Twitch brings this traditional activity into the modern age by enabling viewers to stream live gameplay while interacting with broadcasters via chat windows.
Although initially focused on gaming, Twitch now provides access to esports streams, music broadcasts and even “IRL” (in real life) broadcasts – as well as offering various monetization tools.
What is Twitch?
Twitch is an online livestreaming platform that gives users access to video game streaming and other content created by streamers. While YouTube allows viewers to upload pre-produced videos, Twitch only specializes in real-time livestreaming content.
Twitch is most frequently utilized by gamers looking to share their passion for video games with like-minded individuals through chatrooms and direct messages. Furthermore, Twitch allows viewers to donate through Bits (similar to PayPal).
Not just limited to gaming, there are various content creators that use the platform for broadcast. Examples of such include talk shows, cooking shows, sporting events and other activities; for example Australian non-profit WildEarth provides daily sunrise safaris on this platform as part of their education initiative about animal lives.
Twitch’s popularity due to games such as Fortnite, which allows players from around the globe to team up online, has propelled its standing as an online socializing tool. Parents should be aware that children may use it to meet strangers, potentially unwittingly being exposed to inappropriate material or contact from unknown sources. To protect children against this possibility, parents and guardians should familiarize their children with Twitch’s privacy settings and chatroom rules; additionally they should discuss their use with them regularly.
Getting Started
Twitch offers businesses great potential. This platform can be leveraged to promote your company, increase brand recognition, build and foster community connections and generate leads and sales leads.
Begun as a livestreaming service for gamers and esports players, Twitch has grown into a platform hosting over 9 million channels with content ranging from video games to cooking shows and DIY videos.
One of the many great features of Twitch is that it is free for users, though they can monetize their streams by purchasing items from its store or using Bits (Twitch’s virtual currency) as currency for payments or by “Cheering” other streamers in chat – giving positive feedback in real time for each streamer!
Brands can make great use of Twitch to target specific audiences, create branded streams, and take advantage of influencer marketing. PepsiCo ran a Twitch tournament for their limited-edition Brisk product and reached gaming enthusiasts directly through it. Other examples of brands leveraging Twitch include noodle companies broadcasting about their products; as well as non-profits broadcasting sunrise safaris to raise awareness for wildlife conservation. These campaigns all were successful in reaching their goals while engaging audiences.
Creating a Stream
No matter who or what you are streaming – be it video gaming, cosplaying, cooking or simply showing off your pet (Twitch has an entire category for cat streams!), Twitch has an active community who enjoy watching others do cool stuff. Although getting started can seem intimidating at first, getting streaming up and running is easier than you think; all it requires is an Internet-enabled device and the necessary streaming software.
Popular streaming tools include XSplit and OBS; however, Twitch Studio provides its own all-in-one solution that includes features such as dual monitor support, multiple on-screen layout options and customizable overlays.
Be mindful that live video and gaming at the same time can place a strain on your CPU, and for maximum efficiency we advise having a dedicated graphics card installed such as Nvidia’s RTX series GPUs which include encoders to ease this load on your processor.
Serious streamers take great care to acknowledge viewers, create an enjoyable environment and capitalize on any opportunities to monetize their stream by recruiting sponsors. In addition, they ensure they have sufficient equipment such as two-factor authentication to protect their account and record gameplay footage.
Streaming on the Xbox One
Twitch gives gamers and anyone interested in lifestyle broadcasts about food or music the ability to live stream their gaming sessions and allow viewers to watch in real-time, from just minutes up to eight-hour streams and beyond. Viewers can locate streams by browsing channels, games or genres or following specific streamers so as to receive updates and notifications about activity updates or notifications about specific streamers’ streams.
Twitch does not provide a comprehensive suite of parental controls, but does offer tools that help safeguard younger users against content and language that might be considered inappropriate for younger viewers. For instance, its Browse tab enables users to apply content tags that filter certain types of streams out from appearing on the main page; also included is an algorithmic feature which suggests an optimal resolution based on viewer speed of internet connectivity.
Twitch offers Lightstream Studio integration for more experienced streamers, enabling them to add overlays, alerts, multiple scenes and widgets without investing in an external streaming computer or capture card. Mobile friendly and compatible with Xbox One X or S series consoles – and compatible with Twitch Prime which offers additional features such as bonus channel subscription every month without additional charge, member-only chat and more broadcast storage capacity. Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist who has written for Business Insider, Teen Vogue and The Los Angeles Times with expertise ranging across personal finance, culture and politics.