YouTube to launch Gaming hub this summer

A new challenger has emerged in the video game streaming field.

Google-owned YouTube announced it will launch a Gaming hub this summer that will allow users to track their favorite games as well as stream their virtual exploits.

In a statement released Friday, YouTube says it will revamp its Live product to make it easier for players to stream game content directly to the video site, which would put it in direct competition with Amazon-owned site Twitch.

More than 25,000 titles will receive their own channels, where players can look up walkthroughs, guides and other videos related to a specific game. Publishers and popular creators will also get their own channels.

"YouTube Gaming is built to be all about your favorite games and gamers, with more videos than anywhere else," reads a statement from YouTube.

The service will be available in the U.S. and U.K. this summer. Demos are expected at next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

The YouTube offering would rival Twitch, which has surged to the front of the pack in the streaming game video market. Twitch boasts more than 100 million community members and 1.5 million broadcasters. Last year, it was acquired by Amazon for nearly $1 billion.

:story: USA Today