SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Twitch, the world’s leading video platform and community for gamers, today announced the launch of its new open developer program – an online toolkit for game developers and community portals. In addition to an expanded set of APIs and Unity PC broadcasting support, Twitch is launching a new version of its Software Development Kit (SDK), which will enable developers to harness game data alongside video for an unprecedented social component. Among the benefits of the Twitch SDK beyond live broadcasting of games, is the ability to automatically identify compelling highlights from within a broadcast and prompt users to share them with friends and fellow community members.
"Much of the appeal of live video game broadcasting is like the appeal of traditional sports broadcasting. Spectators and players love to watch and re-watch the very best moments, but having access to deep statistics about the game makes it all the better," said Emmett Shear, Twitch CEO. "With our new SDK, developers will be able to share events and statistics about what's going on in the game alongside the video itself. All kinds of things will be available, from what map a broadcasted game was on to a running total of the number of bricks ever placed. There's huge room for creativity here from both developers and players."
The more information developers embed in their streams, the easier it is for viewers to search for and engage with the content they’re looking for. The following are some of the many ways in which developers can use Twitch to deepen their player’s experience:
- Showcase your community’s top video: Once integrated, Twitch will give all developer partners full visibility into the performance of their community’s video content
- Learn what’s popular and promote those moments to your users: help foster and grow superstar players and an army of fans who aspire to be
- Enable a rich and diverse catalogue of highlights for users to analyze as a means of improving their own gameplay skills
- Create new channels of community interaction both on Twitch and the developer’s own video-enriched community sites and social media
- Display a community’s top players and connect friends with live gameplay streams
- Enhance organic clip posts via contests and rewards
- Showcase new DLC with authentic user moments
“Our community has been asking for better video tools and we are delighted to be able to deliver them with the integration of Twitch into Company of Heroes 2,” commented Greg Wilson, Producer, Relic Entertainment. “We are able offer exciting new features like post-match highlight videos, direct game capture and much more.”
The integration of Twitch into both software and hardware has continued to grow since the brand launched in June of 2011 with the site now attracting more than 35 million visitors every month. Among the high profile partners who offer Twitch functionality are Electronic Arts (Origin), Activision (Call of Duty: Black Ops II), and Ubisoft (TrackMania² games, ShootMania Storm), while some of the games from both current and new partners who will be leveraging the new SDK include SEGA of America (Company of Heroes 2), Grinding Gear Games (Path of Exile), Hi-Rez Studios (Smite), CCP Games (EVE Online), Sony Online Entertainment (PlanetSide® 2) and Gaijin Entertainment (War Thunder).
For more information about the Twitch developer program, visit: www.twitch.tv/p/developers
About Twitch
Twitch is the world’s leading video platform and community for gamers. More than 35 million gamers gather every month on Twitch to broadcast, watch and chat about gaming. Twitch’s video platform is the backbone of both live and on-demand distribution for leading video game broadcasters including casual gamers, pro players, tournaments, leagues, developers and gaming media organizations. Twitch is leading a revolution in the gaming community, working to create a participatory experience that transcends gameplay. Learn more at http://twitch.tv.
