Twitch introduces beta group chat with private rooms

Twitch will introduce a new beta program for group chat, a feature that allows users to create private chat rooms, the company announced today.

Chat rooms are invite-only and act as a separate channel from traditional chat options. During the opening beta period, which begins today, the feature will only be available to members of the Twitch Partner Program. Although regular Twitch users cannot set their own private rooms, they can be invited to a room by a Twitch partner. Chat rooms will also include moderation tools used for regular channel; broadcasters have the ability to assign moderators and allow chosen users to invite others.

"One of the defining features of Twitch is the ability to chat with fellow gamers," the announcement reads. "It's where community memes begin, it's where gamers express their glee, outrage, befuddlement, or amusement, and it's why the platform's engagement level is off the charts. Twitch is a social place, and chat is where the social exchange happens."

The feature is currently only available on the web; future partners will be determined as its beta expands. A demonstration of the new feature is available on Twitch's official blog.