Microsoft and streaming video platform Twitch announced today that they’re launching what Xbox Live’s Major Nelson calls “one of the most asked for apps” on the platform: a Twitch viewing app for Xbox 360. It launches today and provides Xbox Live Gold subscribers with access to 300 popular streams from the video service. Individual channels are searchable by popularity and by specific games.
The Twitch app’s “dashboard” features live events like tournaments and shows as well as “curated channels” from across Twitch, as Major Nelson, a.k.a. Xbox Live programming director Larry Hryb, explained on his blog. Further, the Xbox 360 Twitch app is to host an “exclusive broadcast” following next week’s reveal of Microsoft’s new Xbox console on May 21. The stream will begin at 3pm ET, and it will also be viewable at Twitch.tv.
Twitch is a popular platform for video game streaming, but the Xbox 360 Twitch app does not allow users to stream video from their consoles. Certain games, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, feature support for Twitch streaming, but such decisions are left in the hands of the game publishers, a Twitch spokesperson tells Digital Trends.
“The app is for viewing only,” the statement reads. “Any software or hardware developer is capable of integrating live streaming functionality into their products if that’s the direction they want to take, but we can’t comment on specific companies who currently have integrations in the works. It’s safe to say that live streaming is definitely a growing trend in this industry as illustrated by EA, Activision, Ubisoft and Sony Online Entertainment, all of which have announced Twitch integrations.”
