The 5 Best PC Gaming Streaming Software.
Live streaming entertainment can be an exhilarating experience for everyone involved – whether you’re a streamer, viewer or both! The best PC gaming streaming software allows viewers to watch your streams and simultaneously interact with audience and stream.
Using one of the best PC gaming streaming software solutions available allows you to control the output quality, play games while streaming, provide tutorials, host online tournaments, and even create merchandise. Plus, streaming is no longer limited to just PC games, as some of these platforms offer support for certain console titles.
Whether you are a newbie just getting into PC gaming streaming or a seasoned streamer who is looking to up the stakes with a streaming service, this blog post is for you. We’ve outlined the 5 best PC gaming streaming software solutions and what sets them apart from each other. Let’s dive in!
1) Twitch
Let’s kick off our list with the most well-known streaming platform out there: Twitch! Originally, Twitch was founded as a broadcasting platform for gamers back in 2011. It quickly became a powerhouse in the streaming industry and today houses millions of streamers and viewers.
The platform offers a wide variety of tools to help streamers customize their broadcast and grow their audience. Some of Twitch’s features include chatbots, analytics, IRL streaming, and monetization to name a few. Additionally, Twitch offers its own official Discord server to better foster engagement and community.
Twitch’s library of games is also vast, offering a vast selection of PC, PlayStation, and Xbox titles. And, as one of the most popular streaming platforms, Twitch often dominates when it comes to major tournaments or exclusive events.
2) YouTube Gaming
YouTube Gaming isn’t a streaming platform per se but is an extension of the popular video sharing site. It’s a great tool for pre-recorded gaming videos (including reviews, tutorials, playthroughs and more) as well as streaming gameplay.
YouTube has one of the largest gaming libraries around and its user interface makes it easy to navigate for both streamers and viewers. From here you can also monetize your streams as well as join a sponsors program as you grow your channel.
YouTube also provides various streamer tools to give your stream a more professional feel. These include setting up a Twitch-style subscriber points system, customizing your channel layout, livestreaming on multiple devices, and more.
3) Mixer
Mixer is an excellent streaming service and a great alternative to Twitch. The platform was founded in 2016 and quickly gained traction from streamers who wanted to explore their options away from Twitch.
Mixer offers free and advanced streaming features that appeal to both beginners and veteran streamers. The advanced features include co-streaming options (stream together with up to 4 people at once), MixPlay (controls for in-game features and integrated chat windows for viewers), and skills (exclusive special abilities for viewers).
Like its competitors, Mixer supports streaming from PC, Xbox One/S, and PS4. It also provides streams from one of the most popular esports events in the world, PUBG Summer Skirmish.
4) Facebook Live
Facebook Live is an often-overlooked streaming service, but it certainly deserves to be on our list of the best PC gaming streaming software. It’s a great platform for the casual streamer or even the viewer who just wants to watch streams without leaving their comfort zone of the Facebook app.
Facebook Live makes it easy to go live, start streaming, and watch streams all while within the Facebook app or browser. You can even go live on your three-dimensional, 360-degree interactive streams. Plus, Facebook Live has integrated video filters, audio enhancements and Augmented Reality for streamers, giving them a more professional edge.
The platform also offers an extensive library of games to choose from. These include some of the more popular titles such as League of Legends, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
5) Steam
Steam is an all-encompassing streaming platform from Valve. It’s basically the official home for PC gaming as it is the most popular digital retailer for PC games. Not only does it offer an array of features for gamers, it also offers great streaming capabilities for streamers.
Steam’s streaming capabilities are seamless and the platform lets you go live in just a few clicks. The streaming feature offers a built-in stream editor with customizable overlays, stats trackers, and more. Additionally, Steam’s library of games allows you to easily expand your channel with popular titles like Dota 2 and PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS.
Conclusion
In the highly competitive streaming world, it can be difficult to stand out. Fortunately, there are a handful of excellent streaming services that offer a wide array of features to make your streams as professional as possible. We’ve just outlined the 5 best PC gaming streaming software solutions that you can use to level up your streaming career.
Whether you are a fan of Twitch, Mixer, YouTube Gaming, Facebook Live, or Steam, the choice is truly yours. With the right streaming software, you can reach out to a larger audience and better engage with your viewers. Good luck, and happy streaming!
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