While YouTube hosts countless gaming channels and more Let’s Play videos than anyone could possibly know what to do with, when people want to watch streamed content and eSports, chances are they’ll be watching it on Twitch. Google even tried, and failed, to buy Twitch in an effort to get more than a piece of that streaming pie.
Not content to admit defeat, YouTube now might be poised to relaunch YouTube live, its streaming platform, this time with a focus on gaming and eSports.
Sources within the streaming industry told The Daily Dot that YouTube was planning to resurrect its streaming platform, which got pushed off to the side last year after it failed to make a splash, with new gaming content and industry talent.
“Gaming and esports in particular are going to be a big driving force for the new-look YouTube Live,” one source said. “There’ll be huge opportunities for established streamers and organizations soon and I would say that the record numbers of esports viewers are only going to grow when Google start promoting and partnering with these events.”
Another source said that 50 engineers with streaming experience have been recruited by YouTube in an effort to create something that can compete with Twitch. It’s a “pretty big statement of intent,” said the source. “The time is right as well, with Twitch moving into other areas such as music and so on. Google doesn’t want to be too far behind in the arms race.”
YouTube is keeping its cards close to its chest, however, and the company is not yet admitting anything about its streaming plans.