Twitter has launched its very own gaming account in an attempt to expand its growing popularity in the gaming community.
This news comes just days after ESPN opened a gaming verticle to cover eSports in a similar way to American Football, Soccer, Basketball and so on. However, Twitter's approach seems a little different.
@TwitterGaming is the handle for this new account, seemingly with the focus to interact with gamers and fans of eSports as opposed to releasing gaming news like ESPN.
Rodrigo Velloso was announced as the new director of gaming partnerships for Twitter's media team not too long ago, a move that hints towards the social media giant adding gaming as one of its main verticals.
Many people might well see Twitter as just a mini-blogging service but there is clear evidence of other functionalities coming to fruition, and Rodrigo has been very clear in emphasising just that.
“It’s more about enhancing the conversations that are already happening, rather than creating something separate. The gaming community already uses Twitter."
.@InTheLittleWood Here is how we'll run it. https://t.co/2Uq64JF7nl
— Twitter Gaming (@TwitterGaming) January 14, 2016
“Just like the sports conversation happens in parallel as a second-screen experience to TV, we also see Twitter as a second-stream experience to live eSports events. It’s an incredible tool for eSports teams, casters, and pro players who use it to connect with their fans" says Velloso.
According to reports Twitter will be working alongside with leaders of the gaming industry such as YouTube, Electronic Arts, GameSpot, IGN and even some event planners such as E3 and PAX. Also, Twitter will be joining forces with recognisable figures in gaming such as PewDiePie, TotalBiscuit and a wide range of other eSports players will also be involved.
This new Twitter account is not the company's only movement in pushing their focus towards gaming too, with the recent launch of a Vine Gaming Channel.
“It’s about enhancing the gaming conversation with whatever media tools we can offer—pics or GIFs or recorded video or live video or polls or other functionality—to make that conversation more vibrant and interesting to follow" Velloso added.
