Popular game-streaming platform Twitch officially launched its first desktop app on Thursday, allowing Mac users to enjoy all the features of the existing web-based platform within a standalone native application.

Based on the CurseForge platform acquired last year, the Twitch Desktop App lets users watch live streams, clips, and video on demand, all while chatting with fellow gamers. Plus there's a new Friend Sync feature that promises to help users find friends "across the creator-verse".

Twitch Mac
In addition to private messaging, Twitch on Mac supports voice and video calls, indicating a clear bid to compete with rival platform Discord, which began testing a new video chat feature yesterday. The app also supports thousands of game add-ons made by the modding community, as well as in-game overlays so users can manage calls without needing to switch between windows.

The desktop app also includes the Dark Mode recently introduced in the mobile version, making watching streams in low light environments easier on the eyes. Amazon-owned Twitch is also promising a cloud storage feature in the near future that will allow users to access their data remotely.

In addition to established features, the Twitch desktop app introduces Servers, a new virtual home for gaming communities where users can watch video, play, and chat together even when a game stream is offline.

The Twitch desktop app for macOS is available now and can be downloaded for free directly from the Twitch website.

Top Rated Comments

RamGuy Avatar
RamGuy
107 months ago
This desktop application is really flawed. It's just the Cure Client with the Twitch-logo strapped to it. You can't even access older videos / vod's using the desktop client. You can only watch live, and only from the channels that have specificly enabled the use of Twitch Desktop App Server. It's a real mess.

Was really looking forward for a desktop app as I love to have a standalone app that I can resize to what ever size I want etc.. But it's next to useless when it does give you half the features you have on Twitch.tv.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sasparilla Avatar
Sasparilla
107 months ago
How cool! Now we can watch people play PC games. Someday maybe we can see someone play a Mac game.
Totally got you covered Jason. The world championship for what is one of the most played games on Steam - Dota 2 - (Mac and Linux versions available - and the game itself is free, the author - Valve - just makes money off selling skins) has been going on all this week. Top team takes $10 million. And the game's requirements are (for a game) easy on the hardware so the Mac world where gaming means mobile versions of GPU's, actually work.

https://www.twitch.tv/dota2ti_newcomer

Broadcasting starts around 11am CST'ish. The final is tomorrow (Saturday) but they have a bunch of stuff today for this rather complicated but fun to watch game:

https://www.dotabuff.com/esports/leagues/5401/schedule

A little background on the game (Dota 2):

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/08/hurrah-dota-2s-the-international-is-upon-us-with-23-million-up-for-grabs/
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Janichsan Avatar
Janichsan
107 months ago
How cool! Now we can watch people play PC games. Someday maybe we can see someone play a Mac game.
https://www.twitch.tv/feralinteractive
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Abazigal Avatar
Abazigal
107 months ago
When can I get an Apple TV app? Or would the interface be too limited for monetisation purposes?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iKrivetko Avatar
iKrivetko
107 months ago
Yay, now I can do all the same things that I can do via web, but with no way of blocking ads!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xinam Avatar
xinam
107 months ago
When can I get an Apple TV app? Or would the interface be too limited for monetisation purposes?
I use an app called Twitchy. Does the job great.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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