Discord begins testing YouTube integration weeks after Google shuts down music bots

Discord is beginning to take a look at YouTube integration, simply weeks after Google-owned YouTube compelled two fashionable Discord music bots offline. YouTube integration has began showing in a small variety of Discord servers immediately as a part of what seems to be a brand new take a look at of a collaboration between Discord and YouTube.

The characteristic known as Watch Together, and because the identify implies, it permits Discord members to observe YouTube movies collectively. A take a look at of an analogous Discord characteristic started 10 months ago earlier than disappearing and resurfacing as Watch Together immediately, and we perceive the corporate has re-prioritized this specific characteristic because of the current music bot shutdowns.

Watch Together is similar to the expertise of somebody broadcasting their display in Discord, and the button to launch it even seems alongside the video and display sharing choices. It’s designed particularly with YouTube in thoughts, permitting Discord server members to create a playlist of YouTube movies by looking out or pasting in YouTube hyperlinks. You may even toggle a distant button that lets different Discord server members share the power to manage playback.

While it’s not similar to the favored Rythm and Groovy Discord music bots, you should utilize Watch Together to hearken to music via YouTube in Discord. It’s not clear whether or not that music will likely be interrupted with adverts, although.

YouTube started aggressively shutting down Discord music bots in current weeks. The Google-owned firm despatched a authorized stop and desist letter to Groovy Bot final month, forcing the favored service offline inside days. YouTube then turned its consideration to the most well-liked Discord music bot, Rythm, and it ceased working earlier this month.

We perceive that that is solely rolling out to Discord family and friends servers immediately, adopted by a wider beta to small servers after which broader availability within the subsequent few weeks. Discord is tentatively aiming to launch it to all customers by the top of October.

We reached out to each Discord and Google to touch upon the brand new YouTube integration, however Discord declined to remark. Google didn’t reply in time for publication.