YouTube is expanding its collection of free games known as “Playables” to all users. Previously available to select users and YouTube Premium subscribers, the lightweight and free games will now be accessible within the YouTube app and on the YouTube Home page.
While Playables don’t directly challenge the app store model or violate Apple’s rules since they don’t generate revenue through paid downloads or in-app purchases, they do compete with the App Store’s free games that rely on ads for revenue. This expansion raises questions about the impact of YouTube’s integration of AI on its advertising business.
Although Google has not indicated plans to monetize Playables, the games can serve as a distraction for users, keeping them engaged with the YouTube app. The Playables lineup features popular titles like Angry Birds Showdown, Words of Wonders, Cut the Rope, Tomb of the Mask, and Trivia Crack, as well as games from Google’s HTML minigames service and its internal incubator, Area 120.
With over 75 minigames currently available, players can save their progress and track their best scores. While the Playables rollout may not be immediate for all users, it is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
YouTube is not the only tech giant venturing into gaming, as Netflix, Epic Games, and even LinkedIn have also entered the gaming space. These moves demonstrate how companies are leveraging games to bypass app store commissions while boosting their own profits. Netflix‘s games, for example, are available on the App Store but require a subscription purchased through its website for access.
