The ghost of Stadia still haunts Google.
Just months after the tech giant killed off its short-lived game-streaming service, it’s now exploring a similar feature for YouTube.
Google is currently test-driving tech that allows you to instantly play the game you’re watching on a YouTube video, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The new feature, known as Playables, will apparently work on YouTube’s website and mobile app.
On paper, playing games on the video service sounds like a win-win scenario for Google and gamers. YouTube is already a hub for game trailers, livestreams, and reaction videos. Allowing you to jump into the games featured in these clips would be convenient for general users, and a new market for Google.
While it sounds like a great new addition, it may be wise to temper your expectations for now.
After all, Google is known for killing off many of its vaunted products, including its Google+ social network, Google Glass augmented-reality goggles, and Google Duo video-chat service, to name a few.
Stadia became its latest high-profile venture to land on the chopping block when Google axed it last year, after it was met with apathy by the public.
The so-called Cloud gaming platform allowed you to stream games you had purchased and subscribe to a library of playable titles.
You no longer had to wait around for games to download, and you could play online with others at no extra cost. There was just one problem: Stadia lacked the big-name games that are the lifeblood of any major gaming platform.
It may be a case of history repeating as the only YouTube Playable mentioned in the new report is a little-known game called Stack Bounce. The arcade title sees players smashing a ball through a tower of revolving tiles.
In fact, Stack Bounce is already available through another experimental Google service called GameSnacks. The website offers fast-loading, casual online games that can run on basic smartphones, and even 2G or 3G networks.
GameSnacks’ titles are simple, pick-up-and-play experiences that are mainly designed to be played in short bursts. So, maybe don’t expect YouTube to host massive RPGs like God of War: Ragnarok, or Diablo IV.
On the other hand, Stadia did support powerful games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, hence it wouldn’t be a leap to see those games as YouTube Playables.
Although the Cloud gaming market is relatively modest, and gamers have pooh-poohed it due to spotty connections, industry giants Xbox and Sony are still heavily investing in game streaming.
Non-gaming companies are also taking a shot at the tech. After adding mobile games to its streaming service, Netflix is said to be exploring a Cloud gaming option. Amazon also boasts its own platform called Luna which resembles Google’s Stadia, and plays nice with live-streaming site Twitch.
Cloud gaming is powered by remote computer servers located in cavernous data centres around the globe, which are costly to run, not to mention a load on the environment.
