Microsoft acquires interactive live-streaming service

Microsoft announced the acquisition of interactive live-streaming service, Beam, which allows viewers to impact the game being played.

Many people consume videogames by watching streams of other people playing them. Microsoft hopes to make it a more interactive experience with the acquisition of Beam, a live-streaming service that lets users influence and interact with the game being streamed.

Beam lets viewers suggest challenges and even affect in-game elements such as the quest being undertaken or weapon loadouts. That way viewers won't have to simply hope that the streamer reads their suggestion in chat and do it voluntarily. An example provided was that viewers can play Minecraft along with the streamer.