Google has taken a step into the cloud gaming arena with the experimental launch of its Playables feature for YouTube Premium subscribers. This feature allows users to play games directly on the YouTube platform without the need to install them locally.
Current Availability and Game Selection
The Playables section is currently accessible on both the YouTube website and the mobile app for Android and iOS devices. It offers a variety of games from different genres, including puzzles, racing, and arcade games. Google reportedly focused initially on “games that are easy to share,” and one of the first games available for testing was Rovio Entertainment’s popular title Angry Birds: Showdown.
As of today, the list of YouTube Playables includes 37 games, encompassing Scooter Extreme, State.io, Brain Out, Daily Crossword, Daily Solitaire, 8 Ball Billiards Classic, Crazy Caves, Color Pixel Art, Carrom Clash Color, Burst 3D, Stack Bounce, Cannon Balls 3D, Basketball FRVR, and Cube Tower.
Future Plans and Participation in the Experiment
The Playables experiment is scheduled to run until March 28, 2024, notes NIXSolutions. If the experiment proves successful, Google is expected to officially launch the feature with an expanded game library sometime in the first half of 2024.
To participate in the testing phase, you need to have a YouTube Premium subscription and successfully pass YouTube’s screening process.