Due to an expiring license agreement with Google, Apple's upcoming iOS 6 update will no longer include YouTube as one of the default apps.
The change was picked up by 9to5Mac, who noticed the YouTube app was strangely absent from the beta version of iOS 6 currently making the rounds.
Though Apple is already cutting Google Maps from iOS 6 in favor of its own proprietary map app, Maps, the absence of YouTube from the next operating system is due to an expiring license.
According to a statement from Apple, the "license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended, customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store."
Google developing its own YouTube app
With the license expiring does come a bit of potentially good news, as now Google will be creating its own YouTube app to be downloaded through the App Store.
The loss of the built-in app for iOS 6 could give Google a chance to overhaul the YouTube app, and make it a bit more tailored to the mobile experience, while also promoting the litany of original content on the service.
Though iOS 6 will be losing the app, Apple did confirm to Engadget that the app will remain a part of iOS 5, and other older operating systems.
How many users will stick with iOS 5 once iOS 6 arrives this fall remains to be seen, but at it appears whatever licensing deal Apple and Google have for YouTube will allow the app to remain functional without upgrading.
TechRadar reached out to Apple for more information on Google's upcoming YouTube app, and will update this story if and when we learn more.