YouTube's free games catalog, called *Playables*, is now available to all users.

YouTube's "app store" for games is expanding to more users. The company said Tuesday that its library of light, free games known as "Playables" will begin showing up in the YouTube app for everyone, in addition to the YouTube Home feed.
YouTube's free games catalog, called *Playables*, is now available to all users.

YouTube's "app store" for games is expanding to more users. The company said Tuesday that its library of light, free games known as "Playables" will begin showing up in the YouTube app for everyone, in addition to the YouTube Home feed. Previously, the games had been available to some users for testing before going live for YouTube Premium subscribers last November.

As YouTube's Playables do not raise any immediate revenue concerns by way of paid downloads or in-app purchases, they don't directly threaten the app store model nor are they a violation of the rules under which Apple operates. Still, they are competition to the free-to-download games in the App Store and for casual gamers, making their money back via advertising. Questions have been raised on the effect of technology on the sponsored links above the search results driving the cash cow ads business for search giant as it turns focus to AI. In theory, free games may be another area to show ads further down the road. For now, Google hasn't indicated that it would monetize its Playables.

The games can, however, serve as a distraction to YouTube users between their browse and watch sessions and help keep them engaged with the YouTube app.

The list of Playables includes some more popular titles such as Angry Birds Showdown, Words of Wonders, Cut the Rope, Tomb of the Mask, and Trivia Crack, among others. It also features titles like Stack Bounce, which Google had published on its service for HTML minigames, and GameSnacks, an incubation that had taken place within its Area 120. The latter project hoped to bring gaming to more users in emerging markets-ANDROID's biggest market.

According to Google, today there are over 75 minigames in the Playables catalog. Using the feature, players will be able to save game progress and view their all-time best scores. Not everyone will see the Playables right away, but the feature should complete its rollout in the coming weeks.

YouTube is not the only tech giant trying to break into gaming. Netflix has also been growing its own game catalog through acquisitions, licensing deals, and in-house game development. Meanwhile, Fortnite maker Epic Games looks to leverage new EU regulations to bring its games store to European users. Elsewhere, other unexpected companies are also diving into games, including, most recently, LinkedIn.

What does this all mean? Not exactly a new direction or innovation, but evidence of how companies use their games to route around commission by the App Store with increased bottom lines for companies. While Netflix games feature on the App Store, users need a Netflix subscription that they can purchase at the company's website before getting access.

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2024-11-06 03:19:58