YouTube is enhancing its features for Premium subscribers with the introduction of several experimental options. Known for its significant influence in the gaming sector, the platform has now made it possible for Premium subscribers to play games directly on YouTube without any downloads. This new initiative, dubbed ‘Playables,’ includes over 30 arcade games accessible through the YouTube app on Android, iOS, and Web platforms.
In recent notifications sent to Premium members, YouTube informed subscribers about these additional features. Members can activate Playables and dive into games instantly, eliminating the need for downloads.
To access the new gaming feature, users need to launch the YouTube app on their Android or iOS devices, or visit the YouTube website. They can locate the Playables section by scrolling down the homepage or by selecting the Playables tab from the explore menu in the app. Subscribers must enable the Play games on YouTube option via the experimental features page, which can be found by tapping the profile icon in the app and navigating to ‘Your Premium benefits,’ before opting for ‘Try experimental new features.’
The Playables feature currently boasts 37 games, including popular titles such as Angry Birds Showdown and Cannon Balls 3D for action fans, Daily Crossword and Brain Out for puzzle enthusiasts, and card games like Daily Solitaire and Gin Rummy. This feature will be available to Premium subscribers until March 28. Depending on user feedback, YouTube may broaden access to Playables in the future and possibly introduce additional premium titles, mirroring the approach of Netflix Games.
Aside from Playables, YouTube has also integrated AI-driven comment summaries into its experimental offerings for Premium users. This feature, accessible until December 5, employs AI technology to organize and condense comments on videos that receive significant engagement. Users can filter comment sections by topics using the feature available on the YouTube app for Android and iOS. It’s important to note that users can activate only one of the two experimental features at a time; opting for AI comment summaries will require disabling the Playables feature.
This month, YouTube also expanded its enhanced bitrate option for 1080p videos, which was initially available only on iOS. This feature is now accessible on Android devices and smart TVs as well.
In India, YouTube Premium is offered at Rs. 1,290 for a 12-month subscription. A three-month plan is available for Rs. 399, while a pre-paid one-month plan can be purchased for Rs. 139. After a complimentary one-month trial, the recurring monthly cost for YouTube Premium is Rs. 129.
