Twitch might be the current leader in live streaming, but Microsoft-owned Beam is hoping its integration into Windows 10 and Xbox One will give gamers another platform to choose from, possibly becoming the default streaming platform for Windows.
This past week, Microsoft revealed its future plans for the Game Broadcasting feature and Twitch-like service, which it acquired earlier this summer. The Beam live streaming service allows viewers to better directly interact with a broadcaster’s game, with Microsoft claiming that it will minimize streaming lag, too.
Through new built-in interactive features, broadcasters will also have the ability to respond to chat messages almost instantly as well as receive audio commands from Beam users throughout their session.
Even with the announcement, though, Microsoft said that the existing Twitch integration on Xbox One will continue.
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“Beam will let you watch live gaming streams and give you the ability to interact with broadcasters in near real time,” a Microsoft spokesperson recently told Mashable. “Plus, since Beam technology is built right into Windows 10 and Xbox One, anyone on Xbox Live can become a game broadcaster without needing to download additional software. By building Beam technology right into Windows 10 and Xbox One, we’re making it easier than ever for anyone to be a game broadcaster by creating a seamless experience where users can both view and broadcast game streams in near real-time.
“We continue to support our existing streaming partners like Twitch, but are excited to see the Xbox community take advantage of the new streaming and interactivity options offered with Beam. We want to give fans more choice in how and where they stream their games.”
Users who are not a member of the Windows Insider program will have to wait until the Windows 10’s Creators Update launches in early 2017 to access the streaming update.