Many people are used to the usual broadcasts on Twitch: a streamer plays games, talks to the audience, plays musical instruments, or even broadcasts sitting in a hot tub. But how can one make broadcasts on the platform more interesting and entertaining? Useful tools, such as extensions, can help with this.
What is an extension?
Every streamer can use extensions for his or her channel. An extension is a general word for all kinds of panels, overlays, and even games, some of which are paid. All of these are provided by third-party developers so that the streamer can expand the functionality of the channel, diversify the broadcast and make it more interactive in addition to the chat. We will tell you about some of the extensions and how to install them below.
How to install extensions
It will not take you much time and the installation process is quite simple. All you need is to go to the “Creator Dashboard” section and click on the "Extensions" tab. There you will see dozens of different panels, overlays, and so forth. Select a category and click on the extension you like. You will see an "Install" button, click on it and — done!
We (to be more precise, Twitch" itself) have divided extensions into several categories for better clarity and convenience. Each of them includes both well-known extensions used by a large number of streamers and lesser known, but also useful and interesting tools.
Extensions for Games
Crowd Control. Gives viewers the opportunity to directly participate in the streamer's gameplay. For example, they can give a streamer armor or health while a content creator playing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, damage the series' mascot in Mario 64, and so on. The expansion supports more than 60 games, from classic retro games to modern representatives of PC gaming.
Hearthstone Deck Tracker. Welcome to a modified Hearthstone! You do not remember what cards you haven't played yet? This extension allows you to keep track of the remaining cards in a streamer's deck. Want to know the characteristics of a particular card? Just hover your cursor over the card you want to see, and you'll get all the available information about it.
Bits for Tricks. Quite popular extension that allows viewers to control gaming aspects in various titles in exchange for bits. Integrated games vary from Dota 2 & CS:GO to GTA V & The Witcher 3.
Schedule & Countdowns
Streamlabs Stream Schedule & Countdown and Wasder Chroma Scheduler. Twitch has a default schedule for streamers, but it's easy to miss it because it requires viewers to go to the "Schedule" tab in a streamer's profile. Because of this, we recommend using the Streamlabs Stream Schedule & Countdown or the Wasder Chroma Scheduler extension. Streamer can set up a panel that viewers will see in the channel description and will know when the next broadcast will start.
Loyalty and Recognition
Streamlabs. A handy tool with a variety of functionalities. For example, you can set up special notifications about viewers' actions, add a widget for fundraising, and display various broadcast indicators. The service supports several payment options.
Streamlabs Leaderboard. A chart of top viewers, which includes Cheers and loyalty points. It can be sorted by sessions, weeks, months, or all time.
Streamer Tools
Exclusive Content for Subscribers. Your subscribers can exclusively view the videos, images, and posts you create on your Twitch channel.
Latest Followers. An extension that displays a list of new and recent subscribers to your channel, as well as the number of people who subscribed to you since your broadcast started.
OWN3D Design Panels. This extension offers a wide range of Twitch designs — webcam overlays, banners, Twitch avatars, and other visual elements.
Viewer Engagement
Sound Alerts. Allows viewers to play sound effects during the broadcast to mark special events and moments.
Stream Closed Captioner. Makes your broadcast more accessible for viewers with disabilities. Closed captioning helps deaf or hearing-impaired viewers interact with a streamer.
Music
Spotify Now Playing. If you regularly play music on your broadcasts and your followers are constantly asking what song is playing in a particular segment, install the Spotify : Now Playing extension. It extracts relevant metadata from the Spotify database. The album cover, artist, and a track name are shown in a stream, so you no longer have to answer everyone's questions about your music.
Soundstripe Music. And if you don't want to get in trouble for copyright issues, use Soundstripe Music. This extension gives you access to thousands of free songs from Soundstripe's playlist library.
Polling & Voting
STOMT - Feedback in your Stream. This extension helps you collect feedback during gameplay, attach error notes, and help to fill the feedback gap between streamers and viewers.
Battle Royale - Jump Poll. How about diversifying the drop-offs in Fortnite and Apex Legends? Now viewers can choose where the streamer will pick up the loot. Now the gameplay will become even more unpredictable.
Games in Extensions
Rock, Paper, BITS. This expansion will change the familiar "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game into a whole new perspective. Rock, Paper, BITS is a mix of the classic game, Battle Royale, and Twitch Bits. In pauses between broadcasts, streamers can attract the attention of viewers by running battles to the last contestant. You will need 100 Bits to participate in the game.
StreamBreak. Are you tired of pauses during the stream? StreamBreak solves this problem. Now, instead of waiting for a streamer, you can play a mini-game collection: play soccer with bombs, guess the words — and have a great time even during the pause.
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Twitch extensions will transform broadcasts, add new features for both streamers and viewers, and diversify communication as well as interactivity. In time, more and more extensions become available, they get updated, and their functionality expands.
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