The rise of live streaming video games
Video game live streaming is a popular practice of showcasing and watching video gameplay online. It enables the player to interact with tons of players and gaming possibilities all over the world. Streaming became popular in 2010 with the help of sites like YouTube and Twitch. This is no surprise as other industries are engaging in live streaming these days.
Industries like the entertainment industry use live streaming as a means of communicating with their fans and showing exclusive content to their viewers. Even the healthcare industry use live streaming as a means to conduct online consultations, seminars, virtual training, live surgeries and communicate with other medical professionals all over the world.
Streaming platforms
Live streaming video games started becoming popular in mid-2010 to 2011 through a platform called Twitch. As at that time, Twitch had more traffic than the online service of HBO and led to the hastened closure of Justin.tv. It is no surprise as Twitch originally spun out of Justin.tv! Either way, online streaming has taken the bold leap forward and has become accessible by almost everyone.
In short, video game streaming doesn’t require any special gizmo or device. All you need is a PC or mobile device that has access to the internet, and you are good to go. Having a good microphone for game streaming is a plus and you have many options in the market. Doing some research on the internet will help you decide between at2020 vs at2035. Connect the device to the internet and log on to sites like YouTube to follow trending live streams. These live streams can also be redirected to other social media platforms. How? Most online streams are publicized via Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp, to gain the attention of potential viewers. Some people even organize giveaways and contests to gain more followers and public attention.
The launch on Youtube Gaming platform in 2015 helped live streaming video gaming gain more traction. YouTube Gaming is a sub-site of YouTube oriented for video gaming and is intended to be the major competitor with Twitch. These days, streamers and viewers can now register free accounts on live streaming platforms. Gamers have started using platforms like OBS Streaming using a Cloud Desktop to stream across various channels. It allows them to interact among other gamers with the ability to subscribe or follow each other. There are even video games that come with a built-in streaming capability such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. These two consoles also come with an optional camera integration that allows streamers to use the cameras they prefer streaming with.
Those with a PC are not left out as they can use some software like XSplit and Open Broadcaster Software to upload live streams of their gaming to the servers of Twitch. As technology keeps advancing, more PCs are coming with in-built online streaming capabilities. These PCs come with high-end graphics cards and can connect to the internet with better quality connectivity.
The types and genres of video games live streamed are endless. The games range from multiplayer online games, action games, real-time strategy games, battle royale games to esports tournaments. Even slot machine games and casino games have not been left out. Live streaming of casino games has become a popular part of the online gaming community, and it attracts new users each day. It gives viewers a chance to witness what a casino game is like before venturing into it.
The viewers are also free to ask questions in the comment section even as the game is underway. This is why most online casino providers also offer a live casino among their services – that way, customers can entertain each other with their casino products and services. Also, gamers get the chance to experience a real casino in action as most casino game providers like Evolution Gaming, Play n Go and NetEnt are offering live casinos to online casino platforms. All these significant changes have been made to adapt to the ever changing trends of technology. Now with Twitch, you can watch some casino slot games like Wheel of Fortune, Blazing 7s, Game of Thrones, Sphinx, and Double Diamond.
Today, several platforms offer live streaming services such as Facebook, Instagram, Hulu, Twitter, Microsoft and Google. Some of these platforms are making moves to venture in video game online streaming. Why? The popularity of games like League of Legends, Fortnite, and Apex Legends would surely gain a lot of online streaming traffic, and they intend to capitalize on this traffic to drive more traffic to their platform. This doesn’t benefit the streaming platforms, but the streamers too. Streamers can generate a lot of money from providing scintillating gameplay and entertaining commentary. The profits come mostly from donations, subscriptions, advertisements, and sponsorships from eSports organizations. One shouldn’t be surprised to find that the number of video gaming live stream subscribers on YouTube and Twitch surpass that of Netflix, HBO, ESPN, and Hulu combined.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that live streaming makes gaming more interactive and entertaining, among other benefits. Gamers have shown interest in streaming their gameplay, and there are lots of people who would rather watch these gamers than play the game by themselves. There is a lot more to expect from live streaming in video gameplay, and it would surely get more interactive and entertaining than you think.