YouTube is internally testing a product for playing online games, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing an email sent to employees of parent company Google.
The company invited its employees to start testing the new YouTube product called ‘Playables,’ according to the report, adding that the games available to try included titles like the Stack Bounce arcade game.
The games can be played on the YouTube site in web browsers or via devices running Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS mobile systems, the report added.
A YouTube spokesperson said gaming had been a focus for a long time, adding that the company was experimenting with new features and “had nothing to announce at this time.”
Online gaming hosting on YouTube, which is a popular place for users to stream gameplay and view live gameplay footage, is part of CEO Neal Mohan’s push into new areas of growth amid a slowdown in ad spending. , according to the WSJ report.
According to the report, there are several games available for employees to try. However, Stack Bounce has been specifically mentioned as an ad-supported arcade game being one of those on offer. Players must break layers of bricks with a bouncing ball in this game.
Online gaming will provide another avenue for YouTube to generate money from the gaming industry.
The company has also unveiled a number of new features, one of which includes the upcoming launch of South Korea’s first official YouTube shopping channel for live commerce on June 30, Yonhap news agency reported.
