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Social gaming has evolved far beyond simply inviting friends over for a round of Mario Kart. Nowadays, it’s incredibly simple to share your gameplay with a vast online audience, creating a massive community around your adventures in your favorite games—regardless of your skill level.
This guide explores how to stream and record your gameplay on the most popular platforms. While our focus will be on Twitch, keep in mind that numerous other streaming services are available to serve as the foundation for your gaming content:
Streaming games on a PC or Mac
Streaming games on an Xbox One
Streaming games on a PlayStation 4
Recording your gameplay to share later
Recording your gaming sessions on a PC or Mac
Recording your gaming sessions on a console
Why should I consider streaming my games?
The idea of broadcasting your gameplay to an audience of strangers might seem unusual at first. Isn’t the joy of gaming about playing rather than watching someone else play? However, consider how people have been observing others play games for decades—from early pinball machines and arcades to today’s era of YouTube gaming celebrities and massive online tournaments watched by thousands.
While you may not yet be a superstar in your favorite game, showcasing your gaming adventures to the world can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you execute an impressive move, uncover a hidden secret, or simply provide entertainment through your mistakes, there’s value in sharing. Additionally, some games offer such immersive storytelling that watching them feels like enjoying a movie—and who doesn’t love a good movie?
Every gameplay video you’ve ever watched online originates from someone’s broadcast. Streaming has never been more accessible, and it allows you to share your experiences while giving others a glimpse of what a game is like before they decide to buy it.
In short, if you’re having fun playing a game, chances are others will enjoy watching you play it just as much.
How to broadcast your games on Twitch
In the realm of live game streaming, Twitch stands in a league of its own. (Apologies to Mixer and YouTube Gaming.) Twitch enables you to live-stream your gameplay, embed the broadcast on your website or blog, and share it across social media platforms. It even includes a built-in chat feature for audience interaction. If you’re looking to share your gaming experiences online, Twitch is the ultimate destination.
Before diving into any of the methods outlined here, you’ll need to create a Twitch account—so if you don’t already have one, sign up here.
How to broadcast games on a PC or Mac
To stream from your computer, you’ll need specialized broadcasting software. Twitch suggests several options here. XSplit Gamecaster is among the most user-friendly choices. While upgrading to the premium version comes with a cost, the free version offers plenty of features for most gamers. It’s exclusive to PCs, but Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a reliable alternative that also supports Macs.
XSplit Gamecaster (PC Only)
To begin using Gamecaster, follow these simple steps:
By pressing Ctrl+Tab, you can access the Gamecaster HUD (heads up display), which lets you configure your chat room and manage various features. Additionally, you can set up your webcam and microphone by selecting the options located in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Open Broadcaster Software (Mac, PC, Linux)
Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is slightly more complex to use, but it’s entirely free and provides professional-grade streaming features. With some practice, you can produce high-quality streams and recordings that stand out.
After downloading and installing OBS, the next step is to log in to Twitch. Since OBS doesn’t allow direct Twitch login, you’ll need to retrieve a “stream key” from Twitch, available here. This key updates occasionally, so you might need to refresh it before each streaming session. Once obtained, proceed with the following instructions:
In OBS, locate and click the Settings button in the bottom right corner.
Choose “Stream” from the menu on the left side.
Under “Service,” select Twitch from the options.
In the “Stream Key” field, input the key you copied from your Twitch dashboard.
During your initial OBS setup, you might encounter video settings that need adjustment, indicated by red text at the bottom of the window. Address these issues before proceeding.
Once completed, you can proceed to configure your broadcast settings. While starting a stream with OBS involves more steps compared to Gamecaster, the process remains user-friendly. Follow these steps to begin:
Launch the game you intend to stream.
In OBS, right-click within the “Sources” section.
From the Add > menu, select “Window Capture.” (Alternatively, “Desktop Capture” can be used for broader screen sharing, but we’ll focus on simplicity here.) Name the source and press Enter.
In the subsequent dialog box, select your game window from the drop-down menu and click OK.
When everything is set, click “Start Streaming” to go live.
You can add more Window Capture sources to your stream, like overlaying your webcam feed onto your game. OBS also includes a variety of plugins to enhance its capabilities. Although OBS is more intricate to navigate, it provides significantly more features and customization possibilities compared to Gamecaster, leaving the choice up to you. Additionally, it’s the top choice for Mac users looking to stream gameplay.
Twitch Studio
For those who enjoy trying new tools, Twitch’s own broadcasting software—Twitch Studio—is worth exploring. Currently in Beta and exclusive to PCs, the software guides you step-by-step through the streaming setup, making it far more user-friendly than OBS.
How to stream games on an Xbox One
The Xbox One comes with built-in game streaming capabilities, eliminating the need for additional apps. By default, your streams will be directed to Microsoft’s Mixer platform.
To begin streaming, press and hold the Xbox button during gameplay or while launching a game, navigate to the “Broadcast” tab, and choose “Start Broadcast.” A setup wizard will guide you through adjusting settings like broadcast quality and adding participants. Press the B button to return to your game.
To stream to Twitch from your Xbox One, you’ll first need to install the Twitch app on your console. Additionally, you must link your Twitch account before starting your broadcast. Follow these steps to set it up:
Launch the Twitch app on your Xbox One.
Navigate to the “Log in” option on the left side of the app menu.
Visit twitch.tv/activate on your computer or mobile device.
