You Never Game Alone: Live Chats and In-app Live-Streaming to Make Gaming Brighter

Why Socialization is the Heart of Gaming

What’s the best thing about gaming online? Some might say the relaxation, the storylines, or the exciting unpredictability. However, experts are increasingly noticing that socialisation is the most enticing aspect for gamers.

Players want space to discuss the games they play, sing their praises, and vent their frustrations to other players. They want camaraderie, fellowship, and community-building capabilities.

This is evident in the success of platforms like Twitch, Kick, and Discord, as well as the continuous growth of all areas of the gaming industry. With Millennials and Gen Z driving demand, the need for in-app engagement tools as live chat for real-time messaging and live-streaming is more crucial than ever.

Complex Camaraderie: The Evolving Social Needs of Gamers

The traditional view of gamers is that they are unsociable creatures—recluses who prefer to spend evenings on their computers rather than in the real world. In fact, extensive research shows that gamers enjoy socialization as much as anyone, if not more. However, this long-standing misconception has led to many business leaders erroneously writing off the need for social features on their video gaming platforms and iGaming sites.

As Bowman, Rieger, and Tammy Lin note in their recent publication, technological advancements have increased the desire for socialization among gamers. Players now have more ways to socialize, and they enjoy it. Gamers actively look for gaming community hubs with the following features:

• Live Chats • Video Chatrooms • AI Chatbots • Online Forums

Since gamers seek socialization, if gaming sites and apps don’t provide space, they use Twitch, Kick, and Discord to socialise and get the gaming experience with soulmates.

Cross-Platform Play Trend

Simply put, this trend allows gamers to play together regardless of the device and hardware they use. This shift is driven by consumer demand for more interconnected gaming experiences and is supported by technological advancements that facilitate seamless multiplayer interactions across various platforms. This trend also proves that social-building approaches are among the most critical aspects of the gaming experience. A sense of belonging and collective participation is a top priority for gamers.

Developers are increasingly implementing cross-platform play to foster better communal experiences and extend the longevity of games. This approach not only expands the player base but also enhances competitive environments, attracting a wider audience. The growing support for cross-platform play is evident, with many games now offering this feature, reflecting its normalization within industry standards. In 2020, Epic Games released Epic Online Services, enabling developers to integrate cross-platform play into their games. This tool supports matchmaking, friends lists, achievements, and other features across platforms such as PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, further promoting the trend of cross-platform gaming.

Overall, the trend toward cross-platform play reflects a broader industry shift toward inclusivity and connectivity, enhancing the gaming experience for a diverse and widespread audience.

Social Technology: Video Gaming Engagement Tools

Research by Punsalan, Dong, Lam, and Akima revealed a strong link between “the amount of time spent playing online video games and levels of socialization” a gamer experiences.

This suggests that video gamers are more likely to play for longer if there are more diverse socialization features. Therefore, adding social features to a platform builds engagement and keeps video gamers active, demonstrating the potential benefits of integrated social tools like in-app live streaming and real-time communication.

With this in mind, let’s explore what video gaming engagement tools exist and how they can benefit your business.

In-App Live Chats: Build a Local Community

Allowing gamers to chat while playing can build a loyal community. Players can get the socialization they desire without having to leave your platform for an external messaging service. This keeps them engaged with your brand at all times.

Facilitating player-to-player interactions also increases sales, as users effectively “upsell” your services to their peers when they discuss games, live streams, and bonus content like in-app purchases. Gamers can find a welcoming and like-minded community in these discussions.

Some business leaders may be hesitant about implementing in-app chats due to the content moderation needed to prevent users from spreading harmful or insensitive information. However, this potential roadblock to community safety can be easily mitigated. 

Built-in AI-powered content moderation tools let you automatically restrict certain content and phrases from being sent. This ensures you can build a safe and inclusive community app for your brand, free from discriminatory language. In turn, players feel safer using your platform and are more likely to choose your site or app as their preferred gaming community hub.

Many successful gaming platforms have embraced social engagement tools to enhance player experience:

Fortnite: Features built-in voice and text chat, allowing players to communicate seamlessly while playing in teams.

Roblox: Offers extensive social features, including chat rooms and player interaction within virtual worlds.

Valorant: Implements in-game voice chat and party-based matchmaking to foster team coordination and engagement.

Call of Duty: Warzone: Integrates live chat and squad-based communication to create a more interactive battle royale experience.

Minecraft: Provides multiplayer servers with chat features, enabling players to collaborate, strategize, and socialize.

