YouTube announces new live-streaming video API for game devs

YouTube has announced a new set of application programming interfaces to help developers in the process of live streaming their games.

The announcement came in a GDC presentation to developers, The Verge reports. The company trumpeted the benefits of video integration as a means for not just promoting games, but for offering a unique way for users to share gaming experiences.

"Video is the most powerful tool to enable that to happen," said YouTube product manager Satyajeet Salgar.

While games such as Black Ops 2 have been given special treatment in the past, the new initiative plans to expand the number of devs that can participate in live streaming.

The new APIs essentially lets developers send YouTube a live stream of video coming from a game, and have the website then transcode the video in real time for users. On top of that, the platform will make the live streams available for Android and iOS users as well.

No official details were shared as far as streaming capabilities for regular YouTube account holders, but the company did assure it hopes to eventually bring the capability to users of all kinds.