Live streaming your gameplay on Twitch is an extremely popular activity these days. As a streamer, you want to be able to interact with your viewers in real-time by reading and responding to chat messages. However, this can be difficult to do if the game you’re playing is demanding of your attention. Fortunately, there are some clever solutions that allow you to view and participate in Twitch chat even while actively gaming.
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Use a Second Monitor
One of the easiest solutions is to simply set up a second monitor that will be dedicated to chat. Here’s how to do it:
- Obtain a second monitor and position it conveniently next to your main gaming display.
- On the second monitor, pull up your Twitch channel page and pop out chat by clicking the chat icon.
- Size and position the chat pop-out window so it’s visible in your peripheral vision.
- Now you can quickly glance over to read new chat messages during natural lulls in gaming intensity.
Pros:
- Allows full screen real estate on main monitor for unobstructed gaming
- Full chat history visible
- Can respond to chat messages quickly in real-time
Cons:
- Requires purchasing an additional monitor
- Need physical desk space for two monitors
Use Chat Overlay Browser Sources
If you don’t have room for a second monitor, most streaming apps allow you to overlay Twitch chat directly onto your game screen as a browser source:
- In OBS or Streamlabs OBS, add a new Browser Source.
- Set the URL to your channel’s pop-out Twitch chat.
- Position and size the chat overlay where you want it on your scene.
- Adjust transparency to prevent it from blocking too much gameplay.
Pros:
- No secondary monitor required
- Can position chat overlay anywhere on screen
Cons:
- Overlay partially blocks view of game
- Only shows limited recent chat messages
Mobile Chat Apps and Devices
There are mobile apps and devices designed specifically for viewing Twitch chat:
- Tablet: Install Twitch app and chat pop-out on an affordable tablet placed next to gaming monitors
- Phone: View chat on your phone screen using Twitch app
- Stream Deck: Customizable hardware controllers with LCD screens to display recent chat messages
- Google Glass: AR glasses that can show a small chat feed in corner of vision
Pros:
- Convenient peripheral viewing of chat on mobile devices
- Stream deck integrates hardware controls with chat
Cons:
- Viewing chat on small mobile screens can be challenging
- These devices can be expensive purchases
Use Chatbots
If manually viewing and responding to chat is too distracting, chatbots allow you to automate some conversational interactions:
- AnkhBot: Feature-rich bot for Twitch with chat logger and text-to-speech
- Nightbot: Web-based bot with chat moderation and viewer engagement tools
- PhantomBot: Open source bot with scriptable chat responses and games
Pros:
- Automates some repetitive chat responses
- Text-to-speech feature reads chat aloud
Cons:
- Requires setup and management of bot software
- Interactions can seem canned rather than natural
Picture-In-Picture Chat View
Some games have built-in picture-in-picture or mini overlay features that can display a live feed of Twitch chat. Games with such capabilities include:
- Fortnite
- Call of Duty
- Apex Legends
- Overwatch
- League of Legends
Check each game’s streaming settings for options to show Twitch chat in a movable overlay window while gaming.
Pros:
- Built right into game, no extra software required
- Chat perfectly positioned for your game
Cons:
- Only works if game supports the feature
- Can still occlude too much of the screen
Get a Chat Moderator
If staying immersed in gaming is your top priority, you can appoint trustworthy moderators to keep an eye on chat for you:
- Assign chat mod privileges to helpful regular viewers
- Ask mods to alert you to important chat messages
- Periodically glance at chat to interact during downtime
Relying on mods reduces disruption while still facilitating audience engagement.
Pros:
- Allows you to focus on gaming with less distraction
- Leverages help from your community
Cons:
- Need active, responsible mods you can depend on
- Interactions become less personal and immediate
