The popular video game streaming service may soon be a part of YouTube.A deal for YouTube to purchase Twitch for $1 billion is closing "imminently," according to a report by Variety.
Sources familiar with the matter say that the deal will be carried out with an "all-cash offer" and would make it the biggest acquisition in YouTube's history since Google buying the video-sharing site for $1.65 billion in 2006. YouTube has prepared for regulators in the United States to challenge the deal with expectations that the Justice Department will decide whether the deal is anti-competitive, sources say.
Chase, director of PR for Twitch, said on Twitter, "For those asking about the story today, Twitch doesn't comment on rumors." YouTube representatives have declined to comment too.
Twitch is a significant player in gaming today now that new consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One can take advantage of Twitch streaming out of the box. A deal like this can be beneficial for Twitch to scale up in its infrastructure, but there are other concerns too like YouTube's copyright claims. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out and what it really means for gamers.
I have no idea how this fits into YouTube's strategy. Are they going to add games to YouTube videos?
SvaraRaderaEither they want to get into the streamed video market, and sees this as good platform to do so. Or they just want to get rid of a competitor. Either way it is a interesting move by YouTube (and by extension Google)
Radera