Twitch is a San Francisco-based video streaming service that lets users upload and watch live gameplay videos for free. The videos can be streamed from Microsoft Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 consoles. Twitch is also reported to have received offers from Microsoft and other companies but preferred YouTube as its partner. If the Microsoft-Twitch deal had gone through, the software giant would most likely have made the service as an Xbox exclusive which could have harmed Twitch’s traffic from other consoles. At the time of its foundation, the service raised about $35 million in funding from investors like Bessemer Venture Partners, Alsop Louie Partners, WestSummit Capital, Take-Two Interactive Software, Thrive Capital and Draper Associates. Even though Twitch is still available on Xbox, it will be interesting to see how YouTube deals with the Microsoft-owned platform as the two companies have had a bad relationship in recent times. Previously, Google had declined to develop a YouTube app for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. Later, when Microsoft developed the app itself, Google revoked the developer API of that app. Twitch is available on iOS and Android mobile platforms as an app as well. The service streams content in high definition and offers browsing options for the top streamers. Users can browse the service by game titles and also allows registered users to follow their favorite channels. On the PC, Twitch has been integrated into PC as a software as well (other than the in-browser support) through EA’s Origin Software, Ubisoft’s Uplay, and Nvidia’s ShadowPlay feature. Wall Street Journal, on the other hand, has also confirmed the reports but says that the deal might not be finalized soon. Despite the rumors, YouTube and Twitch haven’t denied the reports either. Source: DIGIT
