Amazon-owned live streaming video platform Twitch has acquired Bebo – the former social media platform – for a total of $25 million (£19.9 million).
Launched in 2005, Bebo was a social networking website; it has since relaunched as a studio focused on creating applications. A report from TechCrunch states that Discord and Facebook were also attempting to acquire the company.
Twitch’s acquisition of Bebo aligns with its attempt to further increase its footprint in esports.
Most recently, the company pivoted in an attempt to aid esports athletes and personalities in streaming, competing with the likes of OBS and Xsplit. Shortly after, it shifted into organising and hosting tournaments for streamers.
Following this acquisition, it’s reported that Bebo’s technology and staff is being put to use on Twitch Rivals – the streaming platform’s series of competitive events aimed at streamers – to help it expand in terms of both features and audience.
Twitch Rivals currently hosts events on titles such as Apex Legends, Dota 2, Rainbow Six Siege, NBA 2K19, Battalion 1944, Hearthstone, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
Esports Insider says: This is certainly an unexpected move in the world of esports. Considering what Bebo was like back in its prime, it would be genuinely unpredictable to see a future in which Bebo would be bought out by Amazon in an effort to bolster its esports efforts. Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to see how this acquisition will affect Twitch Rivals moving forward.
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