Support NeoGAF

[Nirolak]

VB has a solid track record with this kind of stuff in my experience.

Google has reached a deal to buy game livestreaming firm Twitch for $1 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter.

We don’t know everything about this deal, such as when it will be announced and the exact purchase price. We do know that investors who participated in past rounds are pleased that they will be getting significant returns that are multiple times the amount they originally invested. The deal underscores the value of live Internet streaming and the rise of competitive gaming as a spectator sport — something that draws millions of viewers, can offer prize pools that surpass pro golf’s marquee events, and provides a multibillion dollar opportunity for advertisers.

Google and Twitch declined comment. Both companies happen to be speaking at our GamesBeat 2014 event in September. This deal was first cited by unnamed sources from Variety said back in May that Google had made an all-cash offer and that the deal could be announced soon.

Source: http://venturebeat.com/2014/07/24/g...confirmed-joins-youtube-for-new-video-empire/

 

[shinobi602]

Google world domination continues.

 

[Blablurn]

those twitch guys got paid. damn.

 

[Deleted member 80556]

A billion dollars, damn. That's way more than Bioware and Pandemic together.

 

[funkystudent]

Suddenly Sony having Ustream support on the PS4 seems less silly.

 

[ScriptedReality]

😢

 

[ChosenPredator]

Suddenly Sony having Ustream support on the PS4 seems less silly.

they need to add hitbox.tv too i know it's a startup but whatever more options the better

 

[Nokterian]

repost..

Well that's the end of twitch then...i for see shitty implemented stuff like chatroom changes,Content ID etc.

 

[gasping4meaning]

 

[Jimmyfenix]

Suddenly Sony having Ustream support on the PS4 seems less silly.

You should watch the nico streams on Japan ps4.

 

[FStop7]

People who make a living on Twitch should worry.

 

[RelentlessRolento]

Whelp........ Whelp.

 

[Tacitus_]

Well, twitch had a good run.

 

[TriniTrin]

What does this mean for us people who enjoy to watch streams and occasionally stream their own gameplay?

Content ID's everywhere? The death of Let's Play's?

I have no idea what will change and why the other posters in the last thread were so worried about this.

 

[PhaZZe]

its over gg twitch

 

[Syf]

I'm just worried they're going to try to force g+ integration to chat or something. Content ID could potentially be trouble too. Hell, so much of this could be trouble lol.

 

[Persona7]

Well, twitch was already terrible and broken all the time so even if they fuck this up it won't be a big change.

 

[Tomat]

Stream monsters cannot die.

 

[kuroneko0509]

oh dear... please no forced google+

 

[Space Cowboy]

It's going to be very interesting to see how Twitch is affected by this.

 

[manual4]

IT would not surprise me if they integrate twitch onto YouTube, so that when you live stream and archive it will be on youtube aswell

 

[Amagon]

Rest in peace in peace Twitch.

 

[mreddie]

http://youtu.be/rhKy6GpV0B8

 

[Technosteve]

is Kappa going to go away?

 

[fluffydelusions]

I remember when the first rumor emerged and Twitch denied everything

 

[LOLDSFAN]

Now Twitch just needs that Chromecast support.

 

[OldAsUrSock]

It will be interesting to see how they will change Twitch or even make significant changes at all. They might break away from the gaming focus of Twitch and make it more open to other mediums to have streams. Twitch is already a household name, so changing the name is very unlikely. What should improve are the quality of the streams as now Twitch is going to have Google behind them much like how Oculus has Facebook behind them.

 

[gngf123]

I'm just worried they're going to try to force g+ integration to chat or something. Content ID could potentially be trouble too. Hell, so much of this could be trouble lol.

Content ID would be a bit more than trouble.

Hitbox.tv looked decent the last time I checked it out, but few people seemed to be using it.

 

[thesaucetastic]

 

[Dragonborn]

Google is going to own everything eventualky. Don't know how to feel about this. On one side, maybe it improves Twitch.... but on other it might mean BS like Google plus getting entwined.

 

[Einbroch]

If Twitch is already profitable, which I would guess it is, I would think that Google would be pretty hands-off. Maybe some YouTube integration in Twitch, maybe they just wanted the technology, patents, or userbase.

I just don't see Twitch changing that much because of this.

 

[HarryDemeanor]

Now I have to keep closing out of the Google+ prompt on Twitch too.

My god.

 

[Zatoichi's Cane]

Expect Twitch to go to shit pretty soon, or close outright.. every service that I liked and was eventually acquired by Google was either ruined or closed.

EDIT:

also they'll tie in their shit little google + into everything to do with twitch, heck you'll probably need a google + account to log in....

 

[Bornstellar]

The death of Twitch.

 

[Chobel]

Why are some assuming this is bad thing for twitch?

 

[alr1ght]

I hope you like Google+

 

[super-famicom]

Google world domination continues.

Dat avatar/post combo.

 

[Ferrio]

Well twitch had a good run.

 

[Danny 117]

For fucks sake google. Twitch is gonna turn to shit real fast now. How long until I have to broadcast with my real name and shitty google+ account?

Rest in peace in peace Twitch.

Lol

 

[Orayn]

Content ID would be a bit more than trouble.

Twitch already has the equivalent of ContentID for non-game video content. If you stream a TV show or movie, it will be automatically detected and you will get banned.

 

[Persona7]

The one thing I hate about twitch is how it randomly deletes old broadcasts even before they made all those changes about the how you have to specifically go in and save them. If this means they never go away, I will love it.

I've been trying to access some old broadcasts and they are just gone from the server even though it says they are still there.

 

[Ambient80]

Our first act should be to totally overreact even when it still isn't actually confirmed. /s

I would think Google would be smart enough not to use content ID stuff on twitch if it's going to completely kill the service. Why would they intentionally destroy it? Twitch doesn't really directly compete with YouTube or any other Google service.

 

[JJDinomite]

It's ogre ;_;

 

[AppleMIX]

Our first act should be to totally overreact even when it still isn't actually confirmed. /s

I would think Google would be smart enough not to use content ID stuff on twitch if it's going to completely kill the service. Why would they intentionally destroy it? Twitch doesn't really directly compete with YouTube or any other Google service.

They probably use content ID for music.

 

[Arkanius]

BibleThump

At least we will have good Android apps now.

 

[Mushroomer25]

The reality of this deal is 100% dependent on Google deciding to apply their draconian ContentID philosophy to all of Twitch's streams. They can't be clueless enough to not know that's what murders their $1B golden goose - but I also don't see how they justify keeping one pure, while continuing to enforce the policy on YouTube.

I'm still on the side of "No panicking until the facts present themselves.". I'll assume I'm in the minority in this thread with that opinion.

 

[Azure Phoenix]

Why are some assuming this is bad thing for twitch?

Ask yourself, have Google made a single positive change to Youtube in the last few years?

 

[Fjordson]

Praying they don't fuck things up. I don't have any sort of professional interest in Twitch, but I do have watch streams on there quite a bit. Really great for watching online games like WoW and MOBAs. Just need to continue to let streamers do their thing.

 

[Ardenyal]

Riperino in pasterino.

Thats italian for RIP in peace.

 

[Arkanius]

Ask yourself, have Google made a single positive change to Youtube in the last few years?

Yes.
The service is better now.

I don't really think people remember how Youtube was before Google acquired it.