'YouTube Gaming' is shutting down on May 30 and now moving into the main YouTube platform

YouTube is finally shutting down its standalone YouTube Gaming app on May 30. Last year, Google announced the closure of YouTube's separate YouTube Gaming app. But the news about search giant pulling the plug on YouTube Gaming app is all not bad and we tell you why.

First things first, let's see what the YouTube Gaming app is all about. Built for gamers, YouTube Gaming app lets users watch live stream of videos games as well as recorded gameplay. Viewers can keep themselves updated with their favourite games, publishers and chat with gamers and other users on live stream. Then, how is Google shutting it down not bad news you may ask?

Well, Google has much bigger plans for YouTube Gaming. That said, Google is not entirely taking away the 'Gaming' segment off YouTube given its significance and contribution to the overall growth of YouTube as a platform and Google just can't afford to do that. Google is only taking away standalone presence of YouTube Gaming from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Meaning, you can't download YouTube Gaming app for Android and iOS after May 30.

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"The YouTube Gaming app will go away on May 30, but you’ll be able to find all of your favorite gaming videos in the YouTube main app at www.youtube.com/gaming," according to a notification on YouTube Gaming Help support page.

Obviously, gaming content plays a vital role in YouTube's overall growth and Google now wants to merge YouTube Gaming into the main YouTube app. While making the announcement last year, Ryan Wyatt who heads gaming, technology and VR at YouTube, said that they are moving YouTube Gaming into YouTube.

"Gaming is having its biggest year ever on YouTube! 50 billion hours of Gaming content watched on YouTube in the last 12 months and 200M daily logged-in users watch Gaming every single day on YouTube. That's why we're excited to announce we are moving YouTube Gaming into YouTube!!"

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Every standalone app catering around its niche-specific market and audience faces some obvious challenges. For example, YouTube Gaming doesn't really have as much target-audience base as YouTube Music, which explains why Google might have decided to merge YouTube Gaming app with the main YouTube app.

In 2015, YouTube released its separate YouTube Gaming app months after Amazon spent nearly $1 billion on video game live streaming platform Twitch.