Minecraft is getting even more interactive thanks to a new tool from Mixer.
The Microsoft-owned streaming platform today announced new features that let people watching Minecraft streams interact with the gameplay in real-time.
Minecraft streamers can add “Mixer interactivity” to their game and turn any Minecraft command into an interactive button that viewers can use to change the given game. Streamers can set parameters for how much interaction is enabled.
The new feature is available today in the Minecraft beta (1.2.5) and Windows 10, with Xbox compatibility arriving Tuesday. iOS users will get access once the beta version is cleaned up.
Mixer also announced today that the Minecraft 1.2.5 beta now lets streamers broadcast directly from inside a Minecraft game via Mixer; iOS users will get this capability in the final release.
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Both Mixer and Minecraft are Microsoft companies. The tech giant acquired acquired Minecraft-maker Mojang for $2.5 billion in 2014 and bought Mixer for an undisclosed sum last year.
The acquisitions are part of Microsoft’s strategy to accelerate its gaming business across the company. In a company-wide memo sent in June, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella outlined five core customer solution areas that he wants employees to prioritize. They include modern workplace; business applications; applications and infrastructure; data and AI; and gaming.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Mixer, originally called Beam, gave Microsoft a rival to YouTube Gaming and Amazon’s Twitch, letting users livestream and watch games and other content. Mixer seeks to differentiate itself with features including low-latency streaming, the ability for up to four broadcasters to stream to a shared chat experience, and ways for viewers to interact with games as they’re streamed.
Another advantage is Mixer’s close ties with Microsoft’s PC and video-game platforms, which is evident from today’s Minecraft announcement.
