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Steam Broadcasting Now Open To Everyone

Posted by Soulskill on from the for-when-you're-too-lazy-to-play-a-video-game dept.

jones_supa writes: The beta test phase of Steam Broadcasting feature has been completed. It is now available to everyone by updating the client to the newest version. The feature allows users to watch and stream games to and from users on your friends list. Right-clicking the name of a friend who is in-game offers the option to "Watch Game." This will send a request which needs to be accepted by the player so that the spectator can hop in. A chat is also included. Steam Broadcasting was first announced late last year as an alternative to third-party streaming services like Twitch, Ustream and Hitbox.

7 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Great! How do I disable it by _xeno_ · · Score: 4, Informative

    Settings, Broadcasting, change "Privacy Setting" to "Broadcasting disabled."

    Although I'm pretty sure you have to explicitly choose to start broadcasting, although once you start, I could easily see Steam continuing to broadcast even after you left the game.

    --
    You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
  2. It's actually a nice feature. by preflex · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've found Steam's broadcasting feature to be quite handy for getting a handle on the basic mechanics of games with a steep learning curve, such as Crusader Kings II. If you tell a player you're watching him for the purposes of learning the game, he will often slow down and explain his actions.

    I also like to watch FTL. It's fun to be a back-seat starship captain, and many of the players like it too, as having an extra set of eyes and ears can be helpful for catching things you might overlook: "Uhh, dude ... Your ship is on fire ... ".

  3. Pointless by damicatz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It isn't open to everyone. It doesn't support any web browsers other than Chrome and Windows 8Internet Explorer. They won't be competing with Twitch anytime soon with those restrictions.

  4. Re:World's most useless feature by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful
    • People who want to preview before they buy
    • People who are interested in the story of a game but not actually playing it.
    • People who want to watch someone better play a game.
    • People who are waiting for their friend to finish playing so they can join in.
    • People who are doing something but want background noise/entertainment.
  5. Re:World's most useless feature by CronoCloud · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Who the hell wants to watch other people play games when you could be playing them yourself?

    That's what I said. But then I started watching a few streams. You can pick up tactics, skills, ideas from streams. You can also help out new players, or watch a game you're interested in buying. It has it's uses.

  6. Re:Cool! by pushing-robot · · Score: 4, Funny

    I know what I'll be doing.

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    How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
  7. You can only broadcast on Windows. by CronoCloud · · Score: 3, Informative

    While you can watch streams on Linux and OSX, you can't broadcast with those OS's, not yet anyway. Minecraft's built in streaming doesn't work on Linux either, and Linux users still don't have that promised OBS port.