The platform is testing a feature that allows users to launch games directly in the browser without installation and without leaving the stream.
The feature, tentatively called GameLift, is currently available to a limited number of users. At launch, users can try a demo of Reanimal, with about 20 minutes of gameplay directly on the Twitch website.
This is a major change for the platform. Previously, Twitch was only a service for watching streams, but now a viewer will be able to launch a game directly from a stream through the website.
In essence, Twitch is moving closer to a cloud gaming format at the intersection of streaming and cloud gaming. If the feature is improved, it will change the way games are consumed and could become a new direction for monetization: not only showcasing games, but also distributing them.
For now, the feature is available only on a limited basis. Twitch has not said whether it will appear for all users or when. But the boundary between watching and playing on the platform is gradually disappearing.
