Wednesday during the Windows Creator Update event Microsoft announced that Windows 10 and the Xbox One will be getting a free update that will include new online game-streaming capabilities built in among other upgrades. The new software will be powered by Beam, a game streaming service the tech giant acquired back in August of this year.

Beam is very similar to Twitch with regard to function and features however, what makes the new service good news for gamers is its extremely low latency. In theory PC/console gamers will be able to load Windows Game Bar and select a sharing option via Beam without the need to connect to the services web user interface.

Twitch streamers and viewers are currently plagued by a 10-15 second delay between the starting point of a video and the beginning of playback but the technology that Beam uses cuts that delay down to just under a second. With the help of this new technology, broadcasters will soon have the ability to interact with their audiences in almost real-time. One of the main reasons this is so important is because it could potentially change the dynamic of how broadcasters and viewers interact. There’s just some things that work better when you have the ability to give and receive immediate feedback.

It’s currently unclear if PC games that aren’t a part of the “Xbox Play Anywhere” program will work with Beam, although we’re hoping. Will this service deliver on its claims and if so will it be enough incentive for broadcasters to migrate from established streaming services? Only time will tell but we do expect to get more details as we get closer to early 2017 when the update is scheduled to roll out.

What are your thoughts on Microsoft’s announcement? Is an almost non-existent latency important to you? Join the conversation and let us know in the comments below and as always don’t forget to leave a tab open on Don’t Feed The Gamers for all of the gaming news you need to know.