No longer are YouTube Playables titles relegated to solo experiences. Google has revealed that it’s testing out multiplayer functionality for the free games library, which is found on the YouTube website or in the app.
For starters, YouTube is seeing how real-time multiplayer works with two Playables titles: Ludo Club and Magic Tile 3. The former is similar to the Sorry board game and can be played with three other people from around the world. There is even simple chat functionality, such as selecting an angry emoji or saying, “Hello.” This new feature works in browsers and on mobile devices, and Google teases there is more stuff on the way for Playables, too.
It’s been over a year since YouTube first rolled out Playables to select users in September 2023. Earlier this year, YouTube formally introduced the Playables games library with over 75 titles for people to play. No downloading is required to check out games like Angry Birds Showdown, Cut the Rope, and Gin Rummy. YouTube will automatically save your progress, meaning you can return to a title wherever you left off.
Obviously, this isn’t Google’s first foray into gaming. In early 2023, Google Stadia was officially shut down after an ambitious initiative as a cloud-gaming service. Before that, Google shut down game studios that it started and acquired to support Stadia.