Microsoft officially revealed its long-anticipated acquisition of game livestreaming service Beam during the most recent Windows Creator Update event. Beam will be ready to use on both the Xbox One and PCs by Spring 2017.

Beam will be released as a free program in the upcoming Windows Creator, and Windows 10 users can watch and stream gameplay just by using a hotkey to open the program without the need to download any third-party apps.

Reports from iTech Post claim that Beam is a direct competitor of Twitch, and it was introduced with a motive to improve gaming experience by reducing download lag to zero for games.

Beam has the ability to allow viewers to interact with one another. Since everything around Beam works in real time, all forms of communication via comment sections or group chat will all go live. Also, interaction towards audiences will go live. It only takes a button to notify followers in the game, and they can pose challenges while watching other players' games.

According to Gamasutra, streamers will be able to communicate with their audience in real time, giving more real time experience for both the users and the audience. It's the support for Dolby Atmos, i.e the service comes with audio quality. One example of a game that maximizes the Beam is Minecraft, where the player doesn't just watch their favorite streamers play as they can also choose to play with them.

Speaking of Microsoft Beam, Microsoft tells Mashable that it's excited about the advantages the gamer will get out of the Beam. To top everything off, the Beam has features that its competitor Twitch don't have: creating a tournament or league. It's no wonder why many users are thrilled about the Beam's upcoming release.

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