Twitch is coming to your desktop with a new beta app on March 16

By Dan Thorp-Lancaster
published

Game streaming site Twitch is set to invade your desktop with a new beta app launching on March 16. The app of course offers quick access to Twitch streams as one of its highlights, but it does have some other surprising features in tow, line voice and video messaging. That's because, as TechCrunch reports, the app is essentially a re-skin of the Curse app, which Twitch acquired in 2016.

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Essentially, Twitch is hoping that its desktop app will serve as a home for the different communities on its service. Community servers will let you let you and other members chat and watch your stream with custom voice and text rooms. You can also make voice and video calls through the app, making it an easy way to keep in touch with teammates while you play.

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In a big nod to its Curse legacy, the Twitch app will also let users find, manage and install add-ons for games. Twitch is even adding a cloud storage aspect to this to help you keep your settings consistent no matter where you're playing.

If you're a heavy Twitch user, you'll be able to grab the Twitch desktop app beta starting March 16.

See at Twitch

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. 

21 Comments
  • They should've done this a loooong time ago. Tweeted them several times, they weren't serious and now bringing an app cuz they see Beam has potential and has already taken most of us.
  • Yeah, I've completely ditched Twitch, Beam is way more intuitive. Plus this isn't a UWA, boo 👎
  • Too bad it's not UWP. I'm pretty much trying to stick to UWP apps only. I prefer to keep my pc clean. In fact, I don't know if it's windows 10 or me using UWP apps my pc has been fast and not slowing down like it would would previous versions. Less junk in registry and filesystem is a-ok with me.
  • This^^^^^^^^^
  • this is an update for the already exist app called Curse so this way the can litery push it to any device that support the Curse and could also merged with Twitch for Android/iOS so its obvious a way better option to them that create it as UWP
  • Same here.
    Clean install, update, sync, clean uninstall.
  • Damn does anyone even bother with UWP Oh yeah it's Google nvm
  • Close, Twitch is Amazon's. 😊
  • this is an update for the already exist app called Curse so this way the can litery push it to any device that support the Curse and could also merged with Twitch for Android/iOS so its obvious a way better option to them that create it as UWP
  • Not UWP. I'll stick to Z-twitch. Going through the app store is just much simpler for PC maintenance. Incredibly easy to install and uninstall.
  • How does zTwitch compare to Unstream? I was using that, but gonna give zTwitch a go.
  • I've actually never used Unstream so I can't give you an answer. 😕
  • And auto updates
  • so it's not even UWP?.. so Twitch decided to wait until Beam is on the horizon to make a Windows app and they didn't even bother to fully support the platform that would seamlessly span across desktop, mobile, and console?.. I appreciate the Xbox integration they've provided thus far, but i'll be moving 100% to Beam once the Creator's Update is released..
  • Unless this is a store app/uwp I'll continue to use unstream.
  • I suspect with the recent announcement of selling games through twitch and giving 5% to the streamer that eventually they will turn this into a game client (or link it to one) that you will purchase games through. For those wondering, this is most likely why it isn't UWP. Just a guess mind you.
  • If they did UWP they could have got Xbox too, unless they add that seperatly to the Xbox app.
  • Why not for mobile?!?
  • If you read the article - it is already existing desktop app Curse, but with new look. No unnecessary efforts from their side, since it isn't interesting for them.
  • About time twitch support on their apps has been ****
  • Great now i can get a notification when my favorite streamer goes online. No wait it's a win32 app you need too start it first too get notifications .
    I think i keep using a UWP like Suto Stream to get notifications.