Is YouTube trying to push Let's Players off the platform?

[Dizzae]

Maybe it’s a change in what viewers, on the main, want now and that their viewing habits have changed.
I remember, years ago, I used to watch several LPers play different games and usually get a few episodes off each of them.
Now with the money to be made on twitch through direct donations and allowing watchers to engage directly with their chosen streamer as they play it’s an overall more interactive experience.
Viewers can now feel like they are showing their support for the streamer directly and it gives a similar impression to going round to a friends house to play something together.
Another thing may be that more and more people are uploading content. With more choices but the same limit on a viewers time (there are only a number of hours in the day) they have to prioritise and choose what to watch and what to skip.

[ollie191]

I might as well just say that the channels I had in mind particularly are OneyPlays and SuperMega, both excellent channels you should all check out if you want a good laugh.

Oney was an animator and SuperMega have been doing live action stuff on and off for a while now, so they know what's up, and I have seen them lean towards doing less gameplay content recently just because it doesn't grab enough people's attention anymore. Game Grumps have done this with their new schedule that prioritises many different kinds of content over let's plays - a direction a lot of channels will have to adopt.

It's a shame, but a harsh reality.

[ollie191]

I didn't mention the algorithm because I think that brings up a million different issues, but in terms of this you're right from what I've seen. It does weirdly favour live action content over gameplay footage, especially those stupid vlog channels that are somehow still going

[ryvrdrgn14]

I feel that interest has shifted from Youtube Let's Plays to other types of videos. I think people that still want to watch games played out have moved over to Twitch. A lot of it has to do with the Let's Player's personality and mileage may vary. You can check Bellular's tweet about his guide video being below 35% of what a launched video would do, meaning that certain types of content on Youtube is either losing the interest of the viewers or it's being outdone by more interesting content that has the algorithm's attention.

Those small channels will probably have to adapt and evolve beyond Let's Play in the current environment. That's just my opinion though.