The Daily Crossword, 8 Ball Billiards Classic, Merge Master, and Farm Land. Yet, the opportunity does not last forever. As per YouTube, these games are initially slated to be accessible until March 28, 2024.

As for now, to access YouTube Premium Playables, simply navigate to the ‘Playables’ shelf on the Home page or under the ‘Explore’ menu on desktop or mobile. This will allow you to easily discover and play a variety of interactive mini-games and experiences. The mini-games can be played on the platform’s website through web browsers or mobile apps on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems. Additionally, Premium users have the opportunity to offer feedback on Playables, contributing to the refinement of the experience should YouTube decide to implement it on a larger scale in the future.

YouTube Premium Playables Isn’t Something New in the Market

YouTube’s current development of bringing themselves further into the gaming realm is similar to other non-gaming tech companies that acknowledge the demand for gaming in the broad entertainment realm. Yet, this may seem to be a bold move for YouTube as tech companies that undergo such development come out with mixed results. 

Unsuccessful Examples

Google’s cloud gaming platform, Stadia, often referred to as the “Netflix for games”, ceased operations in January. Launched in November 2019, Stadia allowed gamers to play high-performance AAA titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 without the need for dedicated gaming hardware. The games were streamed directly from Google’s servers. However, Google decided to shutter Stadia in January, citing its failure to gain the expected user traction. The company refunded any purchases made on the platform as part of the closure.

Amazon recently made a substantial cut of over 130 jobs in their free games division, signalling a strategic “Refocusing” effort. In 2021, TikTok hinted at a significant foray into gaming, but ByteDance, the owner, announced on Monday its decision to lay off approximately 1,000 workers in its gaming unit. To discover more about this news, check out this article.

Yet, There Are Companies That Are Still Striving

The above examples didn’t stop other tech companies from continuing to foray into the gaming realm. Meta’s venture into Instant Games has been in progress for around seven years. The platform recently introduced a new distribution model allowing developers to publish beta versions of their games directly on Facebook. 

Meanwhile, Netflix, which has been exclusively releasing games on mobile platforms with mixed reviews, are aiming to expand into cloud games. In August, Netflix initiated game streaming services for a limited number of subscribers in the U.K. and Canada, enabling them to play a curated collection of arcade games through the Netflix app on various devices. While no official announcements have been made, there are indications that Netflix may be exploring broader endeavours in the gaming industry. Job listings discovered by Mobilegamer.biz last year suggested Netflix’s interest in developing a new AAA PC game, with the company seeking to recruit both artistic and technical personnel for the project based in Los Angeles.

Speaking of Netflix with their gaming, there are 4 new games based on their originals that were added to their Netflix Games library just 2 weeks ago and do check them out at this link.

YouTube with YouTube Premium Playables, Is It a Correct Move?

From the previous updates on new features besides the update this month, it’s not hard to discover that YouTube frequently conduct experiments before officially launching, and this new YouTube Premium Playables is no exception. The platform often tests new features on its paid subscribers before deciding whether to incorporate them permanently. 

YouTube Premium Playables appears to be more of an incentive for the platform’s premium subscribers than a serious gaming offering. With the recent $2 increase in the YouTube Premium plan’s price, similar to adjustments from other streaming services like Netflix, Apple, and Amazon, YouTube are looking to enhance the value for their paid subscribers. While it might not be a primary reason for users to sign up for YouTube Premium, YouTube Premium Playables could serve as a factor in retaining users who might be considering cancelling their subscriptions in the face of rising prices.

Some Thoughts

The gaming industry is becoming increasingly saturated, not only with various game genres such as mobile and console games but also with non-gaming tech companies venturing into gaming. YouTube Premium Playables is one such addition to this trend. It’s noticeable that YouTube may not be particularly steadfast in this recent YouTube Premium Playables initiative, as evidenced by the limited timeframe it is available to Premium users. While the games featured in YouTube Premium Playables are mostly casual and not geared toward serious gaming, they provide an additional recreational feature for YouTube Premium users. 

This offering allows users to engage in relaxing gameplay without the need for installations or downloads, enhancing the overall experience for YouTube Premium subscribers. Therefore, within the specified timeframe of the feature, it is still worthwhile to explore this new gaming addition for a more convenient entertainment experience.

Speaking of games, creating games has always been a challenging endeavour. Recent reports indicate that numerous mobile games encounter obstacles in their development that lead to termination, limiting the potential for games that could capture the audience’s interest. Explore this article for further insights.