Twitch is Coming to Sony’s PlayStation 4
Twitch is coming to Sony’s PlayStation 4.
The largest videogame broadcasting community will be integrated into the next-generation PlayStation when it hits store shelves this fall, the companies announced Tuesday at the Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany.
Deal will make Twitch available on both Microsoft’s Xbox One and the PS4, enabling gamers to live stream, share and chat about their playing experiences to others on the devices. The Xbox One deal was announced in June, prompting some to believe Twitch wouldn’t end up on the PS4.
The PlayStation 4′s new controller will include a “share” button that will let users broadcast their gameplay directly to Twitch channels. Through the device, users will also be able to watch content streamed from other PS4 gamers for free.
“PlayStation has a long history of delivering some of the best gaming experiences in the industry and we’re excited to have Twitch available on a console as heavily anticipated as PS4,” said Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. “Through this partnership we are paving the way for every PS4 gamer to become both a broadcaster and an avid spectator of amazing content.”
Twitch has built a massive following when it comes to streaming gameplay.
Since launching in June 2011, Twitch’s broadcasting community has grown to more than 600,000 developers, media outlets, organizations, publishers and individual gamers streaming content each month.
The company counted as many as 38 million unique viewers in July. On Aug. 11, Twitch.tv had 4.5 million unique viewers.
Most visitors turn to the site to view walk-throughs of game levels as a way to improve their skills or get the experience of playing the game if they don’t want to buy a title. Others turn to watch eSporting events featuring gamers competing against each other.
As new videogame consoles hit the market, all are promoting social interaction as a way to build brand loyalty, with Sony seeing Twitch as a way to “help define next-generation gameplay and community engagement,” according to Shuhi Yoshida, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios.
“Social capabilities are an integral part of PS4, so Twitch will play an important role in delivering a compelling connected experience to PlayStation fans,” Yoshida said.
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