Input the six-digit code displayed on your Xbox to connect your account.
After linking your accounts, you’re ready to start streaming. Click the “Start Broadcast” tile to go live. You’ll have the option to include Kinect video or microphone audio. If you’re using Kinect, you can also initiate a stream by saying, “Xbox, Broadcast,” once everything is configured.
How to stream games on a PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 also supports direct streaming to Twitch. Using the Share button on the PlayStation controller, you can easily start the process. However, you’ll need to link your accounts beforehand. Here’s how to do it:
Navigate to Settings > Account Management > Link with Other Services.
Choose Twitch and log into your Twitch account.
Next, start the game you wish to play. To begin broadcasting:
During gameplay, press the Share button.
Select an online service. While Twitch is our example, the PS4 also supports YouTube without additional setup. Log into your streaming account if required.
To modify your broadcast settings while streaming, use the “Options” button to access the “Advanced Broadcast” menu.
Among all platforms, the PS4 stands out as the simplest for streaming, requiring no extra downloads. Additionally, the Share menu can be used to capture screenshots or record gameplay clips.
How to record your gameplay for future showcasing
Streaming live is enjoyable, but after the session ends, you (or your audience) might want to revisit it. Additionally, you can utilize these recordings to create highlight compilations or showcase impressive moments. If you’re on Twitch—as suggested in this guide—there’s a straightforward way to enable this:
Prior to streaming, log into your Twitch account via the web. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select “Creator Dashboard.”
Navigate to the “Channel” option on the left side.
Switch the “Store past broadcasts” toggle to the On position.
Once this feature is activated, you can save your streams for future viewing. Twitch won’t retain broadcasts permanently (currently, full streams are stored for 14 days), but you can download the videos to your computer and upload them to any platform. If you’re new to streaming, this is the easiest way to record your gameplay. However, if you prefer to edit your videos before sharing, alternative methods are available.
How to record gameplay on a PC or Mac
To capture your gameplay on a PC, you can use any of the applications mentioned in the broadcasting section. (Mac users should opt for OBS.)
In XSplit Gamecaster, you’ll notice a record button positioned beside the stream button. If you’ve followed the earlier steps but prefer to save your gameplay instead of streaming it, simply select that option.
To locate your saved recordings, navigate to Settings, access the “Recording” tab, and click on the path next to “Directory.”
To capture your gameplay using OBS on either Mac or PC, adhere to these instructions:
Click the “Settings” button located in the lower-right corner of OBS.
Select the “Output” option from the left-hand menu.
Beside “Recording path,” specify the folder where you want your recordings saved.
Set your desired output quality. Be aware that selecting “same as stream” will prevent you from pausing recordings during gameplay.
Press OK.
Launch the game you wish to play and add it to the Sources pane.
Click “Start Recording” at the bottom right.
Your gameplay will be saved directly to your hard drive as you play, and it will be ready for viewing or editing once you hit “Stop Recording.” If the video quality isn’t satisfactory, you might need to tweak your recording settings. Remember, running a graphics-heavy game and recording it simultaneously can strain your computer. To avoid stuttering or skipping in the video, consider lowering the game’s graphics quality, reducing the recording resolution, or both.
Another method for capturing gameplay on a PC is utilizing the Game Bar in Windows 10:
Launch your game.
Press Windows + G to open the Game Bar.
Customize the settings as required. You can adjust audio levels, select audio sources, and enable or disable your microphone.
Click the “Record” button, begin playing your game, and capture the footage.
How to record gameplay on a console
In the not-so-distant past, recording or streaming console gameplay required connecting your device to a capture card on your computer and using software like OBS or XSplit. If you’re using older consoles such as the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, this method remains your best option.
Recording on newer consoles is far simpler: Our sister site Kotaku offers a detailed guide focused on console gameplay recording, but here are the essential steps for both Xbox and PS4.
Xbox One
With a Kinect installed, you can begin recording by saying, “Xbox, start recording.” Alternatively, use “Xbox, record that” to capture the last 30 seconds of gameplay (thanks to the system’s built-in video buffer). Without a Kinect, follow these steps:
Press the Xbox button.
Press the X button to save the previous 30 seconds of gameplay.
For longer recordings, press the view button (featuring two small overlapping squares), then select “Record from now” and press the A button.
Recording begins when you resume the game. To stop, press the Xbox button again, followed by the X button.
Note that the Xbox can store up to 10 minutes of gameplay, or up to an hour with an external hard drive connected. You can edit your clips using Microsoft’s Upload Studio to trim footage or combine multiple videos.
To move your videos to a PC, install the OneDrive app on your Xbox, upload the clips to your cloud storage, and retrieve them on your computer.
PlayStation 4
Sony has streamlined gameplay recording to be as simple as live streaming. To start recording, double-tap the Share button. To end the recording, double-tap it once more.
A single press of the Share button allows you to adjust recording settings, such as the default clip duration. For extended gameplay recordings, you can set the maximum length to up to an hour.
The PlayStation excels at capturing past moments, as it continuously records the last 15 minutes of gameplay. To save an epic moment, press and hold the Share button, then select “Save Video Clip” or press the Square button. You can also share your clips directly to social media via the Capture Gallery.
Sony includes a built-in video editor named Share Factory for clip editing. To transfer videos to a computer for further editing, insert a USB stick into your PS4, navigate to the Capture Gallery, select Options, and choose “ video to USB.”
