

We’re thinking about ways to push this feature much further to take viewers even deeper into the game experience.”

But more importantly, we’ve seen a sort of social meta game organically emerge in some streamer-focused matches,” Darveau said. There is a huge wow factor associated with seeing the vote interface appear for the first time, and it’s pretty great at hyping the chat. “So far, the response is overwhelmingly positive. For Scavengers, that system really allows them to create a sense of unity between viewers and Twitch streamers by giving the audience the power to turn the tide of a battle, helping or hindering other players along the way. Right now, Twitch viewers that pick up the Spectator Interaction Extension can pop into a stream for Darwin Project and, when it comes time for the Show Director to make a decision, vote on which players or zones will be the target of those different abilities. That alone makes Darwin Project an exciting game to both play and watch, but Scavengers has taken that social gameplay one step further by creating an extension that meshes seamlessly with the core Darwin Project experience, giving viewers on Twitch an actual say in how each match unfolds.

Meanwhile, an all-seeing 11th player assumes the role of Show Director and takes charge of keeping the combatants on their toes, using their powers to dish out game-altering abilities and, sometimes, sudden obstacles. In it, 10 players duke it out in an ever-shrinking arena, putting their skills to the test all in a bid to be the last person standing. “We believe that by merging a video game with a streaming platform, we can create a new generation of interaction that has the potential to redefine entertainment.”ĭarwin Project is a fresh spin on the increasingly competitive Battle Royale genre. “Our creative vision is that viewers should be just as involved in the game experience as the players,” said Simon Darveau, Creative Director at Scavengers Studio.

That very philosophy is what powers the Montreal-based team’s debut game, Darwin Project, and what led the studio to develop an extension that gives viewers a way to directly influence the action as it unfolds live on stream. Scavengers Studio was formed by a number of industry veterans eager to build a game around the idea that both playing and streaming games should be a social experience. But the work done by Scavengers Studio goes to show how immersive extensions can really be now that game developers are starting to put streaming and social gameplay at the forefront of their game design. There are tons of ways to use Twitch extensions to get more involved than ever with your audience or favorite streamer.
