Launched in January to cash in on the growing streaming service market dominated by the well-established YouTube and Twitch, the Seattle-based Beam allows people to interact during a live-streamed game.
Beam enables streamers to suggest challenges, delegate missions and summon adversaries. It also allows viewers to select virtual gear in games being streamed online and lets developers build special button layouts for users to interact.
Xbox Live partner group program manager Chad Gibson said with Beam and its technology, they are further committed to make Xbox Live “more social and fun.”
Microsoft gets in the game and buys live-streaming start-up Beam #gaming #livestreaming
— SiliconRepublic (@siliconrepublic) August 12, 2016
“With Beam you don’t just watch your favorite streamer play, you play along with them,” Gibson said.
“You can give them new challenges and make real-time choices that affect their gameplay, from tool selection to quests to movement; all through simple visual controls.”
Following acquisition, Beam’s small team will continue operating with the help from Microsoft’s Xbox division as Beam CEO Matt Salsamendi and his colleagues will be integrated into the Xbox engineering group.
Microsoft is bolstering its Xbox arsenal with the purchase of streaming startup Beam. August 12, 2016
“As part of Xbox, we’ll be able to scale faster than we’ve ever been able to before,” Salsamendi wrote on Beam’s website.
“We’re expanding the team, bolstering our infrastructure, and most importantly, continuing to grow and support the amazing community at Beam.”
Gibson said one best aspect of Beam is its easy interactivity that enables viewers to customize, aside from its compatibility with any game.
He said they aim to provide users great multiplayer experiences with the freedom to choose the games, the devices and the players they want.
“We know that Beam is part of a vibrant community of gamers and streamers and we plan to provide a great experience for all of our fans,” he said. “We look forward to sharing more about Beam and our vision for interactive game streaming in the future.”