Roblox

These platforms have demonstrated how socialization tools drive engagement, encourage teamwork, and build loyal communities.

Audio and Video Live Streaming: A Game-Changer for Engagement

Live-streaming defines today’s video gaming experience, with Twitch becoming more of a gaming hub than any single platform. When players decide what to play next or assess a game’s value, they turn to Twitch. Why? Because they find a community there, get expert and peer opinions, exchange emotions and experiences, and get answers to their questions.

Many huge brands partner with Twitch streamers, not just because of the platform but because of the experience followers of these streamers gain—real participation in gaming activities alongside their favorite streamers. RAID: Shadow Legends, Chess.com, Dislyte, Epic Games, GTA5RP, and League of Legends Partners are on the list of such brands. These are not just sponsorships but direct content collaborations with streamers.

Benefits of integrating live streaming:

·  Platforms with live streaming see a 20-30% increase in engagement.

·  Gamers form deeper connections through shared experiences.

·  Stream chat encourages real-time participation, increasing user activity.

• 28,410 games streamed weekly. • 3-5 thousand games streamed simultaneously.

With Twitch generating $1.8 billion in 2024, the demand for gaming community hubs with interactive content is evident. Adding real-time chat and video streaming can significantly boost retention.

Fortnite chat

Chat Widgets for Cut-Scenes and Downtime

Game excitement naturally dips during cut-scenes, loading screens, or downtime. A dedicated chat widget ensures ongoing engagement by allowing players to interact even when they’re not actively gaming.

Private chatrooms also give users a space to discuss strategies, vent frustrations, and share experiences—enhancing the overall sense of community.

In response to this demand, Roblox introduced 'Party' in December 2024, a chat feature that allows up to six users to communicate in real time while playing. Initially supporting text-based messaging, voice chat integration is planned for future updates. This move directly addresses players' reliance on external apps for communication, creating a more immersive in-game social experience.

Engagement Tools for iGaming

Many iGaming companies have already realized the revenue potential of engagement tools. It’s now common to find live video streams at online casino sites or integrated chatrooms in sports betting apps. However, there’s still a substantial gap between what iGaming sites offer and what their audience truly wants. Evolving technology has shifted gamer expectations, yet many platforms fail to meet these new demands.

Let’s explore the key engagement tools being used in the iGaming industry and identify the current communication gaps that many gamers face.



Real-Time Messaging

Some casinos and sportsbooks are rolling out live-streamed games with real dealers, yet many still lack real-time communication tools that drive engagement. In-app live chats help their players find a sense of community and get more pleasure from the gaming process. Chats help turn the app or website into a gaming community hub where people interact in a friendly and trusted space and advise each other if necessary.

While this is highly innovative, gaps remain. What if a player wanted to bet but didn’t know where to start? What if you could take inspiration from how others bet? After all, two heads are better than one. Then there’s the Big Win widget, which shows other users where game wins are coming from, leading to an upturn in gameplay as others join the fun, or a share widget that helps users to show their expertise. TotoGaming sportsbook works like that: players and sports fans can share their ideas and predictions with a specific widget. For some platforms, it will be something like an internal social network when people with the same interests find insights from the community.

Gamification: An Overlooked Opportunitу

Many online casinos and sportsbooks forget their customers' fundamental needs and wants. Think about it: what do gamers want more than socialization? They want to play games. It sounds like an oversimplification, but we’ve seen companies neglect to consider this overarching desire to achieve more and game again. The solution is to integrate gamification features into the gaming platform to reward users for their loyalty, which is reasonable too. It’s a straightforward solution and one that actually helps users socialise: when you have a cool badge or funny stickers for some actions, you want to show it off. Integrating gamification alongside live streaming and community-building features ensures players a dynamic, engaging experience.

Why Invest in In-App Engagement for, seems like, already the most engaging platforms?

Even higher engagement: features like real-time chatrooms and live streaming keep users active for longer. It is called the stickiness effect, which occurs on social networks and with long TV shows.

Stronger customer loyalty: a sense of community building fosters deeper brand attachment. Also, when users can share their opinion internally, it is always valuable for them.

Enhanced consumer experience: a socially connected gaming environment improves overall player satisfaction.

With these benefits, implementing in-app live streaming, chat widgets, and gamification is a no-brainer for gaming businesses looking to drive user engagement and revenue. Gaming is inherently social. To stay competitive, iGaming and video gaming platforms must prioritize community engagement tools that offer seamless player interactions and rewards.

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If you're wondering how to provide your users in-app live chats, live streaming, and other features and increase engagement, fill in the form below. We’ll help you find the best solution.