Twitch integration on PS4? Streaming service and Sony weigh in

When Microsoft revealed at E3 2013 that the ridiculously popular game broadcasting service Twitch will be integrated directly into the Xbox One, our first question was whether the PlayStation 4 might host the service as well at some point.

[FlameHawk]

So basically if Sony really wanted Twitch on PS4, all they would have to do is ask them?

[theWB27]

That's usually how business works...one company approaches another and they go from there.

[abzdine]

it's crazy how every PS4 news is very good news for future owners!

[HAL_Kn0wZbest]

@ abzdine

Crazy and sad...but when it's other news they hop on it in a instance to prove anything otherwise against Sony's flaws.

[miDnIghtEr20C_SfF]

Twitch announced for the X1... "who cares!"

Twitch announced possible for PS4... "ahhhh ya! can't wait!"

[Godmars290]

Except when its MS, a "don't work with those guys, either forever or 'X' amount of time" seems to apply.

Not that Sony does the same, just that when they do it its not specific.

[a_squirrel]

@miDnIght-whatever
You serious? Look at the comments, like, so if sony just asked them they could get it, that's how business works, blah blah, good news for ps4 owners blah blah.

Don't be so blind.

[Christopher]

I don't get what the "big" need for Twitch is if there's UStream already. The fact that at least one service from each is being used and will be available to the public online, isn't that good enough and giving options is just that, optional? Why is the article making this a big deal?

[PlayStation_4]

Twitch is primarily used for gaming while UStream isn't.

[wishingW3L]

because Twitch has way better community. Another thing is that Twitch it's so much easier to navigate because you can find streams based on the game you want to watch and stuff. UStream is simply a mess to navigate and to look for a good stream. On top of it for some reason most of the streamers are Japanese, so you can't even enjoy the chat nor understand what they are streaming.

[JsonHenry]

Twitch has much better name recognition and is synonymous with game streaming. If both Ustream and Twitch were offered to the average gamer then I would be willing to bet the bank Twitch would win in a landslide.

However Ustream is a decent service and I don't think the PS4 will be hurt, nor the gamers, if the only option is Ustream.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Ustream is everything. Twitch is specifically gaming. YouTube is freaking YouTube. But for whatever reason, they went with ustream. As you said, options are great, and I'd like to have them. I would much sooner use YouTube or Twitch before Ustream.

[-Alpha]

Ustream has been going on a steady decline, while twitch.tv has been rising in popularity.

I'm not sure if PS4 can turn that around for Ustream. As a gaming console, twitch.tv seems much more appropriate for Sony.

MS getting twitch is going to be a big deal to those who stream, so I hope Sony announces twitch support pretty soon. I was actually pretty shocked that they went with Ustream to begin with.

At least based on this site's comparisons: http://www.alexa.com/sitein...
http://www.alexa.com/sitein...

[Christopher]

All I'm seeing here is people brainwashed into the way that Twitch.tv wants people to be brainwashed.

Obviously because Twitch is geared towards gamers, UStream can't be with the PS4 implementation. And, obviously because UStream isn't geared towards gamers now, mean it never will be.

Forgo the whole subjective elements.

***Ustream has been going on a steady decline, while twitch.tv has been rising in popularity. ***

Everything I've heard has seen a steady status for UStream, not a decline.

http://intellihub.com/2013/...

http://mashable.com/2012/08...

2011: 60m viewers a month
2012: 75m viewers a month
2013: No signs of it being reduced, especially with major events always being more covered and watched on UStream than cable news.

---

I'm not saying UStream is the bee's knees, but there is nothing here that says it can't work as well for both considering the majority of twitch/ustream integration will be on the Xbox One and PS4, respectively. Considering videos on both will be tied to the game being played, I'm not sure either will see an issue with finding videos, subscribing to users, or anything of the like.

All I see is that Twitch.tv is more focused on games only, whereas UStream is focused more broadly. To me, that doesn't justify a reason why one is better than another when it comes to console integration and quality of feeds.

[nosferatuzodd]

sony the fans say give us twitch

[PositiveEmotions]

Nice!!!

[Ketzicorn]

I hope they announce at Gamescom what kind of support for Game Capture cards they will have.

[Muerte2494]

It would be the same way of trying to capture videos on the ps3. There are HDMI workarounds for it. I also believe that there's something about ps4 capture being unlimited. You Will have plenty of options for the PlayStation 4

[stage88]

The Twitch.TV owner already said he would like Twitch on all machines that can run it. It'll no doubt show up on PS4.

[GusBricker]

I thought Sony made a deal with Ustream, though?

[elhebbo16]

yea that was one of their key points back in february.

[kingPoS]

I thought options were a good thing?

[ElementX]

Not really because Sony fans want MS to back out of the console business

[RememberThe357]

So true.

[Christopher]

Options are good, but why is this article making being on Twitch as if it's a Godsend or the sort? Isn't it just that, another option that doesn't take away from the fact that a service of the same sort is already available on the PS4?

[McScroggz]

I get the sense that either Sony is backing Ustream to try and make it the number one streaming service (which I don't see happening) or Ustream paid Sony to exclusively use them. Just guessing here.

It sounds like Twitch could come to PS4, but that it won't because Sony is going with Ustream. I hope the PS4 does allow Twitch to work because that would be awesome.

[theWB27]

The main reason I don't think so is because both systems were built with either streaming options in mind.

