Google brings 60fps live streams to YouTube

Google launched support for 60 frames per second playback on YouTube just a few months ago, and now the company is bringing it to live streaming. Available starting today on HTML5-compatible browsers, YouTube will now begin to transcode your stream into 720p60 and 1080p60, which Google says makes for “silky smooth playback for gaming and other fast-action videos”. Streams will also be made available in 30fps for devices where high frame rate viewing is not yet available.

In addition to this new feature, Google is also bringing HTML5 playback to live streams in supported browsers. This means that live streams will now use an HTML5 player, allowing users to skip backwards in a stream while it’s live, and even watch at 1.5x or 2x speed in order to catch up to the live action.

Back in August, Google almost bought Twitch, the most well known name in the video game live streaming industry. YouTube has yet to gain its footing in the industry, but that may change sometime soon. According to a report from a few months back, Google may be readying a new live streaming service to be unveiled at E3 this year in hopes to take on Twitch. Coupled with support for 60fps live streaming, Google may actually have a chance to deem itself worthy in the streaming community. As a reminder, Android Authority will be live at E3 this year, bringing you all of the best Android-related game coverage available at the conference.