Twitch opens the doors for iOS and Android broadcasting
Video game broadcasting service Twitch announced an expansion of its streaming services to a new branch of gaming platforms today: mobile devices. Players will be able to stream, capture and archive gameplay on both Android and iOS once developers enable the functionality in their games with Twitch's new mobile software development kit.
If implemented by developers, users will be able to toy with video capture options for front-facing cameras, audio capture using either internal or external microphones and the ability to archive streams on Twitch and upload them to sharing channels. Other features include the standard high, medium and low quality broadcast settings and integration of Twitch's chat system.
The news follows the company's official rebrand in February, at which point it announced that it reached one million active broadcasters per month. Twitch noted in today's announcement that its mobile livestream viewing app has been installed more than 10 million times on Android and iOS.
[Image: Twitch.tv]
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Twitch Announces Mobile Broadcasting and Capture SDK
Twitch hits 10 million installs of Android and iOS mobile app
March 05, 2014 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twitch, the world's leading video platform and community for gamers, today announced the Twitch Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK). This new game developer tool will enable the live broadcasting, capturing and archiving of mobile games. With more than 10 million mobile installs of the Twitch app on Android and iOS devices, this latest innovation will help mobile gaming companies reach the Twitch community directly from their devices and across other platforms as well.
"Our vision is to provide the Twitch community with the ability not only to view, but to broadcast live video game content wherever they are, whether they're on the go or in the living room," said Matthew DiPietro, VP of Marketing, Twitch. "We've achieved that with our PC and console integrations, so the trifecta will soon be complete with our deep and concerted foray into mobile broadcasting."
The Twitch Mobile SDK will offer a number of features that align with the current Twitch broadcasting offerings available on PCs and consoles. These include:
The ability to capture and broadcast gameplay video and audio
Video capture from the front-facing camera
Audio capture using an internal or external microphone
Videos can be archived for immediate viewing on Twitch and uploaded for sharing
Broadcast quality can be toggled between High, Medium, and Low settings
Robust chat options including emoticons badges and chat colors
The easy discovery of related broadcasts from other gamers
"Facilitating the ability to 'broadcast anywhere' by bringing live streaming functionality to mobile has the potential to convert millions of Twitch's passive viewers into active broadcasters," said Michael Pachter, video game analyst, Wedbush Securities. "Now that Twitch has cornered the PC and console markets with turnkey broadcast integrations, given the proliferation of gaming due to the massive penetration of mobile devices, they are in a unique position to change the game once again."
Timing for the Twitch Mobile SDK has been aligned with the recent milestone of more than 10 million installs of the Twitch mobile viewing app. These installs are evenly split between the Android and iOS versions, illustrating the balanced growth and popularity of Twitch by mobile users.
For more information on Twitch, visit our press center and blog with details about the Twitch Developer Program at http://dev.twitch.tv/.
About Twitch
Twitch is the world's leading video platform and community for gamers. More than 45 million gamers gather every month on Twitch to broadcast, watch and chat about gaming. Twitch's video platform is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for the entire video game ecosystem. This includes game publishers, developers, media outlets, industry conventions and press conferences, casual gamers and gaming for charity events. Twitch also caters to the entire esports industry, spanning the top pro players, tournaments, leagues, talk shows and organizations. Learn more at http://twitch.tv.
