YouTube to launch video gaming site

Google Inc's YouTube on Friday announced a new games-app and website called YouTube Gaming, a place where more than 25,000 games will have their own channels, which will make it simpler for gamers to live stream content and will make it possible for game fans to watch all the best videos under those channels.

Under YouTube Gaming, games related to game publisher and YouTube content creators will also be available.

Google looks like it is challenging Twitch head on - a hugely popular gaming site - which it reportedly tried to purchase. Twitch was acquired by Amazon Inc for $970 million last year.

But YouTube execs disagree on the comparison. "YouTube vs Twitch narrative is overblown", said YouTube's head of global gaming content Ryan Wyatt in an interview with Business Insider.

Wyatt said YouTube Gaming is different because of the breadth of content it will carry.

Twitch is popular because of its live video streaming, which last year pulled in 100 million viewers each month, more than 40% of all real-time broadcast online.

"YouTube Gaming is built to be all about your favorite games and gamers, with more videos than anywhere else. From "Asteroids" to "Zelda," more than 25,000 games will each have their own page, a single place for all the best videos and live streams about that title," YouTube's product manager for gaming, Alan Joyce wrote in a blogpost.

To create a separate experience, YouTube Gaming will have its own homepage which will let users find specific games. Alan Joyce said if you type "call" the result of the search will show you "Call of Duty". This means YouTube's games-app and website will have a refined games search.

"Live streams bring the gaming community closer together, so we've put them front-and-centre on the YouTube Gaming homepage," Alan said. "And in the coming weeks, we'll launch an improved live experience that makes it simpler to broadcast your gameplay to YouTube."

YouTube last year launched 60 frames per second video playback essential for recording and watching games and it recently launched its 60fps live streaming in a bid to improve user experience. YouTube is also redesigning its system so that you no longer need to schedule a live event ahead of time and is working on creating single link you can share for all your streams.

Also you can monetize the streams through ads and there are no premium subscription options at this point.

YouTube said its games channel will first start its debut in the US and UK this summer.