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Google scraps ‘confusing’ YouTube Gaming app after gamers shun it

Key features from the gaming-specific video app will make their way to a new gaming hub on YouTube's website where 'the amount of gamers we are able to reach is far bigger', the firm says

YOUTUBE is scrapping its dedicated gaming app after three years trying and failing to build an audience for it.

Admitting the app "a big misstep", Ryan Wyatt, YouTube’s director of gaming content and partnerships told The Verge that the app was "the source of much confusion."

 The new gaming hub brings together a bunch of features previously only available in the now-defunct app
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The new gaming hub brings together a bunch of features previously only available in the now-defunct appCredit: YouTube

The Google-owned video site now has a new gaming hub at youtube.com/gaming "to give gamers a home on YouTube".

In a post announcing the new hub, Christina Chen, YouTube's Director of Product Management, said it was bringing over a number of features from the failed app to the new gaming hub because the response to those features had been "so positive".

Such features include being able to follow particular games as well as creators, with "tens of thousands" of games now getting dedicated pages.

Those pages will include "popular videos, live streams, and other games from the same publisher or developer."

 Fortnite's popularity on YouTube is undeniable, with many creators going to increasingly desperate measures to get a bigger slice of the pie
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Fortnite's popularity on YouTube is undeniable, with many creators going to increasingly desperate measures to get a bigger slice of the pieCredit: YouTube

The new hub will also highlight lesser-known YouTube 'creators' in a new 'On the Rise' section.

This will be curated by actual humans based on information generated by an algorithm to show off future YouTube stars who are engaging with new people and rapidly building up a following.

"Each week we’ll showcase a new up and coming gaming creator to help more fans discover their content. This is launching in the US, and we’ll continue to roll this out to more countries in the future," Chen said.

 


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