Beam (website)
Beam is a Seattle-based live streaming video platform owned by Microsoft. The service officially launched on January 5, 2016.[1]
Similarly to competing services, Beam focuses on video gaming, including playthroughs of video games, but is primarily distinguished by features designed to allow viewers to interact with streams. Using an SDK, features can be integrated into games to allow users to affect gameplay or vote on elements using buttons displayed alongside the stream. Users earn "Beam XP" for watching and participating in streams, which can then be spent to activate these features. Due to its HTML5 video architecture, Beam also advertises an average latency of 200 milliseconds. The reduction in delay between the original broadcast and when it is received by viewers is meant to improve the real-time nature of these interactivity features.[2]
On August 11, 2016, Beam was acquired by Microsoft for an undisclosed amount. The service's team was integrated into the Xbox division.[3][4][1] On October 26, 2016, Microsoft announced that Beam would be integrated into Windows 10.[5]
References
- 1 2 "Microsoft acquires Beam interactive game live streaming service". TechCrunch. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ↑ "Microsoft acquires game-streaming site, will integrate features into its games". Ars Technica. Conde Nast. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
- ↑ "Xbox Live gets more social with Microsoft's Beam buy". CNET. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
- ↑ O'Brien, Sara Ashley (2016-08-12). "Microsoft acquires gaming startup Beam run by 18-year-old". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- ↑ "Game streaming coming to Windows 10, and bitstream coming to Xbox One". Ars Technica. Conde Nast. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
