Black Ops 2 Gets In-Game Livestreaming and Shoutcasting Options, Stream Games To The Web

As hinted at in the closing seconds of the recently released multiplayer reveal trailer, Treyarch is firmly shoving Black Ops 2 into the eSports scene with the addition of two brand-new features never before seen in a Call of Duty game. Black Ops 2 players will be able to livestream League Play games directly to the web and shoutcast (commentate) over them, all straight from within the game on all platforms!

In addition to the games two teams (or more in the new Multi Team Deathmatch game mode), there’s an option for two players to join a third, spectator team – the shoutcasters. Once the match starts, the shoutcasters can use the CODcast interface to follow players of either team, or watch the match from an overhead map that shows the location of all players while shoutcasting about what’s going on with the standard headset mic. There’s even a picture-in-picture mode.

Black Ops 2 livestreams can be started from the CODcast menu at any time, sending the stream to a web browser for anyone on a PC, Mac, or mobile device to watch. Players can shoutcast games live as they are taking place or add commentary to games saved in Black Ops 2′s new and improved Theater mode.

To prevent cheating, broadcast matches are delayed by 15 seconds.

This is a great new feature for Call of Duty that’s sure to get a lot of use. You only need to go to sites like Twitch.tv to see how popular livestreaming video games has become. Now that it’ll be available for anyone to do straight from within Black Ops 2, with nothing to set up other than enabling it in-game, it’s about to get much more popular.

There are two requirements, though. Firstly, you’re going to need enough upload bandwidth. Secondly, you have to meet the minimum number of required viewers on your stream. Actually, the livestreaming feature is still in development so, exact requirements, rules, availability and launch timing of this new feature have yet to be announced.

Will you make use of the livestream and / or shoutcasting features?