{"id":336994,"date":"2017-03-29T02:00:25","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T18:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/techcrunch.com\/?p=1469713"},"modified":"2017-03-29T02:00:25","modified_gmt":"2017-03-28T18:00:25","slug":"twitch-to-start-selling-video-games-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/asmawisham\/twitch-to-start-selling-video-games-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Twitch to start selling video games this week"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Video game streaming site Twitch will soon begin selling PC games and other in-game content on its site, the company says. We understand\u00a0the games may\u00a0arrive as soon as tomorrow or later this week, though the exact timing\u00a0is still in flux. Already one of the top destinations for live streaming and fan engagement, it\u2019s not surprising that Twitch would take the final step to become a video game retailer as well, especially considering the company is owned by Amazon.<\/p>\n

Twitch\u2019s move to become a game retailer\u00a0was announced earlier this year<\/a> with plans for a spring arrival.<\/p>\n

However, unlike traditional online retailers, Twitch offers several incentives to encourage Twitch users to buy from its site. Game buyers will receive a free Twitch Crate, which will include an assortment of items that can be used on its site while watching\u00a0streams and interacting with other users. For example, there may be exclusive emotes<\/a>\u00a0(Twitch\u2019s own emojis), chat badges and Bits for Cheering<\/a> \u2013 items that typically cost Twitch users\u00a0money to acquire.<\/p>\n

These Twitch Crates will be doled out to any purchases, games or otherwise, that cost $4.99 or more.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At launch, there will be around 50 titles and related in-game content available for purchase, Twitch says, up from the couple dozen announced earlier.<\/p>\n

The debut lineup includes\u00a0Ubisoft\u2019s For Honor and Tom Clancy\u2019s Ghost Recon: Wildlands; Telltale Games\u2019 The Walking Dead and Minecraft: Story Mode; Hi-Rez Studios\u2019 SMITE and Paladins; Paradox Interactive\u2019s Tyranny; Trion Worlds\u2019 Atlas Reactor; Double Fine Productions\u2019 Broken Age and Psychonauts; Campo Santo\u2019s Firewatch; Jackbox Games\u2019 Jackbox Party Pack 3; and Digital Extremes\u2019 Warframe, among others. The games will roll out starting today and over the next week.<\/p>\n

The Partnered streamers who have opted into this new commerce program will earn 5 percent for the sales from their channel, Twitch says. The game publishers, meanwhile, earn 70 percent of revenue for the game sales.<\/p>\n

The games and the in-game items will be made available for sale on Twitch channel and game detail pages, and Twitch\u2019s streamers will become the site\u2019s salesforce and marketing team, in a sense.<\/p>\n

Partnered streamers will be able to earn money from the purchases made on their channel pages, which gives them an incentive to encourage their fans to buy. This could lead to problems down the road, if streamers begin\u00a0promoting titles for the cash and not because they truly \u00a0like and recommend\u00a0them. But streamers who dare to cross that line would likely be called out by fans, and could risk their reputation.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve already seen\u00a0how the infusion of advertising has had an impact on YouTube, where creators haven\u2019t disclosed their relationships with brands, or are using products in their videos without acknowledging that they\u2019ve received compensation for doing so. Similarly, Twitch streamers will need to be upfront when they tout a title that\u2019s available for sale, in order to be transparent with their audience.<\/p>\n

But the very fact that there are games to now sell could impact streamers\u2019 plans on what to play\u00a0next \u2013 subtly shifting the type of content on Twitch to those that favor the gaming companies participating in Twitch\u2019s marketplace.<\/p>\n

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The games are available for download through the\u00a0Twitch Desktop App<\/a>. The company announced earlier this month it would be relaunching the Curse app<\/a> \u2013 from the company it acquired last year<\/a> \u2013 as a revamped Twitch Desktop. The new app includes\u00a0community servers, voice and video messaging, and aims to\u00a0serve as the home for Twitch\u2019s game content distribution system. The app was scheduled to arrived ahead of today\u2019s launch of game downloads.<\/p>\n

The move into game sales puts Twitch up against other game marketplaces like Steam and Valve, but has a strong\u00a0social network to pull in more sales. The company\u2019s website tout 9.7 million daily active users, including over 2 million unique streamers per month and over 17,000 Partnered Program members.<\/p>\n

The company is kicking off the launch of game sales with a Twitch Crates Gear Giveaway<\/a> promotion, offering a chance at winning games and streaming gear, and a grand prize of over $500 in pro streaming equipment, now through April.<\/p>\n

Featured Image: Twitch<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\" Video game streaming site Twitch will soon begin selling PC games and other in-game content on its site, the company says. We understand\u00a0the games may\u00a0arrive as soon as tomorrow or later this week, though the exact timing\u00a0is still in flux. Already one of the top destinations for live streaming and fan engagement, it’s not surprising that Twitch would take the final step to become a… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

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