If Sony adopted Twitch it wouldn't be as good as X1...same goes for X1 if they adopted Ustream. They both have their streaming services and are running with it.

[Hicken]

How can you tell what'll be better on one than the other?

How do you know that the PS4 won't be able to do Twitch as good as the XB1? Given than they're virtually identical services, wouldn't it be a simple software task to make the PS4 able to run Twitch as the XB1?

And the same goes the other way around: why would the XB1 be worse at running Ustream than the PS4?

[theWB27]

@Hicken
"Dipietro also brought up the software development kit that Twitch launched this year. It provides developers with the tools to easily integrate Twitch features like metadata tracking and streaming within their games. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is a good example of this, and indie PC game Guncraft also recently announced Twitch integration as well.
Most importantly, the SDK is platform-agnostic, so devs can utilize those features on any platform - including PS4. But the software-level integration that the Twitch SDK allows will no doubt look different from the Xbox One's hardware-level Twitch features."

I know there's a difference between software and hardware integration. Ustream and Twitch are built with hardware integration...it's in the very fabric of each system.

Twitch is on the 360 right now..as software. But all you can do is watch feeds. If it were that easy to implement wouldn't streaming already be there? Just a question.

With that in mind...it makes since to think that they both wouldn't be as good as the other since each system is not built for the other service.

Just because the services do the same thing, doesn't mean they act the same. Different code..different architecture. Just like games having different engines... -_-

[Hicken]

If it's just software, and if the hardware is as similar as you and others say, then why wouldn't it be a fairly easy port to get either service on the other console?

Additionally, I don't see anywhere in your quote that it's hardware integrated. Rather, I see the opposite, if "platform-agnostic" means what I'm certain it means.

As for the 360, who knows? Maybe it has to do with the RAM limitations of the consoles? Seems as logical an explanation as any.

[Christopher]

Sony and UStream have a partnership for their corporate use. Have for many years. I doubt it's a limited partnership, but Sony's company logo is on the UStream site alongside other companies/organizations.

I still don't get the dislike towards UStream considering it's used by more people and has more support than Twitch.tv, which is pretty much used by... gamers... and that's it.

[Enate]

Considering I don't know a single person who uses ustream and everyone I know uses twitch its a big deal. An after going to ustreams website after that reveal for the first time in years. It was terrible laid out and caters to a completely different audience. An you keep mentioning used by gamers well this is a gaming console. In which case games will be played on it and gamers will be watching hints twitch.

[Christopher]

***Considering I don't know a single person who uses ustream and everyone I know uses twitch its a big deal.***

Well, shit, if we decide everything based on what you "know", then we'd probably still be in the dark ages.

Hint: Just because you don't use it or know anyone that does, doesn't mean it's the worst product.

***An you keep mentioning used by gamers well this is a gaming console. In which case games will be played on it and gamers will be watching hints twitch.***

Gamers also use UStream, just not as many. You seem to think that because Twitch.tv is used aimed at gamers that it is better for gamers. Notwithstanding your expert skills at determining which one has the better UI when it comes to utilizing it on the PS4 and XBOne.

[WeAreLegion]

They're going with Ustream. Just as good.

[MisfitsInc]

aside from the chat functions, UStream is a better service. Twitch is constantly dealing with technical difficulties.

[MotoDot]

I can't wait to play games and watch my favorite shows on my ps4 ^_^

[Godlovesgamers]

Nobody really cares about twitch. Theres this other site called youtube, you might have heard of it.

[ElementX]

As much as I love gaming I've never been interested in watching videos of other people play.

[thehitman]

I thought the same but when you watch professional gamers compete in tournaments at a high level it gets sometimes exciting to watch depending on the game. I watch SC2 tournys a lot and sometimes they are boring or sometimes they are really really good. Some people are just good entertainers as well as they play and are fun to watch. You can see the best play and learn different strategies and tactics from them. A lot more people being able to stream however may dilute the quality of popular streams.

[corvusmd]

So....this article goes on and on about how awesome Twitch will be for XB1...then quickly mentions how PS4 isn't using it...and that Sony only mentions "upstream" when asked, and that the Share button use still isn't clearly defined....then somehow this article gets named "will Twitch get integrated to PS4?" ...awesome, so an article that is positive about XB1 gets labeled as a possible good thing for PS4, despite Sony practically saying no....bias this gen is getting ridiculous.

[BanditZA]

I'm a big twitch user myself and I just checked out the ustream website... It is actually has a very large user base with some nice gaming shows too

[arbitor365]

ive used ustream for years. it is best streaming service around. sony does not need twitch in any way whatsoever

[badkolo]

cant agree with that, twitch is a little smoother all around and im sure sony will get it

[Sideras]

Sounds like they have some marketing deal with Ustream, so they will porbably only mention them.

[BurnedCorn]

Hmmm Im tired of P$4 news. Just release the console to experience the poor reality.

[thehitman]

I pray for twitch intergration only feature im jealous xb1 has.

[Godmars290]

Best guess would be that given all of the XB1 negativity, whatever deal MS had with Twitch in regards to exclusivity, limited or otherwise, is being reconsidered. MS only "won" the right to announce that the XB1 would have it first.

[badkolo]

right now all i care about is this munumental deal with viacom, if sony pulls that off, ms can kiss my preverbial ass. I really like the ps4 youtube upload feature but i also like the twitch and ustream idea which is basicly the same, but this tv deal truly intrigues me more then anything, if sony can pull off all the major channels at a decent price then bye bye ms