STACK #256 February 2026

TECH FEATURE

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GAME CAPTURE AND LIVE STREAMING

Making game videos or streaming your gameplay is a fun, creative way to connect with the wider gaming community. Here's everything you need to know to get started on a streaming or video platform... Words James O'Connor

What are you actually creating? Video content creation with games can take many different forms. You can make short-form content for platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels, showing off interesting games or mechanics, or even capturing funny moments you've had while playing. On a platform for longer videos, like YouTube, you can post extended gameplay videos or critical evaluations. There are a few popular approaches. A "Let's Play" video series will feature footage of you playing a game all the way through, either with or without commentary; a "speed run" video can be a show of skill as you finish a game quickly; and a “review” will cut together choice footage with your thoughts on the game as a voiceover. If you're streaming on a platform like Twitch, people can watch you play in real-time, usually while you speak to them as comments roll in on chat. This can be a great way to create video content without needing to edit it stick to one platform – you can stream games and then turn clips from those streams into short or long-form videos elsewhere, for example. It's worth trying different formats to see what you like the most. Some content creators have their own fun gimmicks too, like playing games with homemade controllers or mods that make the game extremely difficult, while others just want to unwind and share their games with others. and to share the games you love with a wider audience. You don't need to just

The essential tech First, you need something to play games on. A mid-range PC or a gaming laptop is a great starting point for streaming, as many computers have built-in recording

functionality. Alternatively, you may wish to use third-party software like OBS Studio. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S both let you broadcast your gameplay directly to Twitch, and have functionality for saving footage of gameplay. Beyond that, at a bare minimum, you'll need a decent webcam, and a headset or microphone (unless you want to make commentary-free videos). You don’t need

whizz-bang tech to start, but you may want to update your setup as your view count grows. A stream deck with customisable keys can be used to control every element of your stream easily, and a higher-quality webcam will always make your streams look more professional. You can also stream through a smartphone, if that's where you play, but mobile streams or videos tend to be more niche.

Elgato Stream Deck Mini (Discord Edition)

Elgato Game

Capture 4K S

Logitech G Astro

A20X PLAYSYNC Wireless Headset

Alienware 16X Aurora 16" WQXGA 240Hz Gaming Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7) [GeForce RTX 5060]

Razer Kiyo

V2 X Full HD Plug and Play Webcam

26 FEBRUARY 2026

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