Xbox Rebrands Streaming Service Beam, Now Named Mixer

By Aiden Strawhun | May 25, 2017 | 3:18pm

Images via Xbox/Microsoft

Video Games News Xbox

Xbox Rebrands Streaming Service Beam, Now Named Mixer

Xbox’s streaming service is getting a facelift only a month after going live. What was once known as Beam will henceforth be known as Mixer.

Beam launched last month with the Windows Creators update as a new platform for community-centric streams. But according to the announcement today, Beam just wasn’t cutting it.

Matt Salsamendi, co-founder and Mixer engineering lead, explained:

Why the name change? This was a tough decision, and not one that we made lightly. But, it was something that we decided on as a team. We believe so much in the power of the platform and want to grow it in every major market around the world. Unfortunately, that wasn’t something we could do with the Beam name. We chose Mixer as our new name because it represents what we love most about the service….how it brings people together.

Mixer’s similar in the sense that it retains the community aspect of Beam, but throws in some nice new features that will be accessible globally. Viewers will be able to interact with streams in real time, from simple chats to spawning in new enemies or making moral choices.

Today’s launch will introduce co-streaming, where up to four streamers can have their gameplay running in one central chat channel. So streamers can be playing the same game and give different perspectives, or be doing totally separate things all at once.