According to TikTok, they've been testing a Windows program called TikTok Live Studio for the past few days. When the user downloads the program to the desktop client, it will allow the user to log in with their TikTok account and flow directly to TikTok Live.
In the app, users can communicate with their audience through chat and can transfer content from your PC, phone, or game console. TikTok told TechCrunch that the app is currently only available to a few thousand users in a handful of Western markets.
One obvious benefit of TikTok testing this feature is that creators may be incentivized to stay in their apps instead of asking their viewers to watch their streaming on Twitch or YouTube Gaming. Judging by TikTok's promotional images, the company appears to be pandering to people looking to stream video games. But in its prototype, TikTok Live Studio lacks features that experienced streamers can find on broadcast software like OBS or Streamlabs — which makes sense because the product is still being tested. For example, although you can connect a video game console to TikTok Live Studio, you can't use the browser window as a source or set prompts or new followers in the stream.
But one goal of this functional test is to see how the creators use the software. The company told TechCrunch that TikTok Live Studio doesn't guarantee a launch — every time TikTok tests a feature, it doesn't mean it's going to stay here forever. But if it does see a real launch of TikTok Live Studio, the platform will look at the purpose for which creators use the software and then tweak it to better accommodate those usages.
Currently, creators are already using TikTok's live streaming tools to make money and expand their fans. Creators can accept prompts, schedule events, use the Live Q&A tool, stream with other users, filter certain keywords, and designate hosts. Now, TikTok Live Studio allows users to choose whether they want to enable giveaways and comments, and they can set keyword filters. But other existing live streaming features such as designating hosts and scheduling streaming are also likely to be incorporated into more powerful products in the future.
This streaming software may also mark TikTok's chance to reach more desktop users. Desktop streaming software is essential for creators, as smartphones simply cannot connect to the user's console and stream at the same time. While it's true that people have watched video game streams on their phones, the user experience on the desktop is generally better, which can help users get into the habit of using TikTok on their PCs.