YouTube Gaming apes Twitch with new donation system for streamers

Google continues to ramp up its video game livestreaming business today by rolling out support for Android game streaming and fan donations to its YouTube Gaming platform.

The latter addition is especially notable for developers who livestream themselves developing (or playing) games, as the folks at YouTube are beta testing "Fan Funding" and "Sponsorship" systems which allow broadcasters to accept one-off or monthly donations in return for perks like sponsor-only hangouts.

It's also interesting that Google is adding these features to YouTube Gaming first, without mentioning when (or if) they'll come to YouTube at large.

These additions bring the platform closer to matching the features of entrenched competitor Twitch, which supports mobile game streaming and has been allowing broadcasters in its Twitch Partner program to accept money via channel subscription systems for some time.

Vlambeer memorably used that same system to sell copies of Nuclear Throne via its Twitch channel, where it was livestreaming development of the game.