You Can Now Buy Games From Twitch, And Streamers Get A Cut

Streaming service Twitch is to start selling digital PC games soon. The site announced today that it will allow viewers to purchase games directly from streamers' pages starting spring 2017.

Once you've bought a game, it will be launchable through Twitch's own desktop program, or through publisher-led applications such as Ubisoft's Uplay. Doing so will reward customers with a free Twitch Crate, which may include randomized drops of items such as exclusive emotes, chat badges, and more.

In addition, any partnered streamer whose page you purchase a game from will receive a 5 percent cut, with the developer receiving 70 percent. Publishers already signed up to the scheme include Ubisoft, Telltale Games, Paradox Interactive, Hi-Rez Studios, and more.

Twitch said the service will begin this spring with pricing in US dollars only; regional price tags will start appearing later in the year.

The streaming website, which is owned by Amazon, has sought to monetize its platform in a number of ways in recent years. It now offers a premium subscription package, called Twitch Turbo, that is integrated with Amazon Prime and occasionally gives away free games. In addition, microtransactions for chat items were introduced last year.