Get ready, Xbox gamers. Microsoft today announced that Twitch broadcasting will be available on the Xbox One starting March 11, the same day as the highly anticipated release of Titanfall.
Xbox One users have been able to watch Twitch content on the console since November. But after March 11, you'll be able to livestream the game you're playing by simply saying, "Xbox, Broadcast" at any point. You can also use Kinect to include your picture-in-picture video feed and audio commentary along with the game.
When you're done broadcasting, you can use Twitch to watch games, chat with players you follow, or join another broadcaster's game. Plus, you'll be able to archive your Twitch broadcasts and view livestreams regardless of where they originated, whether it be the Xbox One, Xbox 360, a PC, or Sony's PlayStation 4 .
"Only Xbox One offers the most complete Twitch experience, with access to any live broadcast and the full Twitch catalog," Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of marketing for Xbox, said in a statement.
The Twitch app can also help you meet new friends since you'll be able to view the gamer card of anyone streaming from Xbox One and begin following them. Your Twitch activity will appear in the activity feed of your followers, showing a real-time update of what you're broadcasting or watching.
You can also set up notifications to be alerted when one of your favorite gamers begins broadcasting. During a livestream, broadcasters and viewers will be able to interact; viewers can post comments in the chat stream while the broadcaster verbally responds or assigns a moderator to keep the chat going while they're busy playing.
Broadcasters can also invite friends into a "private party" from the chat stream, allowing them to talk in private, outside of the broadcast.
"Unlike other Twitch console experiences, you can also broadcast a full-screen view of the game you're playing or use an on-screen viewer indicator to keep an eye on how popular your live broadcast is," Microsoft said. "You can even earn Media Achievements just by spectating as you normally would or, we hope, by checking out any of the Xbox One games you haven't seen before."
Twitch boasts more than 45 million unique monthly viewers, making it world's top video platform and community for gamers. Users of the service collectively watch 13 billion minutes of gaming video per month, which comes out to around 106 minutes per person per day.
Twitch broadcasting launched for the PS4 in November, several months after the TV app arrived on the Xbox 360. For a preview of Twitch broadcasting on the Xbox One, check out the video below.
Meanwhile, Microsoft earlier this week announced a new $500 Titanfall Xbox One bundle, which is available online now for pre-order and will hit store shelves March 11. For more, see PCMag's review of the Microsoft Xbox One, as well as our Hands On With the Xbox One Titanfall Beta. Also check out 5 Tips for Dominating the Titanfall Beta.