To rotate several prerecorded gameplay videos in an OBS-powered YouTube Live stream, add them to an OBS VLC Video source and turn on Loop Playlist. That creates a playlist inside OBS; the official OBS documentation reviewed here does not confirm that VLC Video can import a separate plain-text or M3U playlist file. If you need a text file to control the rotation, verify that your OBS version supports that workflow before relying on it.
Can OBS rotate gaming VODs from a text file?
OBS documents a playlist built within its VLC Video source, where you add media items and set their playback behavior. Its separate Text source can display text from a file, but that is not the same feature as a media playlist. The official OBS pages reviewed do not establish that VLC Video imports an external plain-text or M3U playlist, what syntax it would accept, or whether it reloads edits while OBS is running. Do not assume that a text file will control playback without checking documentation or testing the specific OBS version you use.
OBS’s format guide discusses playlist files used by HLS streaming to direct a player to segmented video. That transport mechanism is not evidence that OBS’s local VLC Video source accepts an HLS, M3U, or other text playlist file: OBS: Streaming with HLS.
Set up a rotating playlist of local VODs
1. Check the videos and your rights
Make sure you are authorized to rebroadcast each VOD, including any game footage, music, overlays, or other third-party material it contains. YouTube says, “All live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content, including copyrighted content in the form of another live broadcast.” A detected match can result in a placeholder, interruption, or termination. Even if you have a licence, the rights owner may need to allowlist your channel through Content ID. See YouTube Help: Copyright issues with live streams.
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2. Install VLC and add the source
- Install VLC media player. OBS requires VLC for the VLC Video source to be available; if you use 64-bit OBS, OBS specifies that you need 64-bit VLC.
- In OBS, open the scene where the gameplay videos should appear. In the Sources panel, click the + button and choose VLC Video.
- Add the video files to the source’s playlist in the order you want them to play. OBS describes VLC Video as supporting a playlist of items, unlike the single-item Media Source. Follow the controls shown in your installed OBS version; labels and details can vary by version.
See OBS’s official Media Sources documentation. It is dated 2022-01-11, so treat its control names as version-dependent.
3. Set the playback behavior
- Loop Playlist: Enable this to restart the playlist after its last item ends.
- Shuffle Playlist: Leave it off to play in the order you added the files; enable it if you want randomized order.
- Visibility Behaviour: Choose whether playback continues, pauses, or stops when the source is hidden. Check this setting if you switch scenes or hide the source and later find playback has stopped or resumed unexpectedly.
4. Test the scene before going live
Start playback in OBS and check that the video and audio are present in the intended scene. If you use scene changes or hide the source, confirm the selected Visibility Behaviour matches your plan. Check that the final playlist item advances back to the first when Loop Playlist is enabled. This verifies the local playback workflow; it does not verify YouTube’s stream event, title, category, or other metadata.
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Use Media Source for one repeating VOD
If you only have one video, use OBS’s ordinary Media Source and enable its Loop option. VLC Video is the documented choice for a playlist of multiple media items; Media Source has its own single-file loop control. Do not treat the two controls as interchangeable.
Keep OBS playback separate from YouTube setup
The OBS source determines what media plays in the scene. Configure and verify the YouTube Live event separately; the reviewed OBS documentation does not say that advancing a VOD updates the YouTube stream title, game category, or other event metadata. A playback playlist also does not establish that your content is rights-cleared or eligible for monetization.
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Gameplay rights and monetization
YouTube says game-content monetization depends on the commercial-use rights granted by game publishers. Its guidance warns that simple gameplay may not be accepted for monetization without appropriate rights; qualifying commentary needs to be tied to the action and provide instructional or educational value. Check YouTube Help: Video game and software content and the applicable publisher terms. Automating a playlist does not create permission or monetization eligibility.
Troubleshooting rotation problems
- VLC Video is missing from the source menu: Install VLC and match its architecture to OBS; OBS specifically calls for 64-bit VLC with 64-bit OBS.
- The playlist stops after the last VOD: Enable Loop Playlist in the VLC Video source.
- The videos play in an unexpected order: Turn off Shuffle Playlist for listed order, or enable it if random order is intended.
- Playback changes when you switch scenes: Review the source’s Visibility Behaviour, which controls whether playback continues, pauses, or stops while hidden.
- A text file does not populate or update the playlist: The official OBS documentation reviewed here confirms an in-source playlist, not external plain-text or M3U import. Add files using the source’s playlist controls unless you have verified support for your specific version.
- YouTube interrupts the live stream: Check YouTube’s copyright notices and resolve any third-party content match. A licence may not be sufficient unless the rights owner has also allowlisted your channel through Content ID.
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