In addition to its Beam broadcasting capabilities, the Xbox One Creators Update also provides a standalone Beam app for finding and enjoying other game broadcasts.

Note: Like other apps, Beam can be found in Games & Apps > Apps.

The Beam user interface is pretty straightforward, with Featured and Up and coming channels available directly from the Home view.

You can browse and search for more channels as expected, and even filter the view for those interactive streams you can jump right into. And the Games view lets you find streams of particular game titles.

Viewing a stream looks and works much like it does on the Beam website, with a chat window on the right. If you find a streamer you like, you can follow them.

While watching people play video games isn’t perhaps for everyone—the commentary typically varies from “truly immature” to “the personality level of a TV poker competition,” neither of which is complementary.

Some of the interaction capabilities are likewise immature: This goofy stream features a sound board so you can say things like “Hey girl!” and “waassup” while the onscreen idiot says “bro” and “yo, yo, you” a lot. OK, they’re not all that terrible. Just most of them.

Tagged with Beam