Blizzard has just launched a brand new feature, integrating live game streaming directly through Facebook. Called Blizzard Streaming, it’s the result of a collaboration between the two companies and can be activated with a single click.
Those who update their Blizzard client right now will find a new button in the upper right corner, shaped like a camera. Once users connect their Blizzard account to their Facebook profile, they’ll be able to stream live gameplay directly to the world’s largest social media network instantly.
"Blizzard Streaming," states a press release issued today, "empowers gamers around the world to connect and share their gaming experiences directly to Facebook, launched minutes ago and is now live in the Americas, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, with global access coming soon."
The same release stated that the feature is only available for Windows PC devices, and will be coming to Mac soon.
It’s a shot across the bow to Amazon-owned Twitch, which has seen a rise in Blizzard-branded content over the past few years. First-person shooter Overwatch content has been a feather in the service's cap since that game’s launch in late May of this year. The game currently sits at number six in the most actively streamed games being played live right now, and has been among the service's top five most viewed games since its launch.
Prior to the launch of Overwatch, however, Blizzard had strong words for Twitch and how it polices its community. The very public confrontation stems from a Hearthstone tournament broadcast that shines a light on the hate-fueled, racist trolls that thrive in Twitch’s live comment sections.
Some form of corrective action, in the form of a pilot program between Blizzard and Twitch, was reportedly in the works. We’ve reached out to Twitch for an update on its progress.
The streaming option comes just a few months after Blizzard and Facebook worked together to allow for Facebook Login to access games on PC, including Overwatch, Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, Heroes of the Storm, Diablo 3, and StarCraft 2